How to Use Art to Stay Sane in Today’s World
BTW—all the artwork on this post is available on my Etsy shop!
With the way things are right now it’s hard to not feel just completely awful. If it’s not the pandemic it’s the fact that we’re still arguing about fundamental human rights.
Right now I’d say there’s a high base level of stress and anxiety across the board for everyone. For me it really hit with the news of no one being charged for the death of Breonna Taylor. That there’s still a question of whether someone deserves to be shot SIX TIMES in their own home is beyond me.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who hit their breaking point a long time ago. Something that’s worked for me as I make my way through life right now has been finding solace in art.
Here are 5 ways you can use art to cope
1. Find a quote you love and write it down. Write it 100 times over. Write it in calligraphy. Type it up. Print it out. Write it on a sticky note and stick it to your laptop. Paint it on your phone case. Just find your favorite quote, write it out yourself, and put it somewhere you can see often. Sometimes just the act of writing words can be calming.
2. Download a coloring sheet (I’ve added a couple here for you), grab some colored pencils, and shade the crap out of the pictures.
3. Use profanity. Then color it in.
4. Teach yourself how to draw something new, even if it’s a flower or a cartoon rocket ship. Not only will it get your mind of things for a bit but you’ll also come away from the experience with a new skill! Win win.
5. Buy minority art. Support a black artist, a trans artist, your friendly neighborhood Latinx artist. And remember there’s more than just Etsy, too. A quick Google search will give you several results that aren’t just Target if you’re looking for some new artwork for your kitchen.
I even found this site, Black Girls Craft, which links to tens of black-owned art supply stores for everything from beads to vinyl to house paint.
Art is great. Whether you’re doing it for yourself or supporting other artists, art can help the world heal.
I saw this quote on a billboard in Portland, OR as we were driving through the city last week and I just had to write it down. I fricken love Maya Angelou.
