Expression through Art
Expression in the arts
Expression itself seems to me to be an intrinsic part of art. In each work of art we find pieces of the artist on a smaller or larger scale. As in my previous article, where I mentioned love as the foundation of all other emotions, here I would like to touch on how important they are. Self-expression through art is one of the intrinsic ways of art, but also of life. Sometimes we unconsciously express ourselves artistically and not through visual art or other types of artistic streams.
Creation as well as expression are on the agenda of human functioning and this does not change the fact that art combined with our authenticity can work wonders. Many of us shed “dirt” or other shadows when creating. However, this is not the only main factor. Longing art forms, those full of happiness or love - romantic or platonic - also manifest themselves. The works are so broad in their interpretation that through the expression of someone else, we will feel ourselves and this will contribute to our own expression. It is a beautiful process showing how art develops and inspires each other. How we humans help each other to understand ourselves. Because feelings and emotions are intrinsic things in our existence, just like the light and shadows in our colours.
Sometimes it happens that a work filled with pain and grief makes us cry, not because it ‘hurts us’, but because it can be ‘so beautiful’ to us. Because pain also has its own beauty, which we quite often immortalise in songs, poetry or art, but it shames us so much that we do not openly admit it. It overshadows us with its beauty that hurts.
How do I get my emotions out of me?
Art has helped me to understand as well as alchemise the emotions I feel. From sadness to anger. Sometimes even happiness. It is a process that is beautiful in its difficulties as well as looking inside myself in greater awareness. During different emotions, I reach for different mediums. I don't have a specific rule or assigned content for the emotions I feel, yet I have got to know myself enough to know which medium is a good one for me at the moment, for creation.
For example, during feelings of anger, I usually reach for charcoal. That's when I create work by intuitively drawing. It unloads me at a very fast pace and calms me down, while creating new work. Usually my charcoal drawings are chaotic or look dirty - this may be related precisely to the anger I feel, which I pour onto the sheet of paper in various forms.
In addition to their versatility in prototyping and quick sketches in any emotional state, pencils are also used for me to expel excessive sadness and sometimes happiness. The same applies to pen drawings or digital art. Sadness and happiness, despite their opposites, have the same outlet for me in the medium used to create art. This makes me feel more balanced in my own emotions, even when creating simple sketches. The same process unfolds in me when creating poetry or simple graphic designs for myself. The poems allow me to put my emotions out in words, and the graphics quiet my mind by focusing on the project.
Painting is the only discipline I use to connect with my inner child. I usually end up painting intuitively, kept in a very childlike form. However, it is one of my favourite forms of calming and allows me to relax completely. Not demanding anything of myself and being able to just feel like a child again.
The alchemy of emotions and feelings
The alchemy of emotions is not an easy process and above all - it is not required. Nevertheless, I encourage you to try these methods and find your own. Who knows, maybe charcoal will be a good way for you to vent your anger? Expression itself is the result of getting our emotions and feelings out of us, pouring this into artistic, creative art forms. It is a process that often adds to our self-reflection, but sometimes simply leaves us feeling relieved. We often encounter situations where the artist, having created a work of art, feels relieved, but also sometimes even empty.
The beauty of interpretation
With the creation of works, we throw out of ourselves our lights and shadows. We transform them into different forms and thus create a composition that is more or less coherent. However, not everyone will understand it and that is fine. Art is subjective and we should not create personal works for the public - this is different in the case of so-called commissions. More than once we will face criticism that touches our creation, but also ourselves. Because of how much we put ourselves into individual, personal works, often the criticism of them, affects us too. We feel criticised, that our emotions are being judged. However, this should not be the case. The moment we have thrown out our emotions and feelings through expression, for a given moment, they are no longer fully ours. Fact, we have given a piece of ourselves, quite a large and important one, but with giving it away, we also say goodbye to it in a way. Because now its job is not to evoke feelings only in us, but in other people.
I have experienced many times that the various people in my life who have seen my works, especially my intuitive creations, have understood them in completely different ways. And these were not wrong, but simply individual, personal, perhaps even emotionally intimate for them. My expression has allowed me to open the door to other people's emotions and feelings - and this is one of the beautiful aspects I have experienced in betting on authenticity and being expressive in my works.
Imagination as a friend of creativity and expression
In a world of great imagination, anything is possible, especially if we allow ourselves to express ourselves freely. Our creativity is closely linked to our imagination, which is developed in us from childhood. I would even say that imagination is our main link with the inner child. And the inner child is an artist who is curious about the whole world, including himself. By entering into one's imagination and freely giving oneself over to creation, feelings and emotions flow on their own, often even unconsciously. Expression in this case comes in the form of a muted body, but it can also be the other way around. Sometimes the imagination and our inner world allow us to have very strong and deep emotions, so that the creative process itself can be chaotic, even painful.
From self-reflection, I can say that I have created work at which I have cried. This was the case many times with poetry, the written story, but also traditional art. I still have tear-soaked pages in my sketchbooks. And I am not ashamed of them, at least not in front of myself, and this is an important aspect. To be ashamed of my emotions is one of the loneliest things I have experienced. To be so alone to even reject your own inner world.
Expressive art
I think it is through the feelings and emotions contained in paintings or poems that they are so precious to us. Not only do they have particles of people, but we find ourselves in several of them. This shows not our bond with art, but the bond between people. Because many of us feel the same way and, for a moment, we can feel touched, understood, even by a stranger.
Expression is not just throwing emotions out of us. It's giving particles of ourselves away, materialising emotions and feelings, but most importantly, sending messages and making connections. Perhaps it is this, that allows us to build who we are? Because we allow ourselves to have it and thus, a relationship with ourselves.
Maybe it is also your time to Express yourself through Art?
