I feel incredibly lucky that, even though life hasn’t been wonderful this year, my creative outlets have really blossomed into a way of managing the worst days.
With time and effort I’m starting to learn more about the parts of writing, learning and illustration that I adore, and the parts I hate. That means that as part of my own Creative Coping Strategies campaign, I am better at engaging with creative activities that I’ll get some relief from at times when I need them.
Lately I’ve needed them a lot.
Doing more, being more involved in the artistic scene virtually (I’m now on Deviant if anyone wants to say hi, username StephDraws40), I’m learning so much about digital illustration and with lots of practice I’m starting to find the style I enjoy, and the things I’d like to try.
When I saw that NSUN (National Survivor User Network) had put a call out for creatives who ‘identify as Mad, neurodivergent, and/or having lived experience of mental ill-health, distress, or trauma’ to take part in their annual online exhibition, I knew I wanted to have a go.
It was unfortunate timing. When I saw the callout on Twitter I was at the beginning of a war with covid, and my immune system is still in battle today. But the NSUN came back to me having looked at my gallery and offered to display some of my pieces. I was thrilled, and inbetween coughs, shivers and aches I managed to fiddle with the artwork (and offer them some new artwork) so it was all exhibition ready.
I highly recommend having a look at the NSUN Virtual Exhibition. I was genuinely moved by some of the poetry and artwork, all thought provoking and unique pieces to spend some time pondering. There’s creativity from some incredibly talented survivors who would otherwise be overlooked.
Confidence remains something I need more of, but by taking part in exhibitions like this I’m finding that my self-belief is starting to grow and along with it my desire to learn and do more.
In the long term I’m starting to realise I’m craving a professional life for myself that works around my limitations. While I realise it’s not easy, I don’t think that should stop me trying or that people like me should be excluded. Exhibtions like this will help anyone on a similar journey to me with gaining trust, respect and professional value for their future, which is priceless when you can’t network or manage life in a typical way.
I am incredibly proud (yes, proud) to be amongst such accomplished talent and to feel like my own creativity is starting to be well received. I hope this helps someone reading this post to build on their own talents, explore where their creativity might take them and see how it can bolster their mental wellbeing.
The picture
Simple. I’ve chosen this picture because it was one of the pieces given to the NSUN exhibition exclusively.
During the weeks of covid recovery, illustrating became an incredibly important help to me. A small distraction when I needed it. As part of keeping myself busy I wanted to challenge myself to draw something new, something completely different to the usual kawaii and cartoon illustrations I’m becoming used to. A personal test.
I created 2 pictures that I hoped NSUN would like. This is one of them, if you want to see the other then you’ll need to visit the exhibition!
NSUN [1]
The National Survivor User Network is a network of people & groups with lived experience of mental ill-health, distress & trauma. They work to shift power & resource in mental health and you can become a member too.
Specifically they work to redistribute power and resource in mental health. They do this by:
- Building, amplifying and distributing the knowledge that is held by people with lived experience
- Creating collaborative spaces with members and partners to build momentum and sustainability for the work
- Building an alternative approach to mental health policy work
- Working with funders and acting as a microfunder to redistribute resources to grassroots user-led groups, as well as working to build capacity and sustainability in other, non-material ways
Thanks for reading 💜
[1] Taken from the NSUN website, https://www.nsun.org.uk/, accessed in October 2022
Creative Steph 