Stay Home Make Art

Stay Home, and Make Art! Just a short PSA for today.

Being home for the better part of a year has left me with mixed feelings. I am grateful for the extra time spent with family, and thankful for the ability to focus on art and writing. That it has largely been because of a global pandemic however, (a very much real, tragic, and far from over pandemic) I’m feeling a bit guilty. It would be a disservice to the lives lost by celebrating some sort of positive out of this state of being that we've all found ourselves in. Alas, it is what it is, and for better or worse, life has changed significantly. 

I’ve written on this previously, about separating calm from chaos in order to assess where your life is heading. This has been an eye opening experience for me, but through it all I’ve gained the clarity I’ve long been seeking in regards to the pace of life that suits me best. There is ample time to think nowadays, and because of it, more time to be deliberate, articulate, and quite simply, time to be thoughtful. And though there seems to be more time than ever on our hands, consequently, it has actually meant less TV watched, some money saved, and the ability to spend more productive time with my spouse and son.

For me, I have hoped to at least honor this new found solitude by productively adding some color into the world. Now that I’ve found the time to create and share more often, and have connected with so many others across the world doing the same, I can tell you that it's a phenomena worth exploring yourselves. 

Start by looking around you, and you may find that inspiration is hiding in plain sight.

I’m constantly inspired by those around me. Friends and family whose hobbies have taken a back seat to “day jobs” but are finally finding the time and space to share their talents and treasures. Whether it be woodworking, quilting, painting, photography, jewelry and accessories - you name it, it's a daily reminder that talents lie deep and that they are essential in bringing the respite of joy in an otherwise uncertain world. When my five year old son begins to craft, color, or create, I can’t help but study his process from conception to realization - I have learned so much from his brain, and as silly as it sounds, it is the perfect inspiration to keep me motivated to learn, day by day. 

In fact, watching my son piece together imaginary figures from rocks is exactly the moment I knew that I wanted to create designs with seaglass, a long beloved hobby of mine, but one which always saw the same ending- collecting it from a beach, and storing it in a vase on a dusty shelf. Now, this hobby has been brought back to life, and can be shared with others around me. 

I’ve also found a sense of inspiration and community with strangers whom I’ve never met. As someone who primarily travels around taking pictures, this past year has brought its challenges. What I’ve found in the meantime however, are hundreds of people like myself happily sharing in their past travel adventures in a virtual way, dreaming of their return to wanderlust, giving us ideas for where to go when we’re able. It's a community of folks who, though grounded from their passion, have also expressed that for the first time, the world has slowed just enough for them to be able to take a step back and actually share in that joy with others. They've been able to take the experiences, and the art they have captured, and turn it into something worth spreading far and wide. 

So I ask that everyone take some time to think inwardly about what it is they can contribute to shine a light in the world. Maybe you used to sew or knit and haven't touched a needle in decades. Or you wish to pick up a new hobby entirely; drawing or painting or some sort of craft. Whatever it is, the world needs art (and for us to stay home while we make it).

If you find yourself at home these next few months, struggling to stay mentally refreshed each day, you’re not alone. But what perfect time to try something new. You might be surprised at what you discover. 

Stay home, and make art. It will do you some good.