ART THERAPY

\"I paint happiness, so it won't die\".

My first healing through art community project

I want to help girls and women, living with trauma, to express themselves in drawings and other visual artworks, which will lead them to explore and to discover their talents, but predominantly to use art as a healing strategy. We know that art has become an important part of the therapeutic field. I can attest to this and thus art has become my lifestyle. Without it, I am bankrupt.

I have reached 30 plus women, including a few male individuals within my immediate community. These individuals have participated in a short and simple activity. Most women were quite receptive and attracted to the project. As far as I know, in my community, many women have suffered different levels of trauma, some of which I have witnessed, and they either cannot afford professional help or they are forced to the agony of having to endure hours upon hours of waiting to be helped at government institutions. In this instance, visits are normally booked weeks apart, even months, because of the great demand and due to this, the results are normally not as effective as expected. Hence, this is where the Shara Rose Arts Projects will be filling the gap, to deliver some hope and ease and to create \"playfulness\" and positive emotions.

With their permission I have attached a collage of some of their work. And here are a few comments and answers to the questionnaire:

\"I must say, I found shading. Very, very relaxing\".

Trauma?

\"Anxiety\"

\"Meningitis in 2019\"

What feelings come up as you look at your artwork?

\"A blossomed flower is a sign of positivity and new beginnings which always brings me happiness\".

\"Peace\".

Do you find a safe or happy space in your creation?

\"I find a happy space, mentally, in that while doing art, the desire is to create beauty\".

\"I find a place that belongs to me\".

Was this exercise helpful?

\"Yes, depicting feelings lets one see things from different angles and can bring hope\".

\"Yes, I wouldn't mind participating in future activities\".

\"Definitely\"

Will you say art therapy has a positive impact on a woman's self-compassion and self-esteem?

\"Yes. It is a great way to express one's self without speaking\".

\"Yes, I feel beautiful\".

I am in the process of creating a child friendly activity for our younger girl humans. I have invited a professional Social Worker to work with me. I am also hoping to expand this initiative by visiting hospitals and prisons. Our female nurses, matrons and women prisoners are in dire need as they have been traumatised by the gloom of the COVID-19 world.

I may not be able to save the world, but I am willing to take baby steps - even if this means that I will be reaching one person at a time, it will all still be worth it.

Take care...

Thank you for your support WP family- Happy painting!