Poll Are You Artistic?

[jailed]

I carve, mostly birds but some smaller animals, walking sticks , canes
all in wood

 

[Acer]

I knit, garden (am a horticulturist...Horticulture is defined as the Art and Science of a Cultivated Landscape), sew, bead, have done pottery, make various things, mix essential oils for massage oils/bath salts/bath scrubs/soaps, write, think.

eta: I like paper too, making artist trading cards (ATC), greeting cards with lovely Art Nouveau decorations, I reconstruct thrift store clothing, I yank old wool sweaters from thrift stores and frog them (unravel) to use the yarn for 'better' lovelier purposes, I used to bake beautimus breads, stuff stuff stuff...oh, lip glosses too. Hmmm, jewelry, so many things, if it inspires I do it. Ceramic coasters are fun.

 

[FightingLily]

I draw and paint. I can't say I am any good at it, but it does make me focus on one thing instead of trying to sort the thoughts in my head. It relaxes me.

 

[Seychelle]

I sometimes draw and paint.

I only started having flashbacks about childhood a few years ago, I kept a very very tight lid on the denial. But you can see some of it in a few of the paintings and drawings that I did as a teenager - it came out regardless of the denial. When I first started working through the flashbacks a few years ago, I drew continuously for a few months. I filled heaps of sketchbooks. I can see some of the emotional processing in those drawings now.

I also occasionally paint now just for fun. I love the feel of brush on canvas and I prefer bright bright colours.

 

[xxarmywifexx]

I write poetry.

 

[sweetgrass]

I play a mean guitar, write songs, record them.

 

[Mercy]

Thanks for the poll. I think some form of silent (non-verbal) expression taps into a different part of our brains where traumatic memories are deeply imbedded. Artistic expressions can release these in a slow and gradual way- quite different than some traumatic memories. My first therapist was an art therapist.
I have been an artist all my life. I carved marbles for 30 yrs, painted portraits, did stained glass in a commercial studio, and now I write/paint Orthodox Christian icons.
Making things, any thing, was my way of accounting for the time I spent that day. Each day I made something- a baby dress, some lines of needle point- I could prove to myself that I hadn't been hurt that day. A string of sanity that helped me keep my trauma at bay.

 

[shiraz]

Yes, i am creative. I only discovered that as an adult though. I have a wonderful sense of style (unfortunately I can't always afford it .. he he) and love to make ordinary things special. Every night I light incense and candles and I like to set a beautiful dinner table for our evening meal and create a restful ambiance to end the day with. This is an expression of creativity for me, as is the preparation and presentation of a meal. Being creative means filling the things you do with love, making each moment special, placing fresh lavender on our pillows to help us sleep better, picking herbs from the garden to brighten our packed lunches, writing a special note for my man - it takes a bit of practice a bit more time and borrowing of ideas, but it is worth it as it adds soul to everything you do and makes everything a ceremony of love to life.

Of course, it doesn't always happen and I don't always feel like it, but when i am feeling at my worst, it often helps to return to these things as they center me.

I experiment with different art mediums. Right now I am into pen and ink designs. They are just repetitive patterns. When I do them, they calm my mind and become a form of therapy to me. I like to experiment with things and see what 'fits' me. I can't really draw or sing or create masterpieces, but I think all people are creative, you just need to find how to express yours.

 

[joyfull]

I am always doodling, makes me a horrible notetaker. I found to keep on track in college I had to take notes with my laptop otherwise they would all be curliques and flowers. I like to paint and have tons of supplies, brushes, canvases, even an easel but very rarely break it out. I used to sing in a band and play guitar and penny whistle- now I watch tv. I also love to just try stuff, sculpting, sewing, beading, I taught a group of people at a women's center to make dreamcatchers last year as part of a fundraiser. I just need a studio. Now I want to quit my job and do art trouble is much as I love it I am not that good. oh well.

 

[blue_eyed_angel]

I love to draw, paint, and taking pictures of every aspect of life. I never leave home without my camera. You never know what things you might capture going on in life around you.

 

[Sybil]

I voted yes, and I think that everyone is artistic in some way. Some things just aren't readily recognized. One of my hobbies is city-building games, it is artistic to decide that I am going to put housing here, and industry there. I also enjoy needlepoint, but my designs tend to be straight lines and geometric figures, I think that it gets into the black-and-white issue.

Have you ever developed an innovative solution to a problem. that's artistic.

 

[morgan]

I used to be artistic. Now I just like to color mostly. Does that count?