Monday, April 6, 2026

The Importance of Creating

 

I want to be a good visual artist, I do. 

And I do okay when someone is guiding me step by step. 

But when left on my own, 

to create something new, 

I find that images get stuck in my head

And I don’t know how to get them out. 

Landscapes, animals, people, or anything realistic become out of reach and so

Abstract I go, 

Usually with rainbow colors, 

Because choosing color palettes is not a forte either! 

 

So when Barb the Great introduced me to neurographic art last week, I latched on. 

No matter what you start with, 

No matter where you begin, 

No matter what colors you choose, 

You end up successful,

With something lovely to show. 

And almost lost importantly than that, 

The process is literally healing. 

Slowing down, 

Setting an intention, 

Drawing a line, 

Smoothing out the rough edges, 

Adding color. 

It’s very calming and very symbolic of what time can do to the rough edges of life. 

 

Over the weekend, I had a little bout with anxiety. 

To me, anxiety feels sharp and piercing,

Like a cut. 

I employed all my dealing with irrational anxiety tools:

Breathing, 

Writing,

Naming it, 

Talking through it, 

Centering on reality, 

Reminding myself that my future self can handle what is to come. 

But I decided to employ one more tool over the weekend: 

Neurographic art. 

 

I made the lines cut on the page. 

They were harsh and dramatic. 

Then I smoothed out the jagged edges and felt them soften. 

Then I painted. 

I concentrated all my thoughts on the movement from dark to light. 

And what emerged was absolutely gorgeous on its own, 

But even more so knowing where it began. 

 

We live in a time where life will try to stifle our creativity.

It will tell us that we do not have the time or talent to create. 

Do not listen to those voices, dear friends. 

Find your art or craft and resist the lies of this world. 

You are capable. 

You are good enough. 

You can create. 

And you can transform both the world and yourself in the process. 

 

Amen. 

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