One of the oldest modes of communication goes back to cave paintings and wall carvings during the Egyptian and Indus Valley civilizations. Also one of the conventional ways of child therapy includes art. It has been seen that if a person is incapable of speaking about his/her issues, they find it easier to express it through art.
Art Therapist Cathy Malchiodi’s philosophy is simple and poignant – Art has the potential to transform lives and often in profound ways. When words are not enough, we turn to images and symbols to tell our stories. And in telling our stories through art, we can find a path to healing, recovery, and transformation”.
Sometimes healing, mentally, physically or emotionally is not always about medication or group therapies, doctor and hospitals. Healing is also an internal process involving will, strength, and positivity. Ask any artist and they will tell you, art in any form is primarily therapeutic for them. Art therapy is not simply a spiritual process. It is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. By art we mean everything that is creative, anything that stirs the inner voice and challenges the latent mind. This process, involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem and awareness.
The process of conceptualizing an artwork and putting one’s thoughts to paper may be a planned and organized method but it is not necessary for everyone to be an artist to heal through art. Colors, brush strokes, hand paint, wild random strokes, splashes of paint or serene calm scenes, can all be a part of the healing process. Someone who is in physical pain or dealing with a cancerous disease finds relief, distraction, and peace while using his body, mind and soul to paint. Someone who is in emotional distress or in rebellion may also be calmed by relieving the energy and adrenaline onto a canvas or any art medium. Art and craft is also an important method of physiotherapy for differently-abled people. Connecting, creating, using the limbs and brains which may not otherwise function as we choose them too. Art has no form, It allows you to BE! That is true therapy!
Art helps you grow, as a human being in a world going crazy, art keeps you rooted and in touch with your inner self. Art has become a form of meditation and instills patience. It's up to us to walk into the world of art or let art into our world. You can discover the painter in you or become an art connoisseur, a critique. You can skim through an art gallery and lose yourself for a while or try painting a picture to clear the thoughts in your head. Remember, Art is more an expression than skill so it doesn’t matter if you believe you cannot draw a straight line! Whether it is communicating with oneself or sending a message to someone, whether you create, recreate or acquire, let art be your newest outlook to life, a fresh hobby that, not just keeps you busy but de-stresses and heals you.
