Art Can Help Heal Grief
Many of us think, “I can’t do art. I don’t even know how to draw!” But art is more than just drawing. It can be many things as I discovered with mixed media collage art. I’ve also come to realize that art is not necessarily about the end result but about the process of creating. And for me, that is where the healing takes place. That is where art can help heal grief.
Please join me on my healing journey through art. I will tell you my story. Then it will be your turn to learn how art can help heal your grief.
You, too, can create art to help you with your grieving process.
So Crafting Is Art? Who Knew?
Once a week, usually on a Friday afternoon, Sister Roseanne would have us do “art.” Gluing ripped up pieces of colored paper onto oak tag and we made a ‘collage.’ Scribbling with black crayon on white paper & coloring in the open spaces made a ‘scribble drawing.’
Hello? Why weren’t we learning to draw? No wonder I never thought I was artistic in any way, shape or form.
But my lack of skill at drawing did not deter me from eventually being interested in crafting. Never thought of crafting as art but I finally found something to scratch my creative itch.
Over the years, I did rug hooking (made a pillow), stained glass (made a window hanging), pattern pillows (made a snowman pillow) and stenciling (yes, I really did stencil EVERY room in my house in the 80’s).
Get Out The Glue Stick
With nothing left to stencil, I was left hanging without a creative outlet. So, I began cutting out pictures that I liked from magazines, colorful images, interesting words and quotes. My inspiration must have been those ripped up paper pieces that I glued onto construction paper in first grade. I got out my Elmer’s glue stick and began gluing the pictures haphazardly, but with purpose, into a journal. These mini collages just planted the seed for my next art journey.
Gotta love Pinterest because that’s where I stumbled onto something called “Mixed Media Collage.” This type of art uses lots of materials like scrapbook paper, stencils, stamps, book pages, glue, water colors, paints and markers, Oh My! I could make “art” without knowing how to draw and I got to use lots of supplies. I was hooked.
Stress Relief
I bought some supplies and set up a make-shift “studio” in my son’s old bedroom. It was a great stress reliever when playing around with the paint, pictures, stencils and stamps.
I was able to get away from my demanding and stressful job, if only for a short time. My daughter’s addiction was not on my mind so I was able to let it go for awhile. But when she was around, Kelsey was the one who most appreciated my art work.
Unfortunately, I didn’t stick with it. My son moved back home and I abandoned my “studio” to make room for his bed and television.
To Make Art Again?
When we lost our daughter, I was numb just going through the motions of everyday life. As a few months passed, I started to think again about doing some mixed media art. Maybe it would bring me some sense of peace.
I moved my supplies and shelving into Kelsey’s bedroom. Thinking I would be surrounded by her energy, it was the most logical place to set up a new “art room.” Maybe this would inspire my creativity! The holidays came and then my husband and I headed to Florida to escape the Northeast winter. So, I never got started making my art again.
Yes, Make Art Again!
I decided to stay longer than the 5 weeks we had planned. So, my husband flew home to take care of some business planning to return in 10 days. Little did I know that I would be remaining alone in Florida for 9 weeks due to the pandemic.
I made the best use of this alone time to process my grief. I walked, read, journaled, meditated, watched a 10-hour Oprah Podcast and floated in the pool.
My soul was feeling better but I wanted something else to do. Bing! A lightbulb went off in my head. (I love that little white bulb.). I had some paint, brushes, markers, glue and plenty of magazines so I could do my mixed media art again. But that didn’t stop me from ordering from Amazon. You all know that feeling of excitement when there’s an Amazon box sitting outside your front door.
The Healing Begins
And so, the healing began. I bought an art journal book and every day I would roll out my cart of art supplies (yes, I had to buy a cart to keep all my supplies organized) and make art on a page.
It was amazing how I just cut, glued, painted, sprayed, stamped and stenciled.
Sometimes I played music in the background but it got to where I would rather it be quiet.
The best part was that my mind was silent as well.
The Quiet Inside My Head
In meditation, they tell you to just try and let the thoughts in your head pass by. Acknowledge them as an observer and let them pass through your mind. But our minds never stop talking. Thoughts fire off inside our heads like bullets and it’s very difficult to turn that off.
When making art, I was able to turn off my thoughts for a while. I seriously had to check in with my mind every so often and I’d realize, “Hey, I haven’t been thinking about anything. It’s been quiet inside.” Of course, by realizing that I was thinking, but oh well.
I looked forward to doing art almost every day, and I got easily lost in the creative process. It was relaxing, peaceful and fun. More importantly, I discovered another way to help me heal. And I know Kelsey was watching and enjoying every piece of art I made. That gave me peace.
Now It’s Your Turn
If you can carve out 30 minutes or an hour into your life, you too can begin to create. And in the process art can help heal your grief. You may begin to feel relaxed and stress free.
Start out making a few basic collages and then experiment. Get creative and you can do your own thing. That’s what I think art is all about. Having your own perspective, doing your own thing and going through the process of creating.
But if you’re looking for some extra guidance and inspiration, you can look on You Tube for tutorial videos. When you click on You Tube, hit the search button for Mixed Media Collage, Mixed Media Art and Art Journaling tutorials.
Let’s Get Started
SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:
(All supplies can be found at your local Wal-Mart, craft store or Amazon)
Mixed Media Journal Book ~There’s a variety of sizes but I started with the smaller one, 5.5”x 8.5”, about $10
Acrylic Craft Paint ~ Each bottle typically costs between 50 and 99 cents.
Brushes ~ A beginner’s variety pack of art brushes, about $10
Mod Podge ~ A water base sealer so you can glue on your pictures. I prefer Matte Finish. 8 oz. about $15
Magazines ~ Cut or torn out images
HOW TO MAKE SOME ART:
- Set up your space. The kitchen table will do. Cover it with newspaper, a plastic table cloth or large brown bag.
- Start flipping through your magazines for anything that catches your eye.
- Cut or tear out pictures, words, quotes and drawings and put aside.
- Make a background on your journal page by marking it up with paint.
- Choose a few colors, squeeze a small amount onto a paper plate to use as your palette.
- Dip a smaller brush into the paint and start painting. You can make dots, squares, circles or paint the entire page. It’s up to you.
- Let the paint air dry or use a hair dryer to speed up the process.
- Now it’s time to glue on some pictures.
- Select a brush with a wider flat head and dip it in the mod podge. Spread a little glue on the page and place your image on top.
- Paint a thin coat of the mod podge over the image.
- Continue gluing your pictures, images and words in this way by placing them next to or on top of each other.
- Let air dry or you can use a hair dryer.
- Use some of the letters or words that you cut out to glue on an inspirational message.
- You can also use a black Sharpie to write your own message.
There you have it. You’ve made your first mixed media art collage!
I encourage you to stick with it and this art medium might lead you somewhere else creatively. It doesn’t matter what it is. It matters that you are going through a creative process. In my mind, that is where the stillness, healing and peace can be found.
Thank you so much for joining me on this journey of using art to help heal your grief.
I’d love to hear from you guys by seeing some of the art that you make.
Karen
