Weekly Prompt #13: Would it be a painting, a song, or something entirely different?
Hello everyone, I hope you are all being easy on yourself this week.
A couple of weeks ago we discussed: How has depression affected your relationships with others? Thank you to all who participated and shared their thoughts for discussion. I enjoyed them. I hope you all did too. If you didn't share yours, please share them here and I look forward to reading and discussing them with you.
This week's prompt: If you could express your loneliness and depression through art, what would it look like? Would it be a painting, a song, or something entirely different?
I wanted to start a discussion on how depression and loneliness affect us. I look forward to hearing and discussing with you all!
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Hi @ASilentObserver 👋
I'd feel inclined to play around on my guitar if I'm feeling down some. Sometimes the noodling turns into something 'more', but it's always just been cathartic to jam out.
@sentientape Expressing emotions through art can be very cathartic. Jamming out on your guitar sounds like a positive outlet that brings you some relief when you're feeling down.
@Saly33 Thank you Saly <3 Creating art to express your emotions can be a wonderful way to process difficult feelings. It must be hard not having people you feel comfortable sharing your art and inner thoughts with. You're not alone in struggling with this. What comes to mind when you think of how sharing your art could benefit you the most?
@ASilentObserver
I think that my sadness and thoughts become less, but I do not know where to show them and to whom to show them 🤔
In my very early childhood years, I actually took some private art classes. Learned to use watercolor and pastel to paint and draw. From what I learned back then, although I haven't continued with any of it, knowing how colors mix to create new hues. I think my depression and loneliness can be expressed more through pastel art. With blending of colors, it's like having a mixed layers of problems/emotions, each color representing its own. Using pastel also creates color on my fingers, these smudged colors could also represent depression and loneliness. With messy hands, I won't be able to touch anything else, but the pastel and drawing itself, so it expresses how loneliness sometimes makes me feel. Not being able to touch anything, is like when I'm being isolated and cannot connect with people/things around me. The more colors my hands are handling, the more dirty the colors will look, like how depression is usually when we're in the dark, or at least, when we see no light ahead of us. Almost like constantly having a dark cloud over my head, but the darkness is seen on my hands, something more close to heart and impacted directly.
Not sure if I'm making sense, or if I interpreted the discussion question correctly.
@Jaeteuk That sounds like a creative way to express your emotions through art. Focusing on an activity can be very therapeutic. Your feelings and experiences are valid. What aspects of pastel art do you find most helpful for coping with difficult emotions?
I think it's the blending of colours that will help differentiate the emotions.
@ASilentObserver
I think it would be very dark and confusing. Almost spinning or something that was not easy for anyone to understand.
@akay06 I understand expressing loneliness and depression through art can be cathartic. Creating something that reflects your complex emotions in a way others may find difficult to understand shows how deeply you're processing this experience. It must be tough dealing with these heavy feelings. You're not alone in turning to creativity as an outlet.
In my case, depression, or rather, pharmacological attempts to cure it, took it away from me; took my other means to deal with everyday ups and downs. I used to paint, draw, write, read. I loved listening to music. Then, I don't even know when and how exactly, I couldn't care less about all of it.
Now I learn to do it anew. Try to reconnect with myself, who loves art.
@Buzzingbeezon It sounds like depression took away activities you once found joy and meaning in. Reconnecting with who you are through art must feel important. You clearly have strength in working to rebuild what's meaningful to you.
@ASilentObserver
Obs,
In regards to depression and loneliness, it would be painting and photo, in the perfect world.
What I would probably use a SLR camera, take several different photos of what it is (Different perspectives).
Then from the different photos, I could derive the painting
@Barltik2065 It sounds like photography and painting provide you with comfort and enjoyment. Exploring different perspectives through your camera lens before translating the photos into a painting seems like a thoughtful creative process.
@ASilentObserver
It gives you an opportunity to search and reflect within you before you expose yourself in your work.
Hm, I would have to say I’d make a blanket. A weighted blanket, something that holds you down and makes it near impossible to move, but also embraces you in a way that creates false comfort. It’s hard to breathe, but this is all I know, until a helping hand is strong enough to pull the blanket away and release me from my self imposed prison.
@princesaluna That description of the weighted blanket captures your feelings. What strengths or coping mechanisms have helped you through past difficult times? You've found a creative way to express your experience.
