Over the years I have dabbled in this and that when it comes to implementing art-making for my own creative self-care practice.  I love to be able to try new modes of expression, pushing my creative edge and make new discoveries about myself.  What I notice is that there is always a lesson in the process.  The creative process, whether it be through visual arts or other (gardening, decorating, singing, writing and so forth) is an expression of self in more ways than the product produced.  The process of getting there reveals much about our selves as well.  When I art journal for example, sometimes my process is quick.  Without thinking things spill out onto the paper which only make sense to me once I have reflected on it either by looking at it after or through response writing.  Other times my process is more choppy: unfinished, left for another day, and I check-in with myself to see what this is about; are there ways that I am feeling disconnected? Am I feeling anxious about completing something? Am I afraid of what the outcome might be? So many questions in so many ways depending on where I am at, the right question will call to me inviting me to reflect on my process of expression and how it relates to where I am at.

Many people think that expressive art making is about making a product that is looked at as a reflection of who you are, but I have found it is not that simple.  We are have many expressions in numerous renditions, yet even these are not who we are. They are more accurately what we express in the moment as we are becoming and unfolding. Ever changing as we grow, understand and misunderstand.  Ever changing as we move through our lives with awareness of our thoughts and feelings as transitional parts of ourself but not the Self.

I find that trying new things and stretching out of my comfort zone (in different areas of my life) can help me tune into where I am and sit with that feeling a little longer, accepting it instead of fighting it. Acknowledging it instead of ignoring it. Recognizing the “story” I tell myself and discovering how it can be heard differently. Expressive art making has a unique way of allowing perspective taking and reflection.   I often move between writing about my art afterwards, to other times not writing at all, simply closing my art journal and allowing the expression to resonate with me at a visceral level.  Other times I know I need to write first, dumping out the thoughts that may be lingering and holding me back, before proceeding to a more non-linear expression of where I am at through art-making.

There is no one size fits all when it comes to art expression for self-care. What works one day may be different on another. To me it is about having different tools under my belt to address my needs in the moment. It’s ever evolving, same as I hope is my process of becoming.