GAINING PERSPECTIVE WITH ABSTRACT ART

This year has been overwhelming on a personal, national and global level for most of us. It’s been over 7 months now when our lives changed dramatically going into lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Even until today, we don’t really know to what extent our lives will continue to change. All we know is that it changed a lot in a very short time. At times, I personally felt that I had lost the control over my life and with it came stress and anxiety.

My original 2020 plans were put on hold, and as I wrote in a previous blog the time of a big re-set has just begun. One change came after the other, one shock hit us after the other and that’s a lot to take in. It’s hard to take a break, breathe and switch off when you’re constantly in a state of fight or flight. Feeling non-stop stressed out is unhealthy and needs to be stopped.

I’ve been through tough and uncertain times before and truly grateful for the lessons learnt. However, 2020 presents a whole next level of challenge and therefore, it’s even more important that I apply what has helped me in the past.
Of course, we all have different ways of dealing with difficult times. Still, there is one great thing that gets me through everything. Whatever challenge I face in my life, I deal better with it when I can turn to painting, art and creation. Creating daily is my type of therapy and healing but it is also setting my life into perspective. And being able to gain perspective in times of crisis, I think, is something very valuable.

Letting Go Of Control
Letting go of things and being in the moment is one of the biggest challenges of my generation. I feel we are constantly hunting for the best next trip, insta post, job, partner and so on. It is great to be able to work on different fronts and accomplish one thing after the after. When I have been made redundant this year, I was sleeping 4 hours a day whilst working on plan B, C and D. The point is, we don’t stop anymore. We work, perform, communicate, organise and solve problems all the time. It definitely has an impact on my mental and physical health. In the end, it has an impact on my ability to see the bigger picture, relax and make good decisions. So how do I stop a racing mind and not think about a million of problems and world crises?

It Doesn’t Need To Make Sense
The answer is: I paint. Either on a canvas, cardboard or my iPad. My abstract work is not planned, it’s intuitive and allows me to just be in the moment. I find new expressions, but also learn to simply accept the piece for what it is. I don’t force a concrete meaning into it, and neither should you.

Just remember, we cannot control the outcome of the US election, nor can we reverse Brexit. We cannot control how the economy reacts to a second national lockdown or how many people will lose their jobs. Don’t control the outcome or output of your painting. Let your mood, feelings, intuition and carefree inner child that has no fear of rejection guide you through the process. There is NO right or wrong!

Being Peaceful In The Present
It’s a peaceful process. Art is an experience. Be present and stop overthinking or thinking at all. Put your favourite music on and allow yourself to be slow.

You are switching off and allowing yourself to zoom out. Look at your world from a different angle. You don’t need to have a plan for the next five years. Realise what is really important in your life and what not. And if you cannot be in the moment, you’re really missing what life is all about.

The beauty of being, enjoying something that makes you feel good. It will stop the noise your lifestyle is constantly creating and make things clear. You will stop stressing out about so many things. You will appreciate the things you already have so much more and your mind shifts from a spinning wheel to a calm but powerful machine.

Last but not least, you have created a piece of art if not a whole selection of paintings. You can be proud of that. You will agree with me that creating art, especially abstract art, will give you joy, freedom, and a sense of accomplishment.

Artwork by Colouresko (Marie Janine Murmann), digital