Recently, my dear friend, artist and author, Lisa Solomon asked me if I would write about the color grey. I told her I was bad with color, so gray was perfect.

It was for her book, Art Craft Color - where she asked 20 artists/crafters to come up with ideas that would make your life more colorful and also blur the line between artist and craftsperson. All the projects make you feel like you got this. And you do, you are an artist.

I wanted to share my practice with you all today, because I thought it might be helpful. I want you to experience the healing power of making things.

Drawing Through Anxiety.

This could be a drawing exercise. This could be a screaming exercise. The supplies needed depend on what you feel like using to express yourself with the least amount of friction. For me, I love the way sumi ink flows on paper and I have it close to me at all times. I love the contrast between the paper and ink. I love how fast it is, you can make something stunning with very little planning and tools. The ink pools in places and sometimes I can see myself in its reflection.

Share this with someone who is anxious…

Steps:

1. Rally a word document, or a blank journal & a writing tool close by (I use a marker and pencil), some paint/ink and a brush(s if you want to be fancy) and a big old sheet of paper. Or anything else you have that you are drawn to. All of this is about what feels good and easy for you. Nothing else matters. Grab a warm beverage, or cool one depending on your desired body temperature. Take a few deep long breaths, relaxing your shoulders.

2. Free write down what you are spiraling about preferably under a full moon. Don’t worry how it sounds, what it reads like, no one will ever see this. It is about accessing a different part of you, creating distance, a separation between you and your thoughts and emotions. About taking them outside your head, and putting them somewhere else.

3. Look through your writing and find universal truths, or think about what you are longing to hear. Highlight that. Or write down the next thing you think of.

4. Sketch out your text/drawing/whatever on your big sheet of paper. Perhaps a totally unnecessary step I take is to sketch it out before I paint. I do this because I am scared I will screw up. I still believe that intentions matter and I should have a plan. But sometimes only a little or no plan creates things that are even more interesting, more beautiful. I guess sketching it out gives me comfort, the right amount of plan to just get going. Add some images that you feel like tell part of the story - it doesnt have to be poetic, or meaningful. Simply describe what is going on in your head or what you choose to focus on.

5. When have enough of a plan, just go ahead and dip that brush in and paint the text, or if you are more comfortable with images, go with that. Bloobs and mistakes welcome. Spelling errors mean it was done by a human. You are one. That is so miraculous.

5. Sit with what you have made. Consider sharing it with someone who would feel less alone if they received it. How are you feeling now? Has anything changed inside of you?

6. When you are ready, move on with your day.

If you need a pep-talk, listen to Lisa here. I promise she will feel like an old friend rooting for you.

Pre-order Art Craft Color now, here.

Sending love and courage to make things, ugly things, and some beautiful, in this wild world, Carissa

PS What do you make when you are feeling anxious?

Lisa Solomon is is an oakland, california based mixed media artist, author, educator, and occasional curator, who has been teaching at Bay Area Colleges and classes around the world for 20+ years. As a Hapa, she continually explores ideas, spaces, and materials that are in-between. A self-declared color geek, she is profoundly interested in bridging the gaps between being creative, living creatively, creating community, and making a living as a creative.

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