What are ways to LEARN to be expressive through art?

Question

I'm depressed and vocally getting things off my chest doesn't make me feel better anymore. I work my *** off so I haven't much time to work any harder than I already am to fix my problems.

Please note: "my problems" are the ongoing problems people encounter in life. Nothing signifigant, and when it isn't one thing, it certainly will be another.

I'm 25 and have never attempted any art-form and am looking for a new outlet, as I am a very overwhelmed student and employee.

Answer 1

You cant learn to express yourself through art, it just happens.

Answer 2

Mango certainly has a good idea. Get a book from the library--drawing & painting are very learnable skills, and the library will have step-by-step instruction books.

Taking art classes is certainly an option.

I'm depressed also, and I cannot work. So I decided to make the best of my time and teach myself how to arrange flowers. So I bought a step-by-step book, and I've copied all of the arrangements one by one.

It makes me feel really good. I like to choose flowers, buy them, arrange them, and then I give them to someone dear--the sick ones in the church, my bosom buddies, the receptionist at the dr.'s office, the retirement center's lost and forgotten.

As a depressed person, you probably know that exercise will make you feel better, right? Have you consulted a dr.?

What about writing? Ever thought about writing a childrens' book? A mystery? A fictional book about an overwhelmed student and employee who runs into the man of her dreams?

E-mail me if I can help.
Debbie

Answer 3

Man, have I been there. I might feel the way you do for a week, month, or longer. Or, maybe just a day. If you have a digital camera, break it out. I don't care if you feel like taking pictures of misc. subject matter scattered on your table or if you want to go out to a wooded area, be alone and just sit. Listen to silence, which will become birds chatting, leaves falling from trees etc. You can express yourself to yourself sometimes. If this doesn't work. Get a piece of wood, thick cardboard or a wall (that you don't like) and take a friggen knife to it. Carving wicked lines, scrapping etc. You could make a change in your apperance, anything from haircut and new look, to something extreme. Most importantly realize that you have the right to do whatever the hell makes you feel better WITHOUT FEELING GUILTY about it. Remember that. If something "silly" comes to mind, just do it. If you do take any pictures (that is my getaway. Post them somewhere like flickr.com and let the world see them. Good Luck

Answer 4

See if you can join your local SCA group, or something like that. There's lots of people who'll be willing to teach you lots of different arts and crafts. Just the act of learning a new skill, however irrelevent to your every day life, is good for your confidence. I have a small baby and have just finished a little embroidery project. It's taken me all damn year, but it's done! I can't sit in front of the telly without some sewing, or I feel like I'm wasting time. I do the good girlfriend thing and play role playing games to help keep my partner's group going (it's a mental health issue for him, he's just got to have his fix!) but I sew while I'm doing it. I know people who knit in lectures. I personally found taking notes more useful, but they claim the knitting helps them concentrate and retain info. You could easily take a small handcraft project in your bag to work on in lectures or during your lunch breaks. I went to a baby shower for one of the girls in our SCA group last weekend. You could tell who the other SCAers were, as soon as we'd eaten, they all whipped out their embroidery and sewed happily while they yakked :) You could sew little designs to be used in cards. Christmas is coming and people like that kind of stuff, you may be depressed yourself, but little efforts of gift giving will make you feel good.
Now if you are talking about expressing yourself through art, not just learning a new craft, I suggest you look at yourself and see what kind of story you have to tell. I'm making my first quilt at the moment. It's a story quilt with the theme of my grandfather. Each panel represents a memory of him, and I'll be giving it to my brother for his 21st. My brother was only little when he died so he doesn't really remember him. Hope he likes it, heheh.

Answer 5

Read, read, read. Understand the concepts and the basics. If you go for lessons, take only a couple. Do not be influenced by the teacher.

What ever form the art takes, construct what you want to, never construct what you think people will like. Its about how you feel, and what feelings you want to express.

Being conventional is a cul de sac to creativity.

Answer 6

Then how did this finally end up interior the Books and Authors section? in any case, you may't learn a thanks to be expressive. human beings certainly are. you in basic terms ought to locate which way you're maximum expressive in, and which way works perfect for you. If it really is paintings you want to attempt, %. up a paintbrush and paint and in basic terms.... flow. attempt precis paintings, or something. you already know, posting this question interior the seen Arts section might want to absolutely be extra efficient. and for the reason that that is in this section, you may want to attempt writing. Poetry, perchance memories. or perhaps in basic terms studying might want to positioned you in a state of peace, relying on the kind.

Answer 7

Just buy yourself some canvases, oil paints(which stays wet), acrylic(dries very quick), pastels, i love charcoals and granites for sketching or creating shadow pictures, light/dark...
You din't have to paint anythuing in particular, oils are amazing just mixed, watch all the colours that come through

Answer 8

Dance. Oh man. At least try it. Has kept me in my element.

Answer 9

smoke pot or do acid if u want to be authentic, me, id just BS it.