Topic Tuesday // Art & Creativity // Tues 9th November, 7:00-8:30PM AEDT

Question 2: What are some challenges in art? Have there been times when you have struggled to tap into that creative side?

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@Former-Member wrote:

Thanks for having me tonight, gang! So keen to talk about this topic. 🙂

What is art to you, and why do you do creative things?

Art takes many forms for me. I write poetry and short stories. I paint (usually with my fingers!). I make sculptures (often out of used items or odd bits and ends). I sing and I dance.

For me, art can look like anything (even the little doodles I do on my work binder!). Art is sort of a way of experiencing the world and expressing those experiences. Art allows me to communicate my inner world to the outside world.

Art is also a way of leaving a mark and saying ‘I was here. This mattered’. In this sense, art was a lifeline for me when I was experiencing abuse as it allowed me to get my story out, even if I didn’t share it with anyone back then.

Would love to hear what art is for all of you!

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I have a similar take. For me, art is rendering something that comes directly from you - from your soul, if you subscribe to that sort of spritual view. This is as opposed to simply regurgitating stuff you've been taught to think/believe by others, or stating raw testimony about stuff you've seen or heard, or analysis of the same. Art doesn't come from the world around you. Art comes from you. Although, it probably is assembled from base building blocks that the world provided to you.

Why do it? I guess to not feel useless. To feel as if you've somehow made a positive contribution to the world.

The only area in which I majorly diverge from @Former-Member is that I don't use art to express my misery, past or present; I use it to express my dreams of a life that is better then my reality.

So I guess, in a way, art is also about building a better home for myself, where I can retreat to.

Thanks so much everyone for sharing your creativity with us tonight so far!

And this is such a great. question, @cloudcore !

What are some challenges in art? Have there been times when you have struggled to tap into that creative side?

Art is often thing that helps most when unwell but also one of the most difficult things to do when really struggling. How ironic, right?

Sometimes I have too many ideas and struggle with the idea of if I’m good enough to execute them. There can also be lots of imposter syndrome; I still struggle calling myself an artist.

I also think that access and resources can be an issue. Sometimes I can’t afford all of the fun art supplies I want or don’t have the space for them! But as they say necessity is the mother of invention and that’s where my style of making sculptures out of random objects I bought from the op-shop emerged! Haha

Escapism..

Time out of my own head. I love to do diamond painting, gardening, and colouring. I am contemplating starting stone art. To place colourful litre snippets of my imagination in my favourite garden beds to remind me to stop and "smell the roses"

@BPDSurvivor @cloudcore @chibam @Former-Member @Paperdaisy @@shaz51 all her

@BPDSurvivor a change of scenary and routine can definitely bring creativity and inspiration

I totally get that @chibam !

I also use art to express my dreams and aspirations. Later on we wll be talking about my experiences of Art Therapy and how that has helped me to process stuff but also make plans and identify what is important.

It's definitley not all dark for me. 😛

I think time is a big challenge for me. I would love to learn to embroider my own clothing but where does one find the time to do that at the moment. I guess a challenge for me is justifying art and creativity as a form of self-care and making the time for it. If it’s something you love to do it’s just as important as going for a walk or eating a healthy meal. 💝

Welcome to the discussion @chibam and @Anastasia

Yesssss @cloudcore the only reason why I am contemplating is cost of the pens/paints to get started

Sometimes I can't bring my attention to it or I will get distracted by doing something else @Former-Member @cloudcore @Anastasia @Paperdaisy