And we’re back. Yet another semester of studying from home. At this point, zoom classes have become routine, and I, just as everyone else around the world, have had to adjust our routines to this ‘new normal’. Although exercise has been one of the largest shifts in my daily routine, my most important change has been painting, coloring, and creating artworks.
Last year, during the first semester, while we were still in in-person school, I was enrolled in ‘Meditative Coloring’ as part of my weekly creative outlet. I have taken it upon myself to continue this at home. Not only do I have multiple mandala coloring books that I doodle on and paint in at different times of the day, but I also create collages and portraits. Mandala and coloring is a source of disconnection from reality, and when I undergo this activity I am able to calm myself both mentally and physically; it’s a form of therapy. I color when I’m stressed, overwhelmed, angry, sad, or even when I’m happy. As cliche as it may sound, doing this helps me connect with my feelings, and allows me to take time off a screen and listen to myself, my wants, and my needs.
On the other hand, when I’m feeling excited, happy, and in a creative mood, I create. Whether it be collages, which are my absolute favorite and allow me to express my sentiments through writing, coloring, gluing, and painting, or simply portrait-painting, which I mainly do as part of my IBDP visual arts class. No matter what type of art, I always feel calmer and happier after a session.
My most recent artwork is the one pictured below. I began creating it in mid-December, with intentions of making it a part of my submission to the IBDP Visual Arts exhibition, but I had a lot of fun in the process. This artwork underwent a lot of changes, and I had to re-paint, cut, glue, and erase many things, but that’s the beauty
in the experience of creating art, at least I believe so.
In the coming weeks and months, I plan on continuing to create artwork, whether it be for my IBDP Visual Arts exhibition or simply for my own benefit. Art in general forms a large part of my life, especially during this global pandemic, as it helps me feel grounded, connected, and more mentally stable.