Creative Tip: The Beauty of Working in Layers (Art + Healing)

Creative Tip:

Today's journal, I'm sharing this creative tip as a gentle reminder that we can take our time with our creative processes in art and life. Because we must remember that art and healing are journeys, not races. We must allow ourselves to breathe and reflect as we work and live. In doing this, we must consider adding layers to our masterpieces, both literally and metaphorically. Embrace the idea that each stroke, each moment of reflection, contributes to the overall beauty of your creation.

Suggestions for Adding Layers:

• Experiment: Try new techniques or materials - with art, you may switch from pencil to paint. For healing that maybe trying a new mindfulness activity as you do your daily chores.

• Reflect: Spend time thinking about the emotions you are feeling and how you may want to convey them in your art and life.

• Take Breaks: Stepping away can and does gain you fresh perspectives in mini breaks - stepping outside, sitting with a cup of tea or simply sitting still all give you moments of rest.

• Seek Inspiration: Look at how other artists’ work or by stepping out into nature, whether you take a walk or just sit can inspire you with new ideas.

• Be Patient: Allow yourself to evolve naturally over time, whether through art or healing isn't a race as I spoke earlier of.

Remember, every layer you add enriches your creativity in art and life experience.

The Journey of Layering: A Personal Reflection

The truth to layering sits here with me as a woman who has wandered a long journey with chronic illness and creativity. Layering is not just a physical concept; it embodies the complexities of life experiences, emotions, and the multifaceted nature of our identities.

Understanding Layering

Layering can be interpreted in various contexts, including:

• Fashion: The art of combining clothing pieces to create a look that reflects our personal styles.

• Life Experiences: The vast array of experiences, challenges, and triumphs that shape who we are.

• Emotional Layers: The different emotional states we navigate through life, especially in the face of chronic illness.

  

The Intersection of Chronic Illness and Creativity

Living with chronic illness often requires a unique approach to creativity and self expression. Here are some insights:

• Adaptability: Just as one adapts their wardrobe to the seasons, creativity must also adapt to the limitations and realities of living with chronic illness.

• Expression: Art and creativity can serve as powerful outlets for processing emotions and experiences related to illness and life hardships.

• Resilience: The journey through chronic illness can foster a deeper resilience, which can be reflected in creative pursuits.

The Layers of Identity

As a woman navigating this journey, my identity is layered with:

• Health Challenges: The ongoing struggle with chronic illness and disease that influences my daily life.

• Creative Aspirations: The desire to express myself and connect with others through various forms of creativity.

• Personal Growth: The lessons learned through adversity that shape my perspective on life.

Layering is a profound metaphor for the journey of life, particularly for those of us living with chronic illness, disease and diverse hardships in life. It reminds us that we are not defined by a single layer but by the rich tapestry of experiences, emotions, and creativity that we weave together. Embracing this complexity allows for a deeper understanding of ourselves and fosters a sense of connection with others on similar journeys.

Creating Becomes A Doorway

And so it is in the sharing today, my gentle reminder and creative tip combined with the layering of the new and the old, I am reminded that creativity is woven into the very fabric of being human. The stirring slowly of the soup on the stove, the folding of laundry or the quick pencil scribbles - it is all art.

For me, creating has become a doorway into wholeness. It is less about producing something to display and more about how something can move through me. It has been the shift from performance to presence which has opened my soul and softened the pressure to be "good enough".

Maybe Today

Maybe, as you layer the many different tasks into your day - your art will be three unpolished lines in your journal. Maybe it will be the way you hum as you fold the laundry or maybe it will be as you lay another layer of paint on that canvas. Whatever it is, the simple act of noticing, shaping, arranging and expressing it is the brushstroke that is becoming the masterpiece of you and your life.

Closing Thought

I hope I have allowed you a few moments to see that whatever you do ~ there is no right or wrong way when you let yourself be who you were born to be.

Enjoy the process!

xox