The Lardner Report

Unleash your creative superpowers!

Embracing Chaos: My Happy Place

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Honestly, I’ve been super stressed lately — working on multiple projects — navigating Covid angst, and examining that need to re-define what we do and who we are. My sanctuary is my little art studio — no matter what threat level of chaos I’m handling. On this day, I was cranking out “scribble sketches” (more on that another time) and got lost in the Byzantine patterns of marks and scratches.

My husband walks in and says, “Why are you stressing?” (He can usually feel it in the next county.) I say, “I’m a bit overwhelmed.” Josh says, “I see. But from where I stand, the artist-at-work and the artist-at-play look very much the same.”

I just got grateful. It struck me that I am one of the lucky ones. No matter how many tasks I face, or how much pressure I feel, I get to bathe in creative expression. It’s something I never appreciate enough, and pray I’ll always have.

 

Picasso Was Right

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(Pic #1) “Scuba Doo” drawing by Mickey Goldman, age 5. Los Angeles, Cali.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” — Pablo Picasso

I carry on about this all the time in my corporate creativity workshops: consistent artistic expression brings all kinds of creative breakthroughs. But more than that, it’s a chance to feed your soul and experience pure joy.

In times like these (a resurgence in cases of Covid19) we need all the stress relief we can get. Making art —whether in the form of painting, poetry, music, pottery or dance — can offer a way for us to cope, even thrive. So why the heck are we not taking full advantage of the time to create? It comes down to one thing: fear. Fear of not measuring up and fear of letting go. But the big secret is: we didn’t used to be that way.

Mickey’s daily art class / Her Mom Jamie is a supercharged homeschooler right now!

My 5-year-old great niece, Mickey confirmed Picasso’s proclamation again for me today. Fearlessly, when handed some fresh markers, she announced she was going to “draw a scuba diver.”  I’m not sure who she had in mind when she chose that subject, but she totally nailed it. (Pic #1 top). She didn’t stop for second. She conceptualized and executed her vision with chutzpah and complete commitment. No re-thinking, no self-criticism. Pure art from the heart. (And honestly, how brilliant is her concept of being immersed in deep water — represented by all the waves in motion?)

Every time I see Mickey’s artwork I feel a sense of awe. She is making art for herself, freely, and wildly untethered to the insecurities that come with adulthood. I pray the rest of us can find a path to that free expression, and maybe, just maybe, we can reclaim what was once ours.

 

Isolation = Artistic Opportunity

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I parked myself in the middle of our overgrown garden and just started sketching.

Get creative and watch your life bloom.

What a week. Separation from friends and family. Work halted. Eateries closed. Theaters dark. Gyms shuttered. And worse — no accessible Godiva Chocolate.

Kidding aside, I’ve heard from friends — especially those who live alone — that this kind of quarantine is threatening their mental health and sense of social inclusion. In short: many are anxious, panicked, lonely and sad. Science backs this up, as the second week of Coronavirus challenges our bodies and our brains. The CDC says extended isolation can lead to stress, insomnia, depression and even hallucination.

One solution? Make art.

Take 10 minutes. Grab a pencil, your kids’ crayons, or a felt tip marker. Smash a cardboard box, and make it your canvas. The supplies don’t matter. The exercise is about relieving you — even for a few minutes — of the fear that exacerbates our anxiety.

Try making marks, slopping paint, or ripping paper. See if you don’t feel a sense of joy — even accomplishment — in the middle of a tense day.

Sit yourself down in your garden — or if inside, in front of a window — and spot something that speaks to you in some way. See it, put it down on paper, and leave your self-criticism somewhere else. It’s not about the product — it’s about the process. If you totally let go— and just create — you just might find this to be an inspiring daily exercise.

For me, the beauty is truly being in the moment. When we stop, sit, and just draw — we get to make something from nothing. By doing that, we birth an idea and see it emerge from a blank page. Whether we keep the end product or not is irrelevant. It’s making it that matters.

How does creative expression reduce stress? Experts say typically artistic work requires focus, and this prevents us from being preoccupied with our uncertainty. In this way, creativity acts much in the same way as meditation.

To express an artistic vision you don’t need special supplies, you don’t need training, you don’t even need skill. You really only need two things: the desire, and the time. A global pandemic just handed you the time.
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