Hello Friends,
Thanks for visiting Orange Spiral Arts.
Today, for this Freedom through Painting Friday post, I'd like to touch on the topic of "How Painting Helps."
I am about to share a personal story for my example. I don't often share such personal information, but I will share in the hope that it will positively impact someone reading this post.
Here it goes.
I have been suffering from migraine headaches since my menstrual cycle returned after the birth of my son. He is now 3 years old. These are hormonal headaches, as they directly correlate with my monthly cycle.
My migraine started a couple of days ago and continues today.
I set an intention before painting today. The intention I set was to soothe my head pain through the act of painting.
I grabbed a 9x12 piece of paper, folded it in half, wrote the title (shown above), poured out about six colors of paint, grabbed my paint brushes and water, and began to paint.
(NOTE: I am loving these 6-well palettes.)
I also sometimes enjoy listening to ambient-chillout-study music mixes on 8tracks.
As I painted these waves, I was feeling a sense of calm wash over me. I was sending soothing messages across my brain, releasing the pain of my headache with every paint stroke.
I chose to use small, long-handled paint brushes for a couple of reasons. 1. I was working on a small 9x12 inch sheet of paper. 2. I wanted to force myself to slow down as I painted.
I would switch colors as my intuition guided me to do so.
Shortly after I started painting, I heard my son crying in his room. It was 5am, so it wasn't time for him to wake up yet. I went upstairs to soothe him. Upon returning to painting, a phrase was traveling through my mind, "It's okay, baby. Mommy loves you."
This thought triggered others I know who could use some extra love right now. I sent prayers and loving energy out to those people as I continued to paint.
(Note: I am now shifting my energy from my mind to my heart space).
I wanted a green color, but it wasn't one that I had set out in my palette. I decided to mix my own green, using the blue and yellow paint in my trays.
Mixing your own paint colors can be frustrating at times, and really satisfying at other times. I encourage you to give it a try. How did it go?
I was inspired to mix more paint colors. I made this dark periwinkle from the blue, turquoise, and white.
What do you notice below? Yes, I flipped my paper upside down. It's good to get a shift in perspective. As I painted, I felt emotional shifts, as well.
I felt that the red waves needed some company from the color pink. Maybe it's the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, but I also just really like the colors pink, red, and orange together.
I turned the paper right side up, and it feels complete. So do I.
Note: You may wish to have a pen and piece of paper handy to write down any thoughts you need to release or express. Also, often ideas will come to you as you paint. Painting is a right-brained activity, and using language is a left-brained activity. Your brain is amazing. Working both hemispheres of your brain might feel really good to you. Do what feels best to you!
I will give a summary of how painting helped me today at the end of this post. First, I would like to show you some fun ways to use your extra paint.
Grab a large sketchbook or art journal. By the drawings on the cover, you might guess I have had this sketchbook for quite some time, like since high school or just after.
Open up to a blank page.
Use a paint brush to dig up the extra paint out of the palette well. Spread it around on your page.
Use an old gift card to spread the paint out. This technique is also called "scraping paint".
Note: The dried paint on the edge of my old gift card created some lines as I scraped. Embrace whatever happens. You can even intentionally cut the edges of old gift cards to create different patterns.
Go back into your paint palette with your brush, and randomly brush all of the warm colors around the page.
Next, grab those cool colors with your paint brush. Paint splotches of color all around the page. Fill in gaps, and/or play with how different colors react next to one another.
I like to keep painting until all of the paint is used up from my paint palette.
Now you have a fun journal page that you can leave as is, doodle on top of, add collage to, or practice your hand-lettering skills!
In Summary:
Here's how painting helps:
- the process of painting slows your heart rate
- slows your breathing
- calms your mind
- releases thoughts
- allows hidden emotion(s) to be felt and expressed
- turns inaction into positive, helpful action (such as sending loving energy and prayers out into the universe)
- gets you into the present moment
- shifts your awareness (from mind to body to heart to spirit, and in and out and around all of these places)
- calls your attention to your intention
- eases body pain
- improves your health by connecting mind, body, and spirit
You and your creativity matter. I wish for you to have peace, love, and joy in your life.
Many Blessings to You,
Briana
Upcoming Opportunities:
The Beautiful BEing Program ONLINE is in full swing. It's not too late to sign up. The pace is nice and slow, over a five month span. The content is rich and deep, where inner wisdom and intuition guide the way, writing + painting! Click here.
The Beautiful BEing Program LIVE in Minneapolis is open for February registration and beyond! Click right here to reserve your spot! Ten percent of your registration fee supports the non-profit courageous heARTS, an art space for youth!
Liquid Watercolor Mandalas through Forest Lake Community Education, Wednesday, February 17th, 6pm-8pm
