The Intersection of Art and Illness
In the art community, there are so many wonderful souls. Art and creativity runs in the blood of so many people, and those who embrace it find themselves with a friend, or friends for life. Both with the art itself, but also with the many artists who make up this great community- and work together to lift each other up- and to encourage the expression of ones creativity.
As time has passed the last 10 years, as my health started to decline, first as unexplained Chronic Pain, and then into actual illness and chronic fatigue, eventually leading to a Chronic Lyme Disease + CoInfection Grouping- (which is a highly controversial and untreatable illness in the Canadian Medical System) my art took on a whole new meaning to me.
I have always used art as an expression of things going on in my life, a way to process feelings, and a way to breathe freshness and hope into difficult situations. This became heightened during my battle to be taken seriously, and listened to, and to fight my way to trying to find treatment, and wellness. Being my own advocate. It’s been extremely tiring and at times leading to medical traumas, in relation to not being believed, or respected.
So as I’ve journeyed extensively in the medical system, so has my journey into making art, and finding my voice through my art. These journeys have run parallel, often intersecting like paths and rivers, criss crossing, and providing for beautiful and meaningful moments. (But also moments of confusion and doubt)
What I have found, in this supportive art community, is that the Creative Community is chock full of people just like me. People with trauma, medical or otherwise. Mental health issues, sickness, unknown symptoms. Empaths, people who feel so deeply. People who despite their diagnosis’, or lack thereof, have come to art as a way to find meaning, purpose, and hope during the long winding roads of their own personal journey.
Adapting Art to Your Existence
As someone who has had to learn my limits, both of my body and my spirit, by being thrust into illness, I want to take some time to speak to adapting your art process to be beneficial to you, and to help heal, and be a blessing to your life. Instagram (and Social Media) is full of artists, sharing their work, their process, their studios. It can be hard to remember, that looking at these squares, that each artists practice is as individual to that person, as is their art style and expression. And this is a great thing. What we need to be even more mindful of, as someone who struggles with limitations, maybe physically or energy wise, is that our art is meant to be helpful and healing to us. We are not meant to add stress or pain by practicing our creativity. We need to be mindful of how to adapt our need to be creative, with our own personal goals, limitations, or abilities.
I encourage you to take a look at the way you have been practicing art. While it is likely great for your spirit, are you making sure that you are physically practicing in a way that doesn’t harm your body, your energy, and your confidence. I personally have adapted the way that I practice my art, and run my business and I want to share some of those things with you today.
Create when you have energy + rest when you don’t. Your ideas can wait- jot them down and dream on them until the time when you have that energy.
Keep a small way to journal/store ideas. My IPAD works for this, but so does a small sketch book, with some pencil crayons in my nightstand drawer
Make sure your set up is ergonomically friendly. Have a good chair, set your body up for success. Stretch during and after working. I used to love working on the floor, as my body and its abilities has changed, I now work solely on a easel or a table. I rotate between standing, and sitting in my chair.
If your art is a business (big or small for you) work in Batches. For example, I paint one or two mornings a week (as I need to nap by about noon) and the other days are for editing, photographing, social media, blog posts, accounting etc.
Adapt your work/size to be easier for you to physically complete, but package, ship, store etc. Working at a small size doesn’t mean your work is any less worthy. (and HEY! because you create less work, and the time and energy each work takes- think of it this way- your art is even more valuable and exclusive.
Be prepared to say NO to yourself and others. If your art is mainly for yourself or family, this will still apply. If you have a business with your art and creativity as the fuel it will be important to evaluate each opportunity, or collaboration, or additional tasks and to make sure that the benefit of this added task, item, or creative idea/opportunity will add more benefit to your life and business than it will contribute harm. This isn’t to say that big opportunities that often lead to more work, and to busier schedules are a bad thing, it just means we need to be aware of the timing of them. Book yourself in for a longer deadline, give yourself breathing space, so when needed you can step back.
Working from bed, with my foldable desk to ensure less damage to my wrists. Blue light glasses for my eyes, and a heat pack on my back.
The Most Important Part
There are going to be times where you are faced with lack of energy, or even lack of ability to create. Even without illness us creatives will go through times in life when the “must do” lists are big, or life is just full of challenges, bright spots, and you jump from moment to moment with nothing extra (time or creativity) to spare. Perhaps life is too busy to have time to create, or perhaps life is too crazy and your creative juices are just gone. This will happen to everyone. I always consider my creativity to ebb and flow. If you are in a time where your illness is to a point where you just CAN’T create then it is important we embrace this period with understanding and not resentment. The way I flip the negativity that can come during this time onto its head is by knowing that this time spent “not being creative” is clearing space for that next bout of creativity to come. The one where you have so much creative energy and drive to create that you literally eat, dream and sleep your art. The downtime creates that energy, your new ideas will creep in when they are ready. You will look at an old work after weeks of being unable to work and suddenly you will know the direction it needs to go. All this to say, let’s embrace this ebb and flow. It happens to everyone, illness or not. Writers get writers block, and us artists need the time away too.
Lastly, know that the very act of putting your creativity out into the matters. The world needs artists more than ever. The world needs us Chronic Illness Warriors and the understanding and empathy we hold. They need our perseverance and our kindness. We need to continue to be exactly us, in all that we are, as the world needs our shine. I’m sending you all love,