|
Home
Creativity: A Personal Perspective
Gallery
As a suffering creature, I cannot do
without something greater than I – something that is my life – the power to
create.
Vincent Van Gogh
Whatever creativity is, it is in part a
solution to a problem.
Brian W. Aldiss
One of the purposes of creating my website
was to highlight a more positive side to our disorders, namely creativity.
Many people with mental health problems are creative. You will find in the Gallery section links to creative work by sufferers of
the conditions included in this website. My only regret is that there are
not many more inclusions, as so many of you are talented.
Creativity is dynamic, it asserts life,
frees the human spirit, conquers mental lassitude and illness, and makes
real the outrageous potential of the universal imagination.
Robert Genn
Can art or creativity in the broader
sense really be a form of therapy? In my opinion no perhaps not as a stand
alone therapy, at least not in the same way as CBT or medication, but it can
nonetheless act as an adjunct to such treatments. Creative endeavours can
however improve our all round sense of well-being even if we receive no formal
therapy or our conditions seem not to respond to therapy or for whatever
reason therapy is not available to us. Research both here and
internationally shows that people with mental health conditions or emotional
problems find art therapies helpful both alone or along side more
traditional approaches. Often though for many of us there are no facilities
for formal art therapy as such, although some hospitals and mental health
centres at least offer facilities for the participation in art and crafts.
However for some of us it may be impossible because of the nature of our
conditions to join any group, for instance people with social anxiety who
find social interaction so difficult that they avoid it whenever possible
and sufferers of agoraphobia, many of whom cannot leave their homes. There can be any
number of reasons why someone cannot attend classes or art groups.
Nonetheless notwithstanding lack of specialist facilities or inabilities to
attend those that are available it is possible to benefit from taking up
some form of art or craft or other creative pursuit. However if it is
at all possible to attend an art/craft group or class all the better as the
social interaction, for those who do not have this kind of anxiety, adds to
the therapeutic effect. And don't lets forget the performing arts either, as
unlikely as it may seem even those with social anxiety may be quite confidence
to act, dance, sing or play an instrument. Besides learning to play an
instrument even if one simply plays alone is nonetheless therapeutic.
Also creative writing, or indeed any kind of writing can be very
therapeutic, personally for me one of the best therapies I know for
distraction even with the
impediment of my OCD which interferes greatly with this endeavour.
I am a great
artist and I know it. The reason I am great is because of all the suffering
I have done.
Paul
Gauguin
Art , the creative process may
improve and enhance the mental and emotional well-being of those of us who
suffer the torment of mind many of us experience as a result of the
conditions from which we suffer. You do not have to be an artistic genius
either, although I personally consider that a good majority of us have some
talent even if not to genius levels. It has long been shown that, in
particular, people with bipolar disorder are very creative, for example
Vincent van Gogh and Tchaikovsky where thought to have suffered from bipolar
disorder. There is evidence that people with OCD are also likewise talented,
for example Samuel Johnson the eighteenth century essayist who wrote the
first English dictionary.
Creativity is a
central source of meaning in our lives... [and] when we are involved in it,
we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life.
Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi
However regardless of ability
or lack thereof, creativity can bring about an improvement in our state of
well being, it can mitigate depression, distract from anxious thoughts,
boost self esteem and at the very least make you feel you have done
something more positive with your day even if you a have only managed a
short amount of time spent on a creative endeavour. For those of you who
doubt your abilities, if you have never tried your hand at an art or craft
how do you know if you have any talent for it or not? Luis from Uruguay was
certain he had no artist ability until he decided to take up sculpture and
enrolled in classes. See his first amazing
sculpture
It is helpful to go to art
classes or for art therapy either at a mental health centre or at a local
adult education outlet. However if this is not possible as is the case for
me right now you can easily take up an art or craft at home. There are many
good instruction books on the market, the one I found most helpful was
Teach Yourself to Draw, a fairly cheap book but nonetheless very instructive
with exercises to practice to teach yourself to draw with a technical pen.
This book may not now be available generally but you may be able to acquire a
copy from Book Stop. However there are many step by step instruction books
available for all arts and crafts from painting to sewing, from woodwork to
creative writing. Also many on-line tutorials are available, many are
free or at least have some free lessons.
As mentioned earlier art as a therapy or simply as a
pass-time of course should not be considered from the perspective only of
the visual arts; you may for example be good at acting, singing or dancing. However for
these you would probably need to join a class or society. For instance many
towns and villages have a dramatic society. Dancing can be learnt by
anyone and as an exercise this can enhance your mood.
Below is a selection of
on-line courses to give you some ideas to get you started.
Important: I have endeavoured to
select only courses which are free whenever possible and where
advertising is absent or is minimal. However as there are so few people
willing to share their knowledge freely some of the on-line courses below,
although free to participate and download, may be part of a website
which is either selling art or art materials or contains other advertising
such as services.
However there is advertising and Advertising if you know what I mean.
Please note I do not recommend or endorse any of these websites or their
products and I am not responsible for their content. I have included them to
the best of my knowledge that each offers some good advice and, advertising notwithstanding, the selected websites
offer good basic tuition.
One sure-fire
way to stay creative: force yourself to learn something new.
Harvey Mackay
Painting and Drawing
Learn to Draw Anything with Ease and Confidence
An
amazing website, and it looks as though it is is totally 100% free to access
and includes written and video tutorials, forums, an opportunity to share
your art work with others and friendly critiques. A must to visit for
both beginners and more advanced artists alike. Instruction in all media.
Learn
how to draw, begin right now.
Free to access tutorials including step
by step drawing lessons, fee e-book and subscription to free e-zine, a
section for children including great art projects for young children. Well worth a
visit, suitable for all abilities
Creative Writing
BBC/OU Open2.net - The Arts - Get Writing - Tips and Tasks 1
Basic but useful tips and tasks
designed to help you improve your writing, overcome writers block and help
you turn your inspiration and ideas into a professional and readable work.
Online Creative Writing Courses Offered Free by Top Universities and
Education
The free courses included in the above link focus on
several types of creative writing, including poetry, essay writing and
fiction writing. Good advice for anyone wishing to take up wrting or improve
their skills.
Crafts
101 Beginner Hand Quilting - Guides - Patterns - Instructions
A comprehensive guide to
patchwork/quilting, including a free e-book. Everything for the beginner and
the more advanced student.
Arts and Crafts, Homes and Gardens - Crafts and Homes
A wealth of creative ideas about more
crafts than you can imagine, also advice about choosing the right craft for
you, also includes gardening advice. Remember gardening is a
creative as well as a relaxing pastime
Page Two
Creativity and
Therapy: A personal perspective
Here I share my own experiences with
OCD, anxiety and depression and my personal advice for overcoming such to
practice your chosen art, craft or hobby
|
