My bipolar moods (with severity)

[Changing4Best]

It has been a rough few days. I was so tired this morning after breakfast that I went back to sleep. I think I slept for a couple of hours more than 8 in all. That is TIRED. I did do another painting today though. I have been doing an average of one a day. Sorry I have not worked it out to share them here. I don't know but one person who can take some images with her phone and then send them to me in an email. She is out of town for the holidays. I would still have to figure out how to post them to the web and then link to them here. What a pain! You will have to forgive me if I don't bother with all the hassle. I do not know why there is no image sharing any longer. I used to be able to upload images on this website! I suppose I should ask. If need be, like if I have some images to upload, I will ask.

 

[Chiqui]

I try to draw something everyday. It does help me, definitly, to ground and pay attention to whats around me. Also use my sketchbook for writting, so always have one on my bag and some art goodies. I don't know neither how to upload images now. I think is wonderful what you do.

 

[Changing4Best]

I write stuff about my paintings on the backs of my paintings, so I cannot really give them as gifts very often, which is good, because I used to give my works of art away a lot. It got to be kind of too much. Now I am keeping most of them and showing them to my Pdoc and my therapist, both of whom are really glad I am doing them. @Chiqui

A loved one told me today that they are really in major depression. I was saddened by this a lot, knowing full well what that feels like! Praying for that person.

I called a friend on the phone, but she was out, so I left a long message. I guess everyone is somehow involved or other today, and not available. I sure am glad there are folks here, or I would feel totally alone. Well, God is with me, so that is really not possible, but you know what I mean!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I hope that you have a good day today.:hug::happy:

 

[Changing4Best]

Yes, I am, thanks, @Rain. My friend called me back and we talked for a good long time. I just attended an Overeaters Anonymous meeting too. I have been going to those for about a year and a half now. They have a bunch of them online every day on this website:

12 Step 4 COE's

It was a good meeting, I just read other folks shares today. Often I like to share too (it is in chat) but today I was quiet and listened instead. Sometimes I am like that. I am a really good listener and I love to just sit and listen to folks tell me about their lives IRL. That is how I met my friend who just called me back. I just sat and listened to her.

Other times I cannot focus on reading though. Every day is different. I don't know, but I think PTSD causes that inability to focus sometimes. Either that or my Bipolar. (Or it could be both). It makes it hard to read longer passages here on the Forum sometimes.

I did 2 paintings today. I think I need to get a sketchbook that I can paint in. I am too quickly using up my watercolor paper! Also, little 4x6" pieces of it are sometimes too small to hold all my thoughts on the back that tell about what the painting means.

 

[Changing4Best]

I just realized that my cover photo is very much like my life and my Bipolar. There are mountains and valleys in life and also in that photo! It is a photo of a place not far from my home too, maybe 45 mins from here.

 

[Chiqui]

Now I am keeping most of them and showing them to my Pdoc and my therapist @SheilaKathy
Yes, same here!!. I do sketchbooks as artjournals. Its my memory recorded there. I started 6 years ago and they have helped me and my T to understand better what was going on with me on long desrealization and confused periods. I like watercolors too. For me It is not about doing any pretty thing, but I truly value the total freedom I enjoy when I am doing them, just for me (and my T)

 

[Changing4Best]

What kind of papers do you use, like what kind of sketchbooks do you buy (in other words)? I want the paper to hold up well to painting in layers, because I don't care if I get the paint on there a bit too thick sometimes. It is more important to express what is going on, than it is to be artistically "perfect." Watercolorists would not be pleased, but so what! LOL... @Chiqui

 

[Chiqui]

Watercolorists wouldnot be pleased, but so what! LOL... @Chiqui
Lol @SheilaKathy , It is ok for me. As you said, as long as I can express myself, I don't mind. If you wanna go on layers, may be you want a 300 grms paper. I am afraid I only know european brands. I use an allrounder cheap sketchbook, for drawing with pen, pencil, colorpencils and light washes. It cost me 3€ on TIGER, square For more water, I like very much paper named Arches. Love It in any thickness.

 

[Changing4Best]

I'm using Strathmore now, it says it is made in USA. And all this time I thought it was European. I use watercolor pencils and windsor-newton watercolors. I bought some brushes that are for folks with arthritis. They have grips on them, so I can hold them more easily. I know I have a sketchbook somewhere, buried. I have to find it. It might be of use, although I was using it just for markers and colored pencils awhile back.

 

[Chiqui]

I know some people like to use all books or the ones they don't like anymore to paint on them. I have done It too sometimes when I didn't have a sketchbook. Or an old agenda. Anything:)

 

[Changing4Best]

Yes, when I was in highschool, I printed some things on knapkins, now that I remember. LOL...