I am continuing to explore my emotions with a paintbrush and paper.

I am learning just how much we as humans are emotionally driven… and by purposefully connecting something creative like painting to my emotions, it has helped me to understand myself better. I am getting to know myself on another level. And it is a level… that I am learning to love.

This creative effort is just a piece of the puzzle to help with healing, growth, and become more whole again. Some of my efforts are very personal, and will always stay that way. But some things are nice to share, and art is one of those things.

This process of using my image-oriented thoughts and putting them on paper has been a BIG deal for me in my life, right now. Delving into the creative and artist inside is also perfectly aligning with the college courses I am taking on content creation. I am learning more about writing, photography, art, video, etc. It has been really nice to take classes and gain more knowledge, and to have my college classes work hand-in-hand with this creative outlet has been pretty wonderful.

Knowledge (and creativity) isn’t just power… it is joy!

This is what Elder Uchtdorf stated in his talk, “Happiness, Your Heritage“…

“You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.

The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. 

Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before…colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.

The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.”

I would echo that “what you create doesn’t have to be perfect!” Sometimes we can feel that we don’t or won’t measure up to others… but that just does NOT matter. We can create for ourselves, and our own emotional expression, happiness, and satisfaction.

I make a mess… and it feels great to have a corner of my life where I can make a big mess, and make something beautiful at the same time! 🙂

I continue to paint… for me, and for healing, and for my heart. And slowly… it is changing me from the inside out.

It is interesting to me that my paintings never feel “finished” until I get my fingerprints on them. That is when it becomes a very tactile experience, and when the painting becomes alive for me.

Creativity has been SO cleansing.

I highly recommend finding something… anything… that gets your creative juices flowing, and invite it into your life, and see what happens to your heart.

We are made to create.

Finger-painting isn’t just for kids. 🙂