Heartsong Studio

Can you turn a forced break into a fresh start ?

(When you have no choice in a situation that takes you out of your art-making routine, do you know how to turn frustration into a blessing ?)

Here’s a story that can throw you a life line, in this article:

“Can you turn a setback into a blessing ”

When your art-making takes an unexpected blow, do you know how to turn frustration into a blessing ?

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Sometimes things happen which change your day-to-day existence dramatically. Illness or accident can affect your family or you, and change your priorities in a flash.

The arrival of a new baby, though a happy situation, can put a prolonged hold on your art-making. Even the holiday season can be fraught with responsibilities and the overwhelm of too much to do.

Have you ever been thrown into a demanding situation which took you completely away from your usual routines ? Did your art-making get chopped off when all your attention was needed for more pressing things ?

Situations like this can put a gaping hole in your usual habits of art-making. Even when you are thoroughly convinced that art is a necessity, and not merely a pastime, it can be forced to take a back seat for quite some time.

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Recently, we had no electricity for 5 days and nights.

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Freak snow storms, high winds, subzero temperatures for this area, left everyone on this little island, either house-bound, or certainly cold and in the dark.

Nothing like 5 days and nights of sub freezing temperatures without electrical power to bring home your dependence on electricity, for heat and light, cooking and bathing. All the small muscles in my scalp, neck, and shoulders stayed tense in an attempt to preserve warmth. Even my hair hurt ! Constant tuque wearing.

There was no question of drawing or painting or any art-making during those cold, dark days. Just doing the minimum to keep yourself and your family going, between the very short daylight hours pretty much nipped any creative urges in the bud.

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At first, it was almost fun, like winter camping, romantic candle light, or pioneering. For maybe an hour.

No wonder the pioneers didn’t have much time for art-making. Maybe they made an art of their everyday survival tasks.

After a prolonged removal from your creative work, you start to lose something. Stopping your habit of personal expression, in time, can begin to affect your health. It can be very disconcerting to be deprived of this natural outlet. Especially in times of stress.

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Then, suddenly the unusual situation ends.

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And, another type of stress is added. Things don’t always easily return to normal. It took a few warm nights sleeping without hat and mitts, and a few hot showers before I could relax and trust the return of power. Many stops and starts - on an hour, off again for two. Resetting digital clocks, answering machines, and so forth. Burst water pipes all over the neighbourhood. Phones dead one day.

Returning to your art-making habits can be as difficult, after a prolonged absence. To overcome the inertia, and get yourself back into image-making can take quite an effort. But only at the start.

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One idea to ease yourself gently back into visual expression, is to remove the requirement to “produce art”.

Don’t make art. Not yet. Just play. Give yourself permission to be a child.

Close your eyes and let your arms move in their own rhythm over paper. Use a cheap piece of paper and some ready media like crayons to further reduce the pressure.

Like finally taking a warm shower, give yourself this loving care. Your inner artist will love to be cradled and played with.

A session or two of indulgent play will do the trick to get you back into the healthy habit. It could unearth some new possibilities ; show you a fresh path to explore as well. Much later, once you’re fully recovered, you can inch back into a discipline.

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Turning tragedy into a blessing is a long road.

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When absence from your art-making is beyond your control, eventually you can turn it into a fresh start. Though you may have no choice in the circumstances that limited you, you do have a choice , in the long run, of how you will view it.

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That’s a real choice that’s yours to make.

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Once you have exercised resilience of this kind, you’ll be that much stronger in the future. Think of the creative energy this will release ! There’ll be no stopping you !

May your heart sing and take flight !

Celeste Varley

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