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I often wonder how we will look back on these unprecedented times. Will we be proud of who we were in spite of the obstacles, or will we wish we had acted differently in this time of mass distress. Self-care is a topic that has become widely used in the last few years as a means to take a few moments out of the day and do something purely for leisure. During the time of CoronaVirus, you can see social media posts from all over the world that feature people spending time with their families, getting creative, and paying gratitude to things that we might have taken for granted before mass quarantine. In this web-text, I want to provide resources, knowledge, and tools for you to learn a form of artwork to hopefully soothe you during these times. It can become too easy to spend hours watching depressing news, feeling restless and trapped within your own home. I hope that this text will allow you to find some escape from this harsh reality specifically through art, and find solace within your own walls as you please.

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Something I have found wildly therapeutic during this time is art. I grew up believing that art was a window into another world where you are completely alone and in charge of what you create. No one can tell you what to do, how to do it, or even ask you why. You have sole control over this moment between you and the supplies. Art is also a practice that can bring you a sense of productive control during this crisis where that might feel so far away. Anyone who can safely use the supplies necessary to create can take part in making something beautiful. The first step towards creative self care is deciding to do it. Once you have done that all you need are supplies and a place to work.

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When I moved back to my family home to self-isolate, I discovered a watercolor painting set I had purchased about 4 years ago. I decided to take a break one day, and just experiment with the paints I had discovered. I spent a lot of time trying to decide exactly what I wanted to create, which made the process feel unintentionally wasteful. Experimentation is usually the root of all great artwork, my best advice is just to try. When you’re experimenting you don’t expect your work to reach perfection, because you're doing it for the sake of learning and creation. I have spent lots of time trying to discover a form of self care that can be both relaxing and still productive. Let yourself feel free. Free from expectations, perfection, and borders.

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Once I had experimented enough, I began to understand more about techniques I could use to achieve my desired results for a piece with a specific outcome in mind. I used sketchbook paper to make cards, and began to paint happy images on them. Some examples include a field of colorful mushrooms, an ocean sunset, and fruit. These pictures helped me to imagine things other than my coursework, or my house. Once I had made a significant amount of cards I decided to put them to good use. I began mailing them to my local hospitals and elderly care facilities, hoping that my self care would be able to put a smile on someone else’s face as well.

It is so important to take care of yourself, now more than ever. It is equally important to take care of your community. The best way I have found to do that is experimentation- whether that means painting, cooking, writing, or even singing. Everyone deserves a chance to feel creative, it’s in human nature to keep trying new things. If you so desire- take part in this experiment. Find a safe way to share your creativity for the benefit of others. One of the greatest ways to feel purpose is to serve others.

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Something important to remember and acknowledge during this time is the privilege we have. If you are able to participate in this self care experience through painting, acknowledge with gratitude that it is a luxury that not everyone can afford. We are all dealing with this world pandemic in very different ways, and not everyone may feel up to doing something like this. I ask that you respect and take care of others in the same way that you would want them to do for you. I have communicated with others and discovered that many of us have been taking time to experiment in such different ways. Some of the people I talked to have been experimenting with music, cooking, and exercise. I encourage you to look around your own space, is there something you used to enjoy that you haven’t found the time to pick back up? Now might be the time for you to experiment with life. This is the time to band together for ourselves and for the future of our communities, how will you look back on this time? What will you have done?