The Art of Letting Go: Finding Peace Through Creative Expression

Let your art release emotional burdens and foster a sense of inner peace.

I don't know about you, but in regard to the role art is supposed to play in my life, I always sensed that those around me would automatically suggest two main stereotypes. The first, is once you identified yourself as an artist (illustrator, painter, sculptor, etc.), some genius would tell you "Oh that's nice, you just like to waste time drawing." or "You're selling that for how much? No way, come on give it to me for X amount" or "Is it free? oh okay." - as they snatch it up and stuff it down their purse. And the second identifier was, "Oh you're an artist, well you should aim to be famous and get showcased in galleries."

From time immemorial of my mortal existence, I have always "known" that my art was given to me for my own healing, my personal therapist. If I felt overwhelmed, I drew, if I was depressed, I drew, if I felt anger or rage, I definitely drew. It was cathartic. It wasn't easy. The society and culture I grew up in, did not value one bit the creative gift in a person. It was so lame, that if you were caught reading a book, even if it was some 50 cent pocket quick reads, you were mocked and labeled as boring, ignorant and stupid. If they caught a glance of your sketches, you were looked as weird, quirky, oddball and yes....stupid. Trust me, this kind of attitude was not limited to any specific social class, it was ramped throughout, even among those who could afford to fly to Miami for a weekend shopping spree....mind boggling.

My sanctuary was my Abuelito's library, he had books of all types. By twelve, I was reading literary pieces that were probably not appropriate for a tween, but it taught me about human behavior, through romanticized historical figures, twisted ideologies and famous painters, it was limited to European painters, but that was the starting point. Once I had the chance to leave my country of birth and meet people from other countries, I learned just how vast art was present across countries, cultures and faiths.

Let me make a pause here, if you want to be a famous artist, go for it, I just don't have enough narcicism in my introverted self to really persue that. If you want to make a living from your art, go for it, I have relied on my art for extra income off and on and it not only help solve my financial burden at that time, but it also help me meet new people through clients, and hone my communication skills, and most importantly it help me to learn how to stand firm on the value and price I put on my art work. My art is not a barganing chip at a flea market, my art is a skill honed into a jewel that has it's value. If that jewel is not of your liking, please keep walking, I'm sure you will find what you are looking for from another artist's hands.

The use of art in your life as an artist can extend it's purpose into these elements mentioned earlier, if used correctly it can bring great reward and satisfaction. But art will always hold on to its root purpose. A fun, creative filtering safe space for our emotions and burdens we absorb by our daily interaction in the grind called life, a.k.a. the rat race.

When it comes to using my art as therapy, I am not as methodical, I do enough of that for my art business. I go back to basics and how I use to do when I was a child and needed that escape. I strategically placed my sketchbook and pens, pencils, crayons, etc. where I could reach them at anyhour and any day. I usually begin with just picking a color that reflects my mood and if even that is a difficult choice to make because I am so stuck or so numb, I just grab and go. Start coloring the page. Then my brain will kind of snap out of its funk a little bit and I instinctly grab the pen or pencil to outline the abstract looking markings my crayon or marker did seconds before. Then I stop, look, ask my brain, "do you recognize anything here? a shape, an animal, a symbol?" If I hear nothing, I keep cross hatching, stippling, smudging. Until I can see something emerge. Sometimes it takes a serious tone and I end up creating a surrealistic piece and other times, I just want my wry humor to process it and some quirky cartoon character shows up expressing some deep thought, dumbed down for a punch line.

I look again, I've regained my composure, I smile and close the sketchbook and probably go have a shot of coffee at 9 pm at night. But I am back again, have a calm resolve, I feel grounded again, clear headed. It's like that feeling you get when you wake up to a rainy day (I love rainy days) and you don't have to do anything important like work or get kids off to school. And you can ball up in your favorite nook on the living room sofa and drink your longed-for coffee (yes, I love coffee) as you mindlessly gaze out the window with a silly smirk on your face, thinking of nothing, but you are content, maybe even happy, cozy and feel protected.

Many a times I have done this process, and while perusing old sketchbooks; old thumbnails and sketches have been reimagined into new ideas and pieces I share today.

So the next time you feel struck by burdens and unruly emotions, open up the old sketchbook and just start cross hatching, stippling and smudging. It will show you just how reliable you are to reel yourself back into center and "fix" yourself in a very natural, instinctive and creative way that you had all along. Just give yourself that greenlight to turn it into part of your way of life.

Thank you for taking your precious time to read these lines, always appreciated.

And remember to keep on Sketching - A.S.