Medit..Art
January 17, 2020
3 ways to use art for self care
Well, we’re almost there, we’re half way through January already and a fresh new month is on the horizon. Well done to you all for getting back into routine after the Christmas break. As the new year has begun and life is back to hectic normality, for many of us taking, even just a little, time for ourselves to rest our minds will be high on the resolution agenda. Of all the promises to make to yourself this is one of the easiest to keep, especially if you use art to help you. Here are 3 ways to use art for self care
Choose the 5 minute, 15 minute or 30 minute option…
Take 5…
The 5 Minute Breather
Whether it’s first thing in the morning before everyone else gets up or right before you go to bed or anytime in between. Sit with your favourite painting from your collection at home, even load your favourite Monet or Van Gough on your phone. Think about why you love it, what it reminds you of and just get lost in it.
Get Physical…
The 15 Minute Doodle
Take out a pencil and paper and without too much thought just doodle whatever you can. Much like writing down what’s in your head a few minutes of drawing will help clear your mind and act as a sort of meditation. You can do this anywhere, in the car park at the kids’ sports practice, on your teabreak or on a lazy Saturday morning in bed. This isn’t about creating a masterpiece it’s just about taking your mind somewhere else for a few minutes
Time Out…
The 30 minute + Browse
Make a visit to your nearest art museum. Whether it’s traditional oil painting or an immersive contemporary installation take some time out of your day, perhaps on your lunch break or at the weekend and let your mind wander and contemplate the artworks in the serene atmosphere of the gallery. I took this photo on a quick visit to Crawford Art Gallery last year. The pattern of light falling on the sculptures alone was beautiful to look at
Feature Image: Anthony Gormley’ ‘Lost Horizon I’ (detail). Photo by Me, Sheelah Moloney
About ‘Lost Horizon I’
The iron casts of ‘Lost Horizon I’ are generated serially from six moulds of similar poses. Each one registering “a lived moment of time”, as Gormley describes it. For him, when we close our eyes, but are conscious and aware, we occupy “another kind of space, without co-ordinates”.
Extract from Royal Academy of Arts, London Anthony Gormley exhibition catalogue
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