Art Therapy

Kimberly Dow · 03-29-2005, 10:38 AM

I find that I'm in a 'mood' lately with my painting. I can't seem to slow down and concentrate - so I've put the important pieces aside for now and wont touch them. Personal distractions are the reasons, but I still am painting my usual 10-12 hours each day. I guess I could call this an experimental phase or name everything with the word 'study' after it!

I'm wondering if anyone else has had better luck getting through these moods that can come over us. I dont hate what I've been working on, but the 8 pieces I am feverishly painting all at once don't strike me as my best work....they are more like getting something out of my system maybe?

It isn't a great emergency, but I do have a commission to put some finishing touches on at this time, but I dont dare. All fine detail work seems out of my reach right now. So - what do you all do to reach down deep and make yourself paint the way you need to when all you want to do is push paint around for the therapy of it?

Michele Rushworth · 03-29-2005, 11:12 AM

Perhaps you are on the verge of a growth spurt?

If you want to slow down, play slow music in the studio. Works for me every time.

Quote:

I still am painting my usual 10-12 hours each day.

How do you do this? You have elementary school aged kids, right? It's all I can do to fit in eight hours a day and then only if everything else gets ignored!

Kimberly Dow · 03-29-2005, 01:11 PM

Michele,

I don't sleep much, I've always had insomnia. I can go 2 weeks and only get 4 hours a night. Then I'll sleep 8 hours for a couple days. I have three children, a 2nd grader, a 6th grader and an 8th grader. I still make all their school functions, do all the housework and all the chauffering around. But, I'm not necessarily good at it all. I hear I am a lousey cook, but even it if I didn't paint - that wouldnt change. The house is presentable, but it could be cleaner. I don't iron unless it is absolutely necessary. The thing that makes it easiest is the studio is across the porch. The kids come in there and do their homework at a desk while I paint. I'll stop when I need to help. They come in there to use the phone and my youngest plays with his toys in there a lot. And when we all watch a family movie together - I'll usually bring a sketch pad in and work on compositions or something. I've been known to set up my paints right in the livingroom at times also. The best thing I ever did for my art was to train the kids from birth not to touch paint or paintings. Even with them being as active as they are I can leave wet paintings all over the house and they automatically keep their distance. The only bad part about incorporating the kids in with everything I do is that they tell me what to do....my 8-year-old told me the other day "Mom, that isn't finished is it? It doesn't look so good yet."

Jean Kelly · 03-29-2005, 02:13 PM

It's spring, Kim. A time for new growth. Many creative people find increased energy along with a feeling of being "scattered". There is increased sunlight, so this is the time you must take good care of yourself. Additional B vitamins can help, along with more calcium. You may want to start meditating, take one hour of your frantic painting schedule and use it to calm your mind. Deep belly breathing can help.

I spent years brutalizing my body with the same type of schedule, I just wasn't painting. Now I'm getting my consequences, this is important Kim. Start taking care of yourself now, get more sleep.

Jean

Kimberly Dow · 03-29-2005, 02:29 PM

Jean, that all makes sense for sure. I've tried just about everything to cure my insomnia except prescription meds - which I won't do. I don't know if I could sit still for any type of meditation, I'm on the hyper side, but I could give it a shot I guess. My husband is always following me around and trying to force me to eat vegetables...

I know exercise helps - I used to walk 3 miles a day, but then got more obsessed with my career and just stopped. Most days it feels like an obsession and I know that isn't a good thing. Being balanced is more important....but, but...I just want to paint!

And when life gets more complicated I need to paint more. Right now my husband changed jobs and will be out of town for 2 months while I pack up the house to move yet again after school is done. We are looking at houses to buy...and we are having to do that over the phone and internet. The kids miss him terribly and he has only been gone a few days....whine, whine, whine. And just as I seem to be getting a nice client base where I am, we move.

This could all be settled if I could just find a wife. I think everyone needs a wife - even the women. You know - the old fashioned wives that stay home and just clean, cook and do everything....

Kimberly Dow · 03-29-2005, 02:34 PM

I had to mention this for a laugh -

I feel lucky to have the insomnia versus what I had as a sleeping problem as a child. I used to walk in my sleep terribly. Several times getting out of the house. My mother left me with a babysitter once who fell asleep. As she was driving home at 1 am she spotted me about 2 blocks from the house in my little nightie walking along in 2 feet of snow. I used to wake up at 3am and get ready for school. I'd eat and get dressed and only when I had walked half way there would I realize it was too dark to be 7 am.

Luckily my children didnt inherit any sleeping problems, although they do grind their teeth. If they had I'd never sleep a wink!

Jean Kelly · 03-29-2005, 02:42 PM

Kim, you have good reason to whine, this is a crummy situation. But I repeat----You must start taking care of yourself! If you can't meditate for an hour, start with 15 minutes. Take extra vit C and those B vitamins. Calcium is calming, take it before you go to bed. Try to eat those vegetables, he is right. E-mail me if you want to vent. But be assured, I will play the mom here and nag you to take care of yourself.

Jean

Kimberly Dow · 03-29-2005, 02:45 PM

Yes, Mom. I will go take some vitamins now.

Jean Kelly · 03-29-2005, 02:53 PM

And you will try the meditation, right? Take 15 minutes, lay on a couch or anywhere comfortable. Place a piiow under your knees to take stress off your back. Place one hand on your abdomen and slowly to the count of seven breathe in, making sure your belly rises up. Hold this breath to the count of seven, then slowly breathe out to the count of nine. Concentrate on the breathing, nothing else. Soft music can help. Enjoy the sensation of calm this brings.

Jean

Andrea Cranmer · 03-29-2005, 03:20 PM

Hi Kim! I was just going through some older threads and came across one of yours that is quite similar and posted about the same time last year. Could it be spring fever?