“It was like electricity running through my arm, out of my fingers and onto the canvas.”
Creativity is a powerful tool, more than that, it is a powerful healer that’s within all of us. Last month I had the privilege of listening to Carla Raads speak at a networking event. Carla is an incredibly talented artist who uses her body and fingers to paint emotionally charged art work. Mostly sky and sea scapes, these colourful explosions sing with her feelings, and through this honesty her canvas’ are filled with beauty. Everyone there that day was in awe.
It was inspiring and fascinating to hear Carla talk about her background and her process, but what struck me the most was when she began to talk about how it all began. She explained how in the deepest part of her depression she couldn’t sleep, all she had was the urge to paint, she had to paint. And why paint? Because words were failing her. During this time she described a sensation, electricity running through her arm, coming out of her fingers onto the canvas. A paintbrush or a pencil weren’t enough to express how she was feeling, the images had to come out through her fingers, nothing else would do. And so she slammed her hand into a pot of emulsion and painted a raging sea scene.
Talking to a room full of creatives, many in that room could relate to that sensation, a power so strong, an image so powerful, you had to get it out somehow. When our brain is struggling to process the words coming out of our mouths we are often told to write or drawn it down, that is why diaries are ever so popular, and for many of us who make a living from creating this experience becomes almost second nature, sometimes the most essential way to communicate.
“The pull to make a painting or do something crafty or learn a new creative skill may be less about achieving an end product and more about a need to express a part of the self that doesn’t often have an opportunity to be seen.”
How often do we express our true feelings and thoughts? How often do we understand how we’re really feeling? In a world of “I’m fine” and trying to look like we’ve got it all together for social media, are we neglecting ourselves and in doing so failing to provide the opportunities to express what is going on inside of us? Are we bottling up our own electricity?
I’ve spoken many times about how creativity isn’t just art, crafts, music and the like, it is a whole world of other things too, such as problem solving, organising, and meal planning. Each of us have our own special creative electricity bolt that needs releasing in order for us to express and understand how we’re feeling.
I have many friends who love cleaning, when they’re in a foggy mindset they need to clean, I believe that’s their creative electricity coming out. After cleaning they feel lighter, their mind has released itself and not only do they have a tidy home but they also understand more about what they’re feeling.
“An important part of healing is showing up for yourself.”
Recently I’ve been watching Queer Eye, and as a result I’ve commissioned my mother in law to make me a crochet shirt because I’m obsessed with Antoni’s green and white striped one. It’s almost done! The down side to this TV viewing is that all the episodes make me cry, they’re designed to and well done to all the producers and editors because it works! I bawl every episode. A complete mess.
In one particular episode, Antoni is speaking to an incredible lady called Mary. Mary was holding on to years and years of pent up emotions, she loved cooking but hadn’t been able to it for a long time. As with all the people on the show, Antoni teaches her a new dish to cook, except this is more than a dish of delicious food, it’s a healing process. Through showing up for herself by honouring her body with not only the food but expressing herself through the art of cooking, Mary feels the effect of this meal instantly. Layers are shed, I naturally shed tears, but it struck me that cooking is yet another healing creative activity, and one I think shows our feelings very well.
When we’re having a rough day we express that through our food choices, when we’re having a good day we express that through our food choices, when we’re absolutely shattered that is expressed in our food choices. The world of creativity is vast, and offers healing in a strong and powerful way.
Carla showed up for herself the day she shoved her hand in a pot of emulsion paint and smeared it over a canvas, the day that started it all off for her. Every time she paints she is showing up for herself, healing herself through this expression.
My question, not just for you but most whole heartedly to myself is, do I show up for myself enough and what does that look like?
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