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Using Art to Improve Your Mental Health

Dr.Harshi Dhingra — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 02:26:04 +0000

The world of art is vast, including music, painting, drawing, writing, sculpting, and more. You can use artistic endeavors to strengthen yourself during a period of a mental health crisis. Here is information on how art can help you through some of life’s most challenging problems.

MENTAL HEALTH CRISES ART CAN HELP YOU CONQUER

No matter the situation, you can always turn to an artform to get you through it. These are a few of the mental health crises that can be improved by creating art:

Depression

Depression touches more than 17 million people in the U.S. alone¹. It often leads to feelings of worthlessness, lack of accomplishment, and overall emptiness. Getting involved with artistic work can combat those feelings because of the positive emotions it can bring. Creating a song might make you feel accomplished as a writer, singer, and musician, for example. Drawing a lifelike picture can give you a sense of achievement. Creating a gorgeous sculpture of someone you love can give you confidence about your gifts and purpose.

Divorce

People experience a multitude of emotions when they undergo divorce proceedings. Depression, fear, and lack of purpose are three common emotional reactions to losing an integral long-term relationship. Discovering your identity in art can bring you out of the emotional avalanche of a divorce. It can place your life into perspective and help you find your most treasured creativity. Your artwork² can also help you create a business that could earn you the money you need to pay your bills after your marriage ends. You might become a renowned painter after using your pain to create an irresistible work of art.

Photo by Pexels

Job Loss

The loss of a job can be one of the most devastating experiences in life. It can be worse for you if it’s a job on which you based the future of your career. The arts can help you bounce back from a job loss. Maybe you have a knack for writing³ poetry, stories, and journals. You can use all your frustration and disappointment to create a heartfelt poem that you could later turn into a popular song. Maybe you can write a story about the adventures you had while you were on the job. That story could even end up being a best-seller.

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause life-crippling fear that can disrupt and destroy your attempts to move forward. You can find a remedy in creating art, however. One benefit of using art to combat anxiety is that it will help you focus. Keeping your mind focused on your projects will block out the negative or fearful thoughts that enter your mind. Furthermore, you’ll have the courage to accomplish something, and you’ll benefit even more once you’re finished with your project. Painting and writing require a lot of concentration, so they might be just the thing you need to harness your creativity and tamp down your anxiety.

Loneliness

Sometimes, you might just be lonely. Your artwork can become your best friend once you put your heart and your best work into it.

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction⁴ puts a strain on your mental health and psyche for numerous reasons. It can cause you to lose relationships and job prospects, and it can cause you financial problems that invite depression into your life. Artwork is an excellent element to add to your recovery regimen. It can be a good form of distraction or replacement therapy. It can also teach you things about yourself that you may not have known. You might be an incredible artist, for example. Taking the time to explore the arts while recovering from your addiction can help to shape your artistic abilities. It’s not uncommon for certain drug and alcohol addiction programs to offer alternative therapies that implement art. That means starting an art journey puts you on the right track toward battling your addiction.

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TIPS FOR USING ART TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Now that you know that you can use art to improve your mental health, you just need to know how you can make it happen. These are some tips for incorporating art into your mental health and wellness:

Find Your Niche

First, you need to figure out which art form is most feasible for you to get involved in. You can do that by trying a few different things and then choosing the medium that makes you the happiest. You may have more than one talent, but you should focus on one that you can nurture.

Think About Your Purpose

Think about how you want to use your talent aside from improving your mental health. Ask yourself if you can benefit from it financially or in some other way.

Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the supplies you need for your activity. Go out and buy yourself a large canvas and all the colors in the rainbow if you’re going to paint, for example. Get yourself some studio equipment for your songs. You get the idea.

Photo by Pexels

Meet Like-Minded People

Being surrounded by individuals with the same goals and talents is essential. Those people can be a support system during this challenging time or be collaborators, advisors, and mentors.

Enjoy Everything You Do

Don’t ever rush a work of art or force yourself to create art when you don’t want to. The whole point of partaking in art is to enjoy it. So, delay working on your craft until you’re in the mood to give it your best. You’ll enjoy the finished product much more knowing that you had a fabulous time creating it.

START USING ART TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL

Now you know how you can take advantage of your artistic abilities to help resolve common mental health issues. Using the information above to improve the quality of your life and eliminate mental health imbalances can not only be beneficial, but a chance for personal discovery.

Author Bio: Dr. Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with specialization in Pathology. She is currently employed as faculty in a medical school with tertiary care hospital and research center in India as well as a medical review for Sunshine Behavioral Health. She has vast experience of over a decade in diagnostic, clinical, research and teaching work. She has strong interest in medical content writing and reviewing. She also has several publications and citations in indexed peer reviewed journals.

Sources:

1 nimh.nih.gov – Major Depression

2 health.harvard.edu – The Healing Power of Art

3 creativenonfiction.org – Writing Memoir and Writing Therapy

4 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov- The Use of Art and Music Therapy in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

All images courtesy of Pexels.com

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Benefits of Art Therapy

Vanessa Morgan — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:06:46 +0000

People in the modern world experience tons of stress and pressure daily. We are pressured daily at work, during studies, and just in our everyday routine. There are various ways of relieving stress — from yoga to swimming. However, not many people know that art therapy is one of the most efficient ways of getting rid of stress.

Art therapy is also called expressive therapy. Can you imagine it was launched in the 1940s? It was determined that creative expressions were one of the best ways to get into people’s thoughts and emotions. Since people were not burdened by the internet, computers, and smartphones, art was the best way to distract their attention from annoying routines and just relax.

Art therapy is often combined with talk therapy. It helps people cope with their emotions and increase their self-confidence. It decreases anxiety and stress. Art therapy includes a variety of activities. For instance, painting, sculpting, drawing, etc.

If you haven’t tried art therapy yet, you definitely should because it has a wide range of benefits and positive effects on your mind and body. Researchers say that art therapy can treat a number of health issues. Let’s take a closer look at the biggest advantages of such therapy.

Image: Valerie Titova for Unsplash

STRESS RELIEF

The first and foremost benefit of art therapy would be its ability to reduce the level of stress. This is, actually, the goal of all types of therapy. When you attend yoga classes or sing, your main goal is to get rid of the accumulated stress. Art therapy is not an exception. You should do it to relieve stress.

Art therapy alone may not play the role of full-fledged mental treatment and it should be used in tandem with traditional therapy. However, it can be used quite successfully without any other components to reduce stress. The greatest thing about art therapy is that it is not for artists. You do not have to be really talented or gifted to get rid of stress with its help.

Creating art makes you forget about the situation or people that caused stress to you. Your mind is fully focused on the process. Moreover, it is quite peaceful and makes your mind distracted. Psychologists say that women need endorphins to get rid of stress while men need testosterone to do this. Since the process of creating art is more peaceful, it cannot cause the production of testosterone but endorphins. Therefore, to reduce stress, it is more suitable for women. However, the production of endorphins makes people happy, thus, men can also benefit from art therapy and become much happier.

SELF-ESTEEM BOOST

Art therapy is one of the best ways to boost self-esteem and self-confidence if that is what you struggle with. The feeling of self-accomplishment is something that you experience when being involved in art therapy. This activity makes people appreciate their own selves and increase their self-confidence.

Although you are not doing anything special while drawing or sculpturing and you do not even have to possess any specific skills, you still feel that you are complete. When making even the smallest progress and succeeding in the process step by step, you subconsciously reach certain goals and are happy about that.

The fact that you reached even the smallest goals makes you proud of yourself and increases your confidence and self-esteem.

Image: Tim Mossholder for Unsplash

RELEASING EMOTIONS

Both men and women need to get rid of their emotional baggage from time to time. One of the ways to do it is to talk. For example, communication and active discussions with your friends can help you get rid of your emotional luggage. Not everyone has such friends though and if you are one of those lonely people who do not have anyone to share your emotions with, art therapy is the best method of doing it.

All of your fears and emotions can go away through art therapy. Why is that? Sometimes, it is quite difficult to express certain emotions like anger, fear, sadness, etc. with words. You can easily do it in art though. When drawing or sculpting, you can express all of your feelings and emotions, and this way, release the emotions that are bothering you.

ANXIETY REDUCTION

Anxiety is certainly not a rare thing in today’s world. Lots of people, regardless of their age group, experience this issue. Anxiety, stress, and depression are very common, and fighting them is often very difficult. Art therapy helps do that in combination with other types of mental therapy.

Anxiety is a very dangerous condition that requires specific attention. Students who constantly work in terms of pressure and lack of sleep often have anxiety followed by depression. Art therapy reduces anxiety a lot and helps fight it.

Image: Swapnil Dwivedi for Unsplash

BOOST LEARNING CAPACITY

Art therapy is also good or people experiencing learning difficulties. It is especially common for children or students. If you are a student who cannot focus on certain things or the learning process or your child has problems at school, you should try to correct this with the help of art therapy.

It is crucial to choose the art that is the most suitable and enjoyable for your child or you personally. Through deep concentration on the process, you will be able to increase your learning capacity and studying ability. Researchers say that art therapy boosts the academic success of children and students.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS IMPROVEMENT

Although you do not communicate with anyone while creating art, it helps boost your communication skills. Art therapy is very helpful for people within the autistic spectrum. Therefore, if you struggle with your communication skills, do not rush to attend oratory classes and try to get involved in art therapy first.

Art therapy may not be a very common treatment for various mental disorders, however, it is one of the greatest ways to get rid of the burden of emotions, boost your self-esteem and academic success, fight stress, anxiety, or depression, and just spend an enjoyable time. To get the best result from art therapy, you should choose something you really enjoy. This could be anything — from drawing to photography or collaging. There are multiple ways to find yourself in art and you do not have to be a great artist to make it happen.

Author’s Bio: Vanessa Morgan is a SEO writer for FreeEssayWriter who helps businesses boost their Google rankings successfully. Vanessa also writes amazing essays for students on various topics. She holds an MBA degree, however, is interested in versatile topics and fields. This allows Vanessa to create top-notch papers for students that make them happy about their degrees.

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Art Therapy Still Matters

Jane Travis — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 19:00:41 +0000

The development of fine motor skills of the hands develops and improves our brain when we are small children. As we grow up, activating the fine motor skills of our hands takes on a different job. And often, it’s not teaching but healing. Even in challenging patients, art therapy eliminates apathy and lack of initiative, leads to stable remission, often replacing drug treatment. What can we say about the effect of art therapy on healthy people?

Art therapy has long left the office of a physician-psychotherapist or a physician-rehabilitation therapist and becomes important to expansive masses of people. It diagnoses a person’s condition, and heals, and brings that deep positive feeling of oneself, which is called happiness. And all because art therapy satisfies the most basic fundamental human need. This is the need for self-actualization. It is no secret that many people, living outwardly quite successful lives, neglect this basic need, which causes chronic dissatisfaction with their being in the world and makes us unhappy.

But the most striking results of art therapy (visible immediately with the naked eye) help relieve a state of severe stress. There is no equal among other psychotherapeutic techniques. We all know that art and creativity have a positive effect on human consciousness. But what happens inside the human brain, and how does art therapy generally affect a person? Find out below!

Things to Consider When Undergoing Art Therapy

Art therapy should be used regularly as an ongoing stress prevention technique. And even better, having previously turned to a psychotherapist or psychologist, it can help solve problems comprehensively.

Why is that? Quite simply, creative activity has a unique property. It brings to the surface (a sheet of paper or canvas, for example) everything hidden that we are unaware of and that is latently suffocating us. Right-brain drawing, sculpting, etc., cleverly bypass the censorship of our consciousness, which bypasses negative thoughts, genuine experiences, and in general, everything related to deep unconscious processes. The censorship of consciousness does not let words pass, but it is powerless over images, over the choice of color spots, over scribbles.

First and Foremost Commandment

You must forever forget any comment or thought that you are not an artist or that a cow you have drawn is easily confused with a dog! The task of drawing beautifully is not a consideration and is even contraindicated. Here we are faced with a completely different task. Here we splash out, drawing out all the accumulated stress to improve your health.

Second Commandment

Drawing art therapy (or sculpture or installation) should be analyzed primarily by the author himself and not by the psychotherapist. If you work alone, there can be no talk of a psychotherapist and his interpretations. Why is that? The fact is that art therapy is an insight-oriented technique. That is, it is aimed at achieving insight.

This means that when analyzing his creation, a person himself understands something about himself and his problem, which no one, even the most sophisticated psychotherapist, will tell him for any amount of money. Moreover, it is believed that the patient is obliged to come to this understanding himself. This does not happen the first time and never immediately after the completion of the drawing. But it always happens.

Third Commandment

In any case, even if you hardly understand what and why you are doing, even if you are still far from insight, just remember that art therapy heals by the fact that you are doing it. You may not understand the mechanism, but it will become easier for you after creating the art. Remember this always.

What are the General Art Therapy Exercises and Recommendations

First, if aggression and other very negative, destructive emotions choke you, you should always prefer modeling. In this case, art therapy and, in particular, drawing will only irritate you, but modeling, on the contrary, will calm you down.

Second, always and especially at first, prefer drawing art therapy to pasting collages cut from magazines. Collage making is the last, highest, and final stage of art therapy work when all the main work has already been done, and you can enjoy pure contemplation with a minimum of creative effort. Start with a drawing.

Third, always have the widest selection of color palettes for art therapy — pencils, paints, or markers. However, you might prefer paints because the brush is more flexible and accessible. The force of pressure and the severity of the line, which a pencil requires, are less conducive to liberation, especially at first.

Fluid Art and How it Heals

The first thing that most people think of about art therapy is drawing, displaying their feelings on the canvas with the help of paints. In 2021, fluid art is gaining momentum as an avenue for art therapy. What is it? It’s the art of flow, the flow of fluids and images.

An abstract painting is created using acrylic or other paints. Each participant in the class uses a set of paints from 6 to 12 colors and creates a picture using flows of paint, mixing them with the movement of the canvas or paper.

In general, fluid art therapy has a very positive effect on a person since immersion in the process and flow is somewhat similar to meditation — creating a sense of calmness, without assessing what is happening, and just observing the process. After their creations, each participant may share their own experiences and what they saw in their picture. Often, paintings can have both whole images and abstract ones. For example, with the help of blue colors, images of water and sky are created, then when mixed with green, images of our planet are added, and more to tell the image’s story.

Author Bio: Jane Travis is a renowned psychologist in Great Britain. She has a higher philological and psychological education. She works as a writer for the BestCustomWriting.com service. She also regularly conducts master classes and speaks at various psychological conferences throughout England.

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Meet the Artist: Rachel Tribble

Hannah Smith — Fri, 21 May 2021 18:47:36 +0000

American contemporary artist Rachel Tribble’s award-winning, watercolor and oil paintings are recognized for their meditative qualities and serene use of color. Initially working in the jewelry and fashion accessory industries and she ultimately left the design world to pursue her evolving fine art. She introduced her multi-media installation and performance work into the alternative venues of rock nightclubs during the rise of the EDM movement. Inside that arena, she created works that brought the viewer’s attention to the natural world and sparked esoteric and social questions.

Q: Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

A: My name is Rachel Tribble. I’m a painter, I primarily working in oil and watercolor. Occasionally I make other things: 3D objects and gilded works.

Q: What is your background?

A: I grew up in New York and studied fine art at Syracuse University and The National Academy in New York City. I also studied jewelry design. The painting of gemstones is where I really learned color and how to paint light and dimension. In the 1990s I did a lot of performance work and multi-media installation work, a little in New York, but primarily in nightclubs in Minneapolis, where I lived for 9 years. I have always been environmentally aware and the majority of my performance and installation work focused on the esoteric and social consequences of the human disconnection from the Earth. Those works lead me to be invited into the Native American community in and around Minneapolis. I took a few years off from the artwork as I learned from the people and worked for a company partnering with Tribal communities. During that time I began a series of paintings that were entirely elemental and inspired by the Ojibwe traditional beadwork. In 2007 I showed them for the first time. The work attracted the attention of Disney and I was invited to create a poster for the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World. The poster won an award for Disney and started what is now over a decade of collaborations with the company and showings at Epcot. I have done other commercial work and I regularly work with private collectors, galleries and sell online.

Q: What art do you most identify with?

A: That’s a really hard question. I love art, of all kinds. But I think it’s the silence of Rothko’s color fields and the solitude of Robert Kipniss that touch my spirit. But equally, I relate to the deliberate and beautiful chaos of Lance Letscher and Jackson Pollack.

Dreaming Tree by Rachel Tribble

Q: How Do You Work?

A: The paintings usually come in dreams or spurts of imagery in my mind like I’m watching a film. There is a knowing that I need to get this down before it disappears so I’ll just sketch it out on a sticky note, anything really, just to get it out of my head. Then I start with a watercolor study and work it out there, on paper before committing to canvas. But equally, I just go for it and commit to canvas without even making a sketch; especially if I understand the size of the work and the texture of the image I’m seeing. If it’s clear that the thing is oil and not work on paper, and there’s no need for me to work it out ahead of the canvas. At the point where I begin, it’s not just the image I explore. There always seems to be a tonal frequency and a singular point that the painting emerges from. I’ll spend time finding that sound meditation and the point to start. When the work begins it is layers of color on top of the texture, I cant even say I am fully conscious of what I’m doing, it just begins to work itself out. I love to paint in the dark, with all the overhead lights off and only one or two of my studio lamps on in the background, just enough light to show me the canvas. So many times I will be working and the sun will disappear into evening and night, and I don’t realize I’m in the dark. I love when that happens. The work is always emotional and often three or four of eight or more paintings will come all at once. It’s like an explosion of imagery and paint and it’s hard when that happens. I never want to leave the studio when I’m painting like that and it becomes hard to hold the balance of everyday life and being in the world of the painting. I’ve been known to sleep near the paintings just to understand and see them.

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far as an artist?

A: Receiving emails from people who live with my work or have recently found it. Telling me how a painting helped them through a really hard time in life or crisis. Especially during the quarantine, when some prints sold and I found out they were being purchased for the nurse’s break room in a hospital that was overwhelmed with COVID patients. And emails from an emergency room nurse in New York City and a hospital administrator in Michigan, both of whom were struggling with what was happening and found my work online. A similar type of thing happened in 2008 during the economic crisis. It’s incredibly humbling and makes me realize that what I do is not just me working, it is in service to others.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: My sons. Also my dear friend and watercolorist, Coco Connelly, and environmental activist, Joni Tobacco. I also follow Doctor Elvis Francois on Instagram.

Time Here by Rachel Tribble

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: Don’t give up.

Q: How Has Your Career As An Artist Shifted in the Past Year?

A: This is a huge question. Like everyone I had to find a way to sell, I was already working towards being online, so I just focused there. I struggle with social media and all that goes with it. It’s completely opposite of my personality and I realized I had to find a balance with what it meant to be online and if I was going to continue to sell, what would I focus on? I began to expand into different areas, trying out different platforms and ways of selling. What was nice is that my collectors and some people who just followed me but had never actually purchased a painting started to buy. As people moved and redecorated… I sold a lot of work. I started thinking I’d just paint right through the quarantine but then the fear and overwhelm of what was happening in the world started to show itself. I didn’t know what I was painting anymore, nothing made sense to me. And then my teenage son started to crash into a significant depression. I was terrified of what was happening to him. I didn’t go into the studio at all. I was working in my kitchen and the paintings became small. I went from medium and large-scale canvases to small watercolor paintings and then even smaller, miniature paintings that fit into a matchbox. I’ve always been a color-oriented painter, but the color started to disappear. Grey, silver, black, and white replaced the monochromatic expressions of jewel-tone color I had always been slightly obsessed with. Then the work went white and silver. Silent. Not quiet, just silent. I think that’s partially what I’m dealing with right now. I think I’m still working out of that complete state of overwhelm and panic. Feeling like static on a television screen. I’m back in the studio and doing some larger canvases again. I’m finding hints of color and dimension in ways I never knew I could find them before. The biggest change is that I started doing some figurative work along with the elemental. Silent spirits and protector beings emerging from the light. I’m not ready to fully show those paintings yet. But probably soon.

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Why Leaders Need to Remember That They Are Human Too

Jeanet Wade — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 17:10:06 +0000

Leading a business is a challenge under any circumstances. It’s a judging act of managing strategies, projects, and teams. It’s tracking the moving parts and changing priorities, and it’s supporting and up-leveling people. In a year that has dished up one rollercoaster after another it’s natural for us to feel that we have to do more, be more, take more than ever onto plates that were already full.

I see so many leaders who are rising to that challenge in astonishing ways, They’re taking care of business, and the people their business depends on, using every ounce of creativity they can corral.

Some of my clients have even commented that this remote work thing isn’t all bad – in fact, it can be super-productive. Their teams are head-in-the-game focused, rising to the challenge of using technology to cover the functions that their shared workspaces once filled, joking about the one-minute commute from bedroom to office and the new “business on top, party on the bottom” dress code.

But I believe that this pandemic is going to prove, perhaps faster and more definitively than I expected when I first read it, that what John Naisbitt wrote in Megatrends: Ten New Directions Transforming Our Lives will be absolutely prophetic.

“The most exciting breakthrough of the 21^st century will occur not because of technology, but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human.”

I included that quote when writing The Human Team, which is about the importance of bridging the gap between nature and nurture before I’d ever heard of COVID-19, and as the pandemic has unfolded, I’ve watched the effects on leaders and teams and seen how true those words are in this emerging business environment.

Here’s what leaders have to remember, especially now; just because you’re the leader doesn’t make you less human. And to harness the brilliance of your team you have to embrace your own humanness as well. You have your own unique brilliance, and if you aren’t bringing that full and authentic brilliance to the team, you’re making yourself the weakest link in the chain. But to do that you have to take care of more than the business and the people who make the business possible. You have to take care of yourself.

Now, this isn’t an article about self-care and I’m not going to recommend that you make sure you eat good food, take long walks, and sit in a bubble bath with a glass of wine or a cup of tea now and again. Selfcare is important, physical health is important, and if you love bubble baths, please enjoy them liberally. But just as I discovered after nearly a decade as a Certified EOS Implementer® and more than 500 sessions in my “Business Laboratory”, employing nurturing activities in the workplace won’t serve any purpose if the team’s basic human needs aren’t being met, and no amount of nutrition, exercise, and relaxation will keep a business leader at peak performance if their needs aren’t being met as well.

As we seek to master “remote leadership” it is easy to become isolated, to give up our peer group meetings, or the happy hour time with other entrepreneurs and business leaders. We might find ourselves pouring all our energy into our work – clients and team – without giving ourselves permission to ask, “Who am I, where am I, who are my peers, what is it going to take for me to be my best, and how are my needs being met?”

I’m finding that The Six Facets of Human Needs, which is how I’ve defined those universal human needs that, much as Maslow’s Hierarchy illustrates the requirements for an individual to self-actualize, provide a framework for the requirements of a group of people to realize their potential as a business team, are just as applicable to business leaders as they are to the teams they lead. So, before you put on those tennis shoes or pour your glass of wine or cup of tea give some thought to this list of needs and how you can make sure you’re meeting them for yourself as well as your team.

1. Clarity

We need to be clear on the bigger vision, the expectations, and the requirements. Without clarity, we feel uncertain and confused. Give yourself focused time to get clear on your core values and priorities and what part you need to play in the business to move forward most easily and powerfully.

2. Connection

We need a sense of belonging, solidarity, and community. Without connection, we’re isolated, insecure, and easily threatened. Plug into your support network and find ways to connect at a human level to your peers and team.

3. Contribution

We need to feel that what we do matters. Without contribution, we feel insignificant and disengaged. Finding ways to contribute to your community as well as to projects within your business can bring it home for you just how important your unique brilliance really is.

4. Challenge

We are wired to strive for something greater. Especially in crisis, we need structured and healthy challenges. This might be the perfect opportunity to learn a new skill or take over a project in an area where you will have the encouragement and support to succeed.

5. Consideration

Everyone needs to be seen and regarded as a whole person. Without consideration from others, we feel invisible. Regardless of their role and status, leaders need to surround themselves with people who honor their humanity and recognize their inherent worth. Hopefully, you have the consideration of your team but ensure that you’re building a peer “tribe” of people who value you just for who you are.

6. Confidence

Confidence gives us the ability to trust ourselves and the world around us and to move through, even embrace, risk and failure. It’s natural that you’ll doubt yourself sometimes but make a daily practice of being grateful for both successes and failures, acknowledging your gifts, and allowing yourself to celebrate your unique, brilliant, human self.

Because, in crisis or any other time, to be a truly effective leader, and to get the best out of those you lead, you can’t be afraid to be fully human, embracing both your unique brilliance and your universal human needs. As this year winds down, I remind myself and my clients more often than ever that it’s okay to be human. In fact, the most important thing we can be right now is human. Just remember that you are a human being, not just a human doing, and to be your best self requires more than nurture or self-care. It demands that the needs that come with being human are being met for you as well as for your team.

About Jeanet Wade:

Jeanet Wade, the ForbesBooks author of The Human Team: So, You Created a Team But People Showed Up! (www.thehumanteambook.com), is a Certified EOS® Implementer and the founder of the consulting firm The Business Alchemist. As a facilitator, teacher, and coach, Wade helps companies implement the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a set of business concepts, principles, and tools that help business owners and executives run more successful businesses.

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Important Factors to Consider When Looking for a New Art Studio

Maria Thompson — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 17:22:54 +0000

There are many factors to consider when looking for a new art studio, as it can significantly impact the artist’s work. This article can help you understand what to look for and what to watch out for when choosing a new art studio space.

Determine what kind of space you need

Artists need the space to plan, make, show, sell and store their art. When determining the kind of space you need, consider the type of art you intend to do in that place. A painter does not require the same sort of space as a musician. Maybe you’ll want to look for a suitable pre-designed studio for your type of art?

Some artists need administrative or office space as well. Art studios for theater groups or musical bands, for example, need space for a desk and files. If you are going to sell the artwork, you need a retail setup for handling cash. Do you need storage space for finished pieces, supplies, and equipment you use rarely? Make a list of things you need in your new studio and from your new studio.

Photo Credit: Pexels -Valeria Ushakova

Set your budget and define your properties

Looking for a new art studio is almost like looking for a second home because you will probably spend a lot of time there. That’s why you need to set your priorities and know your budget at the outset. Choosing what you’ll prioritize depends on you and the form of your art.

It’s essential to figure out how much you can afford to spend on a space before negotiating an art studio lease. Write out two lists of expenses. Expenses related to the initial setup will probably include:

Security deposit
Moving fees
Furnishing
Decorating, etc.

Monthly ongoing expenses usually include:

Rent
Utilities
Supplies

If your budget is tight, you may need to share the space with other artists and be open to various kinds of arrangements and compromises.

Some spaces may already have the equipment you need, and it’s included in the rent. Other places may seem cheaper at first, but without the specific tools you need, there may be additional costs.

What is vital for your art?

Most artists are looking for big windows, lots of natural light and good ventilation. Good lighting (both natural and artificial) is crucial to show off your work. Airflow and access to power for art tools is also pretty important for every artist. You don’t want the power to go out in the middle of creating a masterpiece. Furthermore, some artists need to be able to modify the space, and if you’re renting an art studio, your landlord will need to allow it. Good acoustics is crucial for music rehearsals since it will make practicing easier. Also, some artists need soundproofed studios for their recordings.

You know what time of day is most creative for you, so make sure that you have access to your new studio space during that time to be able to create the best work. If you balance your full-time job with your art career, having access to the studio before or after your shift is crucial. Some art studios provide tenants with 24-hour access, but some creative co-working studio spaces may have different rules.

Photo Credit: Pexels – Yaroslav Shuraev

Choose the right location

You probably don’t want a long commute to your art studio, so carefully check public transportation possibilities and the availability of parking spaces nearby. If your art atelier is far away from your home, it might be challenging to get there regularly. Studio spaces you look at should be located in a safe and accessible area. Proximity to your suppliers will also play a significant role. Moreover, if your studio is really near your home and you can walk there, that walk to and from the studio can help your mental and physical well-being and get you in a state of creative flow. You may draw inspiration from various daily routines, such as riding a bike to your studio. If that’s the case, check if there is a space to store your bike.

KEEP SAFETY IN MIND

Building and studio safety is an essential factor to consider when looking for a new art studio, especially if you have expensive equipment. Ask about fire escapes and fire sprinklers. Space should also have all proper city permits. Furthermore, ask the current occupants about electric hook-ups and temperature. And don’t forget to consider insurance.

Noise levels matter when looking for a new art studio

An artist also needs to consider noise levels and whether others, for example, neighbors, will tolerate the noise they make. Also, if there is any noise that can affect your concentration, it may not be the place for you. A studio close to a freeway or a train station or a place under the airport’s flight path is probably not a good solution for an artist.

Photo Credit: Pexels – Pixabay

Insulation and ventilation

If you’re working with odorous materials, it’s crucial to ask about ventilation. Some old buildings have poor insulation and no air conditioning. If that’s the case, you’ll need to consider whether a fan during the summer and a space heater during the winter will be necessary. Will they be enough and safe to use in that space? The electrical bills will also be higher in that case. Finally, the direction that windows face will also impact heat because of the sunlight.

Understand leases and get to know your property manager

It would be best to understand all the legal responsibilities and the rights of being a tenant. So far, signing at least a one-year lease has shown to be the best solution for an artist. It’s always advisable to have a lawyer review the lease to protect the artwork and business. Signing a one-year lease will provide a bit of stability and a chance to focus on studio practice. Artists who are just starting out need to focus on what they’re doing and allow their work to evolve in order to be able to sell their art. On the other hand, long-term leases are better for those consistent in their practice and volume of work.

Final thoughts

When looking for a new art studio, you need to know your needs and priorities. Being realistic and willing to compromise will make looking for a studio less stressful as you visit space after space.

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Author bio:

Maria Thompson works as a manager at Divine Moving and Storage. She has a deep passion for all kinds of art, even though she’s primarily focused on painting. Maria is currently searching for a studio space where she can dedicate more time to her art. Being an occasional blog writer as well, she decided to write this article as a guide for those who may find themselves in the same situation.

The post Important Factors to Consider When Looking for a New Art Studio appeared first on Art Business News.

“Live in Color” with Rita Hisar

Hannah Smith — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 20:44:06 +0000

Rita Hisar’s motto is to “live in color.” The Italian/Czech contemporary artist has been drawing since she could hold a pencil in her hand. Growing up on a farm in Canada allowed Rita to take in at all the beauty that surrounded her, from the rose petals blooming in spring to animals being born to leaves falling from trees in autumn. She spent a lot of time drawing things she found beautiful, which shows through her pieces today.

At a young age, Rita wanted to be an artist but didn’t think it was a steady career choice. She had the opportunity to study and work in law but never stopped creating art. The self-taught artist decided it was time to turn her passion into a full-time job, so Rita attended OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) and Toronto School of Art.

Rita uses acrylic paint and a knife to create her pieces. She draws her inspiration from pop art but works with bright pastel colors to show optimism and hope within her paintings. “Painting for me is a spontaneous, improvisational process. I play with colors, juxtaposing them together to create an emotion.”

She is inspired by the bold colors of the Caribbean and the passion of pop culture figures, like Prince, Angelina Jolie, and even artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Frida Kahlo.

Jean-Michel Basquiat: An Original

The pandemic didn’t stop Rita from creating art, and most importantly, selling art. Her piece “Jean-Michel Basquiat An Original” recently sold on Redwood Art Group’s online marketplace. This piece was also recently published in the lifestyle magazine, Vie’s, March issue, which is dedicated to arts and culture.

Using a knife to paint gives texture to her pieces and allowing them to come to life. For example, in her Basquiat piece, you can see and feel the strands of his hair and eyebrows, which makes it feel more life-like and real. Rita truly captured Basquiat’s charisma and passion in her piece through his piercing gaze, showcasing a confident artist who knew who he was and what he wanted to say.

Chanel No. 5: A Beautiful Thing

During the pandemic, Rita has continued to capture beauty within her work. “Beauty is all around us in this incredible world God created, I want to celebrate it on canvas.” Aside from portraits, Rita’s collections also include Love, Landscapes, Turks and Caicos, Figures, Still Life, Animals, and Inspired by a Song. Her pieces light up a room and bring a smile to her collectors’ and followers’ faces.

To see more of Rita’s pieces visit her Redwood Art Group storefront and follow her on Instagram!

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How to Draw Inspiration From Routine

Jack Lee — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 19:27:59 +0000

We draw inspiration from the most unusual places, but exactly how does this work? We are bombarded with inspirations all the time. It is a fact that something or someone can inspire us, but when do you take the time to stop and feel it? The real question is, how do you draw inspiration from routine? Do you ever wonder why the most successful people in the world grabbed success in their life? Do you strive to know the secret behind their success? Well, we have got the answer for you. It’s none other than their “Steadfast Daily Routine,” set up by them for seeking the true essence of life.

Now the question arises, how can routine fetch success and how to draw inspiration from that routine? Not to worry, we think we’ve got it covered here with some concrete answers.

Where routine begins, and what a good routine looks like?

Heard the saying, “Early bird catches the worm?” This saying alone says everything about the role of routine in life. A well-planned routine begins from the moment of waking up early in the morning and ends with going to bed. Wait, it does not end here.

Certainly, these are the basics of a quality routine, but routine is something more. It is a broader concept that varies from person to person. Having a regular daily routine implies utilizing every second, every day in a productive way, and most importantly, in a proper order that synchronizes with time.

It is important to highlight that the routine must be in synchronization with time, i.e., the things that need to be done, as and when they are required to be done, not per the mood.

How routine is connected to physical and mental health?

Did you know that just like the clocks on our walls, our body has a clock too? This may sound strange, but it is true. According to Ayurveda and Vedic Science, our body has a biological clock within, which goes along with nature’s clock. It is most crucial to keep the biological clock in harmony with nature’s timing.

If we disturb the synchronization, the brain gets confused, and eventually, we receive signals from our body in the form of disease and illness. This is why it becomes more essential to set up a routine and follow it genuinely. Besides having physical benefits in the form of fitness, routine can also bring serene mental health in the form of peace, calmness, and self-satisfaction.

When one wakes up early, goes to a workout, meditates, has meals on time, spends the day working, goes to bed on time, it leads to a smooth life, both in terms of physical and mental health, compared to someone who starts the day by waking up at 10 a.m. and has sleepless nights.

This is why, from our earliest schooling, we’ve heard the good habit of “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Role of routine in building basic qualities of life

“Well planned is half done.” A well-planned routine makes room for all the things to be done in time. The person with a routine can easily finish up all the work to be done during the day in the given time without having to compromise on any of the work.

It’s easy to see how organized life seems when we start living according to a firm routine that we’ve set for ourselves. People struggle so hard to achieve an organized life and complain about the chaos in their life. But they fail to understand that having organized life is hidden in having a regular daily routine itself. When you have your routine planned, it is like giving yourself instructions beforehand. No constant need for planning, no confusion, no mess, no obstacles, no shortage of time, can spoil your day and the work to be accomplished. You get a clear picture of your pending work, new duties, and other things to be fulfilled — and you simply start working on them with great efficiency.

And routine saves time. Time is one of the most valuable assets in life doesn’t wait for anyone, but it can be saved with the help of routine, eliminating the time that would otherwise be wasted in planning, preparing, decision making. You achieve a structured and disciplined lifestyle.

As an artist, you need to have discipline. It is not easy for an artist to draw inspiration from their routine and follow through with their daily activities. The biggest benefit of a routine is that it helps an artist develop discipline, which is crucial for an artist to become successful. With discipline, you can improve how you handle your time and focus on what you need to do. You can more easily eliminate distractions or things that are going on around us.

As a gallery owner, you need to gain experience and run your business. It can be hard to run a business without a routine. You feel like you are in a constant state of overload and may even be coming up with excuses and feel like you have no time left to even take care of yourself. When you draw inspiration from routine, it gives you structure and accountability for your daily activities. You will have less trouble focusing on your schedule, which will lead to more time for you. As you will be able to take care of yourself, it becomes easier to focus more on your gallery.

It can be hard for an art dealer to take time off from work for a day. An art dealer’s only time is when they are at home or away from their gallery, so an art dealer needs to draw inspiration from their routine. Even if they are too tired or think that they are too busy, a routine will help them gain discipline and become more effective in their business. They will also know exactly what their next steps are, which will help their business move forward.

A person becomes more proficient with a routine in their life because they cultivate the habit of regularly doing things. In this way, you become a master of skills done on a regular basis. Routine helps you classify your jobs as more important, less important, and medium-important tasks.

Eventually, you can prioritize the tasks and work on them accordingly.

Routine also reduces the struggle to maintain constant determination. We don’t need daily determination to bathe, wash our face or brush our teeth, right? That’s because it is a regular daily routine for us. Likewise, when you have a routine you escape the need to seek a source of determination and motivation. It simply goes with the flow. Along with this smooth flow comes self-confidence, which becomes the fuel to gear up and maintain the routine with stability.

We can choose to use our routine as an inspiration, but no one truly wants to copy their routine exactly, nor does one want to become like everyone else. The great thing about routines is that they allow you to do the same thing every day. But if we are to take inspiration from routine, we can work with it and change it up. Examples of how you can work with a routine to create something inspired:

What were you dreaming about while sleeping? Take inspiration from sleeping and draw an artwork about your dreams or about sleeping — or even what you do as part of your routine before you sleep. This may include listening to a relaxing song or reading a book before falling asleep.

There’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from a routine as long as it is something that you would do anyway. Don’t be afraid to switch up your routines for a while and see what works best for you. You might give this a test by taking an hour or two every Monday for a month to work on any artwork that comes to your imagination, without worrying about making money or selling the piece. See which of those Mondays you are most inspired by.

Role of routine in cultivating hobbies

When we speak about following a daily routine, most people get the picture of a busy life, with no time for leisure. But routines don’t work that way. Instead, they reward us with more free time. When completing our routine on time, we have the rest of the time left to do things that we love, like our hobbies and other leisure activities. This brings a sense of joy as we are able to do more of the things we want in life. It is also possible that a routine can lead us toward a more stress-free life.

On a broader vision, a stable routine helps a person set goals, work towards them, achieve success, and keep a track of the success. By following a stable routine, a person can achieve basic qualities in life like punctuality, consistency, discipline, time management ability, health consciousness, better mental health, and so on, all of which are the foundation for success in the world.

To Conclude

Routine plays a magnificent role, from achieving physical health and mental health to basic qualities in life and achieving success in life. It is a medicine for most of the problems in life, be it health-related, career-related, or personal expectations. It’s the reason why health experts, monks, counselors, education providers, and almost everyone suggest the benefits of having a regular balanced routine. It may seem boring and rigid to beginners but as you start following it sincerely, it can become a source for happiness and self-satisfaction.

Routines differ from person to person on the basis of their requirements and goals. Each one of us should build our own routine. After knowing the enormous benefits you can reap from a routine, there is no place for second thoughts. Get your routines planned and set up so you can be on the road to finding a more contented, successful life.

About the Author:

Jack Lee is a journalism student at the University of Toronto and a freelance writer from ThesisHelpers.com. He is interested in a healthy lifestyle and engaging in outdoor activities, but most of the time it won’t be the case – you’ll probably find him on the couch, watching another episode of The Big Bang Theory.

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Meet the Artist: Deb Wight

Hannah Smith — Tue, 12 May 2020 19:01:23 +0000

Q: Introduce yourself – who are you and what do you do?

A: My name is Deb Wight and I am a creator. Art is in my soul, it is my true passion. My artwork is created using glass, which I hand cut myself and form each piece together to develop unique designs. I love experimenting with the layout and seeing how an image can be altered completely when the glass is laid flat or on its side. Once the glass is laid out, it gets placed onto a birch panel where I cover it in a treated copper and then finish with a resin pour. Aside from creating art, I also love doing art shows. Meeting people and seeing those who admire my work is an exciting feeling.

Q: What is your background?

A: I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. My talent developed at a young age and was nurtured through school and into college, where I received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. I’ve experimented with many forms of media over the years: pastels, mosaics, photography, acrylics on canvas, and stained glass. Before creating art full time, I had a real job for 20 years working as a computer programmer, which was creative in a way, but not nearly as fulfilling as being an artist. After being laid off, I was able to dedicate myself to art full time.

Q: How do you work?

A: I work in my studio, which was thoughtfully designed into my home in the Texas Hill Country. Being inspired by nature, we designed the studio to be full of windows. I work standing at my large table every day surrounded by the beauty of Texas.

Q: Which type of art do you most identify with?

A: Contemporary work is my favorite to both create and observe. I am moved by color and design.

Q: What has been your favorite experience so far as an artist?

A: An army base in San Antonio, Texas approached me to construct a work of art ten times the size of anything I have ever created. I developed the piece and today it hangs at the Center for the Intrepid in San Antonio to salute and honor our disabled veterans. It was truly a blessing to create.

Q: Who inspires you?

A: For years, I was inspired by the artists I met during art shows. Recently, an artist, Shima Shanti, has become a huge inspiration to me. Shima is accomplishing a lot and establishing herself in the art world, which inspires me to increase my game. It has become clear to me that I want to be a successful artist and I feel the ambition to make it happen.

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: An artist and I were once discussing selling art at shows, something he had been doing for years unlike myself. I was worried about selling and my success, so he advised me was to work large. He said, “you will never sell a $4,000 piece if you never hang one in your booth.”

Q: When you are not working, where can we find you?

A: When I’m away from my studio, I can be found doting over my toy poodle, Daisy June. She is truly a member of the family. My husband, Albert, and I have lovingly spoiled her. We both also enjoy entertaining family and friends and we love traveling. Our travels always inspire me to create new and fresh work.

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