How to Use Your Expressive Voice
Most of us have spent many years of our lives developing a verbal vocabulary to express ourselves and share our thoughts and ideas, and still often times words just seem to fall short. Do you sometimes feel like there is so much inside you, lying under the surface that wants to be released, but you just aren’t sure how? Do you want to start using your unique creative voice to express, release and transform deep inner feelings? Keep reading !
The Bad News
First the bad news: For a lot of reasons folks feel like making art is not a practical or fruitful endeavor. Many of us were taught that the purpose of art is to create something aesthetically pleasing to on-lookers. Art should be profitable. Art should be reserved for the few, lucky and talented people out there that just have “it”. At some point, somewhere along the way, these messages seeped in and you accepted that you just don’t have “it”.
The Good News
Well, I’m happy to report that there are other ways to look at art and image-making, especially when it comes to expressing yourself and deep, complex feelings and experiences through art. One phrase that is often used to describe this form of art-making is “Expressive Art”. Expressive Art is about the process of making the art, and not so much on the aesthetics of the finished product. It is an embodied experience where you are present in the moment and going with the flow, allowing things to unfold as they will. It is an opportunity to let go of judgement and tune in to your senses, letting those feelings decide the color, images and shapes. It isn’t about technical skill or how well something is drawn. It’s about communication and expression.
How Can You Practice Expressive Art?
I want to encourage you to try it out today! Don’t wait! Even if you don’t have art materials, all you need is a pen or pencil and paper to get started. Here are some quick art prompts to get you going. While you’re drawing, pay attention to negative or limiting thoughts that come up “this is ugly, I cant draw __” etc. Notice them, tell those thoughts you have permission to draw anyway, and keep going.
Make a drawing that represents the sensations you feel in your stomach
make a drawing that represents the sensation of “hot” and one for “cold”
Draw 3 circles on a piece of paper and fill each circle with doodles and marks that represent 3 different emotions
Do some deep breathing and while you’re focusing on your breath, let your pen or pencil wander on a piece of paper.
Then reflect on your experience! What do you notice about your drawings? What stands out to you? I’d love to hear how these exercises went for you if you tried them!
Hope to hear from you soon,
Olivia
