Painting As a Meditation

How do you stay grounded these days?

For me…it’s painting. A hectic day at work, juggling everything that comes with being a working parent to an 18 month old, managing healthcare and daily needs for aging parents – it’s a lot.

When the everything feels loud and overstimulating, which is frequently these days, creating art is my emotional counterweight to a world that seems to move too fast. Carving out the time on a regular basis, no matter how small or brief, to hone my craft and quiet the noise of the everyday is an important practice.

Calm for me is not a luxury, it’s a necessity. Painting is how I return to my center when everything is too much and regain focus. I can’t think about anything else other than the canvas in front of me and my next brush stroke when I’m painting! Some people meditate, use breathwork, or workout – I make stuff. I encourage you to give it a try and see how it helps to ground you in the present.