Tuning Out
In my last post, I listed some ways to pass the time during our efforts to flatten that curve of the spread of COVID-19. One of the ways I’ve been coping with the isolation of social distancing it to turn off my access to social media.
My Facebook friends and I are doing a pretty good job of posting about other topics — cat memes, flower photos, etc. However, as a digital scrapbook designer running my business from home, I do need to be monitoring my Art Journal group and my design page. So, it’s almost impossible to avoid those more stressful posts and I find myself getting more and more anxious about things that are out of my control.
One of the principles I tried to ingraine in our children as they were going up, was something I first came across when reading Stephen R. Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Basically, it boils down to the fact that while you can’t control everything that happens to you, you can control how you respond. So I needed to practice what I’ve been preaching.
Allow me to digress for a minute. I take issue with the phrase “social distancing”. While we are separating ourselves from each other, we are in fact, finding other ways to socialize. I would argue we are closer now (emotionally) as a society than we have been in a very long time. One encouraging thing we can take away from this challenging time is that COVID-19 has united us with a common goal. We are “physically distancing” BUT we are “socially bonding” — not “socially distancing.”
Arting for Mental Health
A fellow creative, Jana, and I wanted to art together — but she’s in the Chicago area and I’m 2,000 miles away. So the physical distancing part was a given. Jana found a fun, simple art journaling-type set of videos on YouTube, which we watched independently and then we set up a Skype call.We each positioned our phones on our work surfaces so that we could see each other; gathered our art supplies and began to use the ideas suggested in the videos.
We used inks and decorative napkins and tissue paper and washi tape. We laughed and we giggled. We made “mud” and we messed up and may or may not have said a few colorful words.. We had more than a few “happy accidents.” We chatted about normal stuff while we played. We loved some of what we did and some of it was “meh.” Jana spilled ink and I kept getting matte medium (glue) all over my arm — and somehow in my hair. And this morning, I see that I have teal ink on my forehead — lol!
I wanted to create backgrounds that would also work well as digital papers. So, I cut some large sheets of hot press watercolor paper in half rather than work in a journal. The squares on the first one are the pattern on a paper napkin and the ovals on the image below are party balloons, also from a napkin.
Jana worked mostly in her art journals, creating lovely clouds of color and lots of layered, painty goodness. I love how she used her washi and tissue paper — and isn’t that dragonfly the coolest?
Mission Accomplished
These aren’t completed pieces for either of us. There’s still doodling and other embellishments we can and might add. But it’s interesting, isn’t it, that we watched the same videos and ended up with completely different kinds of art. That’s what Jana and I both love about mixed media work — there is no right or wrong way to do it!
Our time arting together just flew by — three and a half hours later it was time to wrap up. We discussed how much of a blast it was to play that way together — and how we hadn’t realized just how much we needed a break from the outside world. And how grateful we were for each other’s company.
People always says that “heart heals” and in this case, it certainly lived up to its reputation. Are you giving yourself mental health days?
Thanks for sharing. Your art always lifts me up. It is gorgeous! This is so inspirational! Great mental health day for sure.
Oh, you’re so very sweet! Thank you so much, Sharon!
This sounds like so much fun! Beautiful results! You are both so creative!
I don’t supposed you two would be willing to share the playlist, would you? Or, just the artists, maybe? LOL I love the art-journaling videos on YT and use them daily for inspiration! I’m always looking for new artists to follow!
Thanks! The fruits of ya’lls ‘labor’ are magnificent!
Hugs,
Su
Oh of course, I’ll share, Su! I’ll add the info above too! We watched videos 1-3 on making a journal from a children’s book – but just used some of techniques for the inside pages. Very simple, yet fun stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TwinkleArtist
Vicki, I love your bit above about “physical distancing”. How strange or maybe not that creative minds work the same way, I’ve been upset about the term “social distancing” since the minute it was coined. If we socially distanced ourselves, we wouldn’t be on the internet, sending email, typing or writing letters (some people still do that) or even making calls! Now if we could just convince the world to change the term! Both your work and Jana’s work is beautiful! Definitely two different takes on the info you received on the videos! Congrats for such a great idea – a Skype play date! Awesome!
Lol! Thanks Sue. The “social distancing” thing bothered me right away, too. I do feel nothing I can remember since perhaps 911 had such a social impact. And as horrific as that was, this world we live in right now feels 100 times worse, but the bonding that is taking place makes me very hopeful. Thanks so much for stopping by my website. ??
Very pretty artsy art, Vicki and Jana! I’ve been trying to learn more from Naods membership videos and then practicing, practicing, practicing. It’s too much to soak in all at once but I learn more with every webinar. I appreciate all that you and the other artists put into your creations. Thank you.
Alene Robison
Thanks, Alene! I’m so happy you’re enjoying NAODS! It’s a wonderful place to learn. I know what you mean about being overwhelmed with info. Just baby steps will get you there — so keep having fun!
great article, so agree with so much of what you shared, I really agreed with what you said in the “Allow me to digress for a minute” paragraph. Thanks for sharing your mental health day.
Marilyn
Thank you so much, Marilyn!