If I go to an Art Gallery, I come out more at peace with the world and happier. Something somewhere connects to my soul. It can bring calmness and joy at stressful times. I saw Renoir’s luncheon of the boating party in the Philipps collection in Washington.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luncheon_of_the_Boating_Party

The date was September 14th, 2001, and I was stranded, alone and despairing of humanity. The painting is vibrant, huge, and magnificent. It took my breath away, brought tears to my eyes and brought me joy, peace, and hope in a tumultuous world.  

On a more practical note, I dabble with drawing and painting. I find that the process is absorbing rather than the result (which is often discarded).  Time disappears as you are immersed in a beautiful world, it feels like a form of meditation, and everything outside the bubble is forgotten. For me it’s a holiday from relentless rumination. 

People often think they are not artistic, but that isn’t true, to some degree we all are. Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that…... Fledgling artists often get overwhelmed by a blank piece of paper and performance nerves. Many think that you have to produce a realistic photograph of what you see, but that is not important. Good art conveys emotion and that is communicated not through accuracy but by painting or drawing what you feel. There is no right or wrong. 

For visual stimulation and particularly if you like colours: Here is an interesting link to an artist describing watercolour alchemy. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY4RiTHmT4E

I love the bit at the beginning of the video where the colours dance and play in the water. Then it seems a metaphor for life that when we mix up the beauty with a brush it is disrupted into a muddy mess.

So I guess what I am saying, is have a go, try some art, whatever takes your fancy, and see if it helps. Or maybe you already do and can comment on if it helps/or doesn’t help you.

Daisy

A Moodscope member