Hello Art Lovers,

I hope you found the strategies in our first entry of the Artist Journal entry helpful and are implementing a financial plan. As we continue this journey of making our life—and retirement years - truly enriching, I want to dive a bit deeper into a topic close to my heart: the magic of art. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not. Art can be a powerful vehicle for healing, developing passions, building community, and personal growth.

Art holds that special touch that heals our soul and brings us peace in surprising ways. I have friends and family who have started making art more recently, in a variety of media, from painting to digital art, and the personal growth and sense of satisfaction in life was amazing.

Those of you who know me well are aware that I love the idea of magic in my life. I look for synchronicity, feelings of pure joy, and a certain sparkle that makes me smile. Whether you consider yourself an artist or not, a wonderful way to capture this mystical life force is through creative pursuits that can transform the mundane days into rich, unique experiences.

The Therapeutic Power of Art

Changes in life, such as a move, a new job, a new school, and yes, even retirement, can be super stressful. For that matter, life in general can be stressful. One of the beautiful aspects of the arts—and in this case, visual art—is its ability to heal. Art can transform your mental and emotional landscape during times of stress.

When I feel stressed or challenged, one of the best ways for me to relax is to pick up paper and pen and draw. Making art and being creative is a simple way to recenter, relax, and lift or calm your spirit. The artwork doesn’t need to be realistic or even “good”; simple lines are often the most effective and relaxing way to start this sort of exercise. Zentangles, which are basically line designs and doodles, are an example of what I’m talking about.

As we all are deeply aware, the pandemic took an emotional toll on us all. When we returned to the classroom, the concept of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) became a necessary tool in the classroom. One SEL strategy that is super effective and easy for anyone to practice is called neurographic art. Using sharpies, draw a continuous line around the paper for about 20-30 seconds. Beforehand, we contemplate issues, problems, and concerns you are experiencing. After drawing the line open up each intersecting line by smoothing in the areas where the lines intersect. As you do so, imagine you are unknotting or releasing worries and negative thoughts. the activity becomes very relaxing, a sort of meditation. Details such as color, pattern, or even words or shapes. You can feel the stress melt away while undertaking this simple art activity. The completed artworks are varied like fingerprints. I especially love this type of art activity because no talent is needed - everyone is successful.

Another fun SEL project for art is collaborative work. Small groups work on a large artwork together. Start by drawing large geometric shapes around the paper, then add lines to connect the shapes, and then paint in the newly created spaces with bright colors. This is a fun, playful way of being creative, communicating, and collaborating. Collaborative art can loosen up both the soul and the artistic process. By limiting colors and using only big brushes so details go out the window, the activity is about the process, not the result—although the results are fun to see as well.

There are many other ways we can use art as a healing tool, including working with a licensed art therapist. But even if you don’t have the intent of using art for therapeutic purposes, chances are the innate properties of creating will lead to some inner healing.

Rediscovering Passion

Having interests, passions, hobbies - those are the things that make our lives more interesting and fulfilling. Those things also make us more interesting to others by adding depth to ourselves. Retirement is the perfect time to rediscover passions we may have set aside during our busy working years. For me, that passion is painting and working on my creative business. I’ve known so many people who, in their retirement, have developed and renewed artistic passions. Two of my siblings found their passions quilting and creative writing. Another friend learned watercolor, and her talent has grown exponentially. Another is pursuing her love of the arts by becoming a voice-over artist.

If you’re not sure where to start, think about what used to bring you joy as a child. Did you love drawing, playing with clay, or perhaps knitting? Retirement is your chance to explore those interests again. This is where the magic in life can truly be found Local art classes, online tutorials, and workshops can provide guidance and inspiration. My favorite book for helping re-ignite passion and creativity is “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron. Her guide for self-discovery through journaling and other activities will spark your imagination and get those creative juices flowing. The morning pages that Julia advocates is how I find a spark of magic each morning. I have made it into a bit of a ritual, coffee, journal, and writing. I call it “pushing out the poop” in order to make way for the good stuff: ideas bubble up, art ideas, poetry, stories and songs enter into my writing. There is also a lot of crap, list making, doodles that are really the poop. but when that is all gone, I have space for creativity, art, exploration, and pure enjoyment of being alive. Without this special time I can see a difference in my life.

Building Community

Art has this incredible ability to bring people together. Joining an art class or workshop can be a wonderful way to meet new people and build a sense of community. I’ve found that sharing the creative process with others not only enhances my skills but also creates lasting friendships.

Loneliness and isolation are a sad part of our techno driven world. As we become more heavily involved with technology we tend to spend less time in community. But we can use technology to our advantage by looking for community online, I have made some great connections that have been built from on-line communities. Last year, when I began my creative business journey, I signed up for some courses, including “Leverage Your Art” with Stacie Bloomfield, and Liz Kohler Brown’s The Studio. These platforms have made a splash because of their powerful learning and sharing communities. They are a place for both new and experienced artists to communicate, take classes, get art critiques and make connections. While taking the “Leverage Your Art” course, I signed up for a Study Buddy Group. We started to meet weekly Zoom for support, feedback, and community. We developed a small community within the larger group of thousands. We found the group so beneficial that we continue to connect with monthly meetings where we continue to support each other in our Art journey.

I know that I need real life human connections as well. I can go into serious isolation if I am not forced to engage. Since I know this about myself I have decided to put myself out there and apply to be a Docent at a wonderful Baltimore Museum called the American Visionary Arts Museum. I start training in September, I am very excited to be volunteering at an Art Museum. Some other things you can do to build and connect to community:

1. Research and join art groups in your community.

2. Check out Meet-Up they have tons of groups that cover all sorts of topics, or you can start your own group!

3. Look for classes at your local community college.

4. Find volunteer opportunities at Museums, National, State or local parks. Google Volunteer with the arts for locations near you.

5. Start or join a book club, cooking club, travel club - whatever strikes your fancy!

Personal Growth Through Art

Engaging with art can lead to profound and personal growth. It can be a journey of self-discovery, where each piece you create teaches you something new about yourself. One of the most obvious ways art has helped me grow is through its ability to help me stop and not just look, but to really see things. Art has taught me that sometimes I think I see something that is not actually there. When I start to draw and stop looking at my subject, what goes onto the paper can change drastically from reality. I am technically a “realistic painter”; really good at painting what I see. But this aspect of my art also makes me feel very anxious, tight, and confined. It feels like working a math problem rather than creating art. If I allow myself to be more open, to let go of trying of make my image look “perfect”, my art flows from my hand effortlessly. My art takes bloom. It’s strange that I have to work to let this happen- kind of like meditation, it takes ongoing practice. Perhaps others don’t have this issue, but “letting go and letting art” is the area of personal growth for me,

Art encourages us to step out of our comfort zones, embrace vulnerability, and express our authentic selves. It’s a powerful tool for self-reflection and growth. Whether you’re trying a new technique, experimenting with different mediums, or simply doodling in a sketchbook, each act of creation is a step towards understanding yourself better.

Conclusion

So, if you haven't already, I encourage you to pick up that brush, pencil, or clay. Allow yourself the freedom to create and see how it transforms your days. Art has a magical way of making our lives richer, more meaningful, and full of joy.

So art lover, let me know where you are in your art journey in the comments below. Are you a novice or experienced artist? Are you coming back to the arts or do you already have an established practice? What other topics are you interested in hearing about?

Click this link to join my Email List!

Thanks for hanging out with me today!

PEACE,

Inga