How Art Helps: Coping with a disability through Art
We all have been in that Dark Place, even those without serious health issues. I have MS. It's limited my mobility for the last ten years. Before that, I traveled all over and hiked and planned for an exciting future. Now, I'm housebound. I use a cane and a walker inside, a scooter outside. My Dark Place is my body and it goes everywhere with me.
I'm lucky to be talented in the visual and literary arts. It has sustained me, nurtured me, and taken me to wonderful places. Now it helps me to cope with this progressive and relentless disease. But even if you aren't "artistic" there are ways Art can help you on a daily basis.
First: try an Altered Book. You don't have to be an artist; you just have to know how to wield a glue stick and scissors!
Get a used hard cover book from a thrift store. Other materials needed are: glue sticks, scissors, possibly a ruler,
old magazines, patterned paper (gift wrapping, wall paper samples, paper bags, etc), old photos (copy them...don't use an original!), and whatever doodads you have around like:
buttons, lace, ribbons, old keys, love letters, scrabble tiles, old stamps, etc
Optional drawing materials: paint, marker pens, color pencils, ink pens, crayons, etc
What you do: You will be altering the book in a very unique way by cutting pages, gluing some of them together, cutting holes in them, slathering them with paint or markers, cutting out words, cutting the edges of the pages into waves or lacy effects. Look up Altered Books on the web and see some ideas.
What will your book be about? You can pick a theme, like My Life, or A Dream, or Tomorrow.
The point is to be creative and forget your physical self for awhile. When we're sick, we're very aware of our bodies. Art sets your brain waves differently and time passes without you noticing it. You create something instead of mourning what you've lost.
Our Dark Places will always be with us; we just don't have to acknowledge them so often if we are engaged in creative activities.
Other ideas for coping with disability through art: Get connected with others on the internet who like to do the kind of art you enjoy. Maybe its knitting or making a good meal: creativity comes in many ways!
Go out and see art exhibits, if possible, or view art on the web . It will inspire you.
Visit your past. If you have emotional highs or lows, write about that or draw. When you're feeling low, write/draw it out and make it 'concrete'. Don't let it fester inside of you. Getting something down on paper removes it from you in a healthy way.
Use your brain to see life in different ways. If you are used to painting, try graphite pencil. Listen to music while you do your thing. Play music if you have that talent while you view art on the computer.
Consider volunteering your time to help others with your own talents. If you're an artist and are mobile, volunteer at teen safe houses or your child's school art sessions (they often don't have art teachers anymore at the elementary level).
I belong to a group of artists from all over the US and Canada. We connect on the internet. Every year we get "together" to plan several art projects we can do for The Shriner's Benefit which helps children. One year several of us did one painting. Each person had a section of painting to do. We mailed it to each other. Another year, we did an Artist Book where over a dozen of us divided up the book into 7 pages each. We were responsible for doing art on those 7 pages. We also did a book of art post cards. A dozen women printed out several post card size art cards of their own work. We compiled it into a book.
This is especially good for house bound people. It helps you feel you are still part of the world and you are helping others, too.
I hope this page has given you several ideas for coping through Art. Art can't heal you physically, but it can help you with your spirit.
I'm lucky to be talented in the visual and literary arts. It has sustained me, nurtured me, and taken me to wonderful places. Now it helps me to cope with this progressive and relentless disease. But even if you aren't "artistic" there are ways Art can help you on a daily basis.
First: try an Altered Book. You don't have to be an artist; you just have to know how to wield a glue stick and scissors!
Get a used hard cover book from a thrift store. Other materials needed are: glue sticks, scissors, possibly a ruler,
old magazines, patterned paper (gift wrapping, wall paper samples, paper bags, etc), old photos (copy them...don't use an original!), and whatever doodads you have around like:
buttons, lace, ribbons, old keys, love letters, scrabble tiles, old stamps, etc
Optional drawing materials: paint, marker pens, color pencils, ink pens, crayons, etc
What you do: You will be altering the book in a very unique way by cutting pages, gluing some of them together, cutting holes in them, slathering them with paint or markers, cutting out words, cutting the edges of the pages into waves or lacy effects. Look up Altered Books on the web and see some ideas.
What will your book be about? You can pick a theme, like My Life, or A Dream, or Tomorrow.
The point is to be creative and forget your physical self for awhile. When we're sick, we're very aware of our bodies. Art sets your brain waves differently and time passes without you noticing it. You create something instead of mourning what you've lost.
Our Dark Places will always be with us; we just don't have to acknowledge them so often if we are engaged in creative activities.
Other ideas for coping with disability through art: Get connected with others on the internet who like to do the kind of art you enjoy. Maybe its knitting or making a good meal: creativity comes in many ways!
Go out and see art exhibits, if possible, or view art on the web . It will inspire you.
Visit your past. If you have emotional highs or lows, write about that or draw. When you're feeling low, write/draw it out and make it 'concrete'. Don't let it fester inside of you. Getting something down on paper removes it from you in a healthy way.
Use your brain to see life in different ways. If you are used to painting, try graphite pencil. Listen to music while you do your thing. Play music if you have that talent while you view art on the computer.
Consider volunteering your time to help others with your own talents. If you're an artist and are mobile, volunteer at teen safe houses or your child's school art sessions (they often don't have art teachers anymore at the elementary level).
I belong to a group of artists from all over the US and Canada. We connect on the internet. Every year we get "together" to plan several art projects we can do for The Shriner's Benefit which helps children. One year several of us did one painting. Each person had a section of painting to do. We mailed it to each other. Another year, we did an Artist Book where over a dozen of us divided up the book into 7 pages each. We were responsible for doing art on those 7 pages. We also did a book of art post cards. A dozen women printed out several post card size art cards of their own work. We compiled it into a book.
This is especially good for house bound people. It helps you feel you are still part of the world and you are helping others, too.
I hope this page has given you several ideas for coping through Art. Art can't heal you physically, but it can help you with your spirit.