Crazy Without Art • by Danita

I like a saying in Spanish that translates something like, “Share your joys to the world, save your sorrows to yourself.” Art helps me a lot to deal with my problems. I suffer from depression and I’m not on medication (I’ve tried it but I got a false sense of happiness … more like an “I don’t care” thing). I have my ups and downs and you can see it in my art. If you look at my flickr gallery and you know me you can tell exactly when I was happy or sad or angry … I receive a lot of comments from people telling me that my art is very expressive. I don’t just draw a face, I draw a feeling (or at least that’s my intention). I take art as a treatment. If I stop painting or drawing or doing anything creative for more than a couple of days I start feeling awful. I know what the remedy is. Create art and I feel better instantly. I know lots of people who think that art is just time and money wasted, but if they look closer they would see the benefits of it and think twice before saying anything … maybe even try it. Finishing a piece of art gives me a sense of accomplishment. It makes me feel proud of myself for being able to create something. It gives me peace when I use it to channel my frustrations. It gives me an incredible satisfaction when people like it. I can go on and on with the benefits; I just feel that art is so important and people don’t realize how important it is.

No Longer Inside of Me
I’m very sleep deprived, but I love that time of the night when nobody is awake and I can create with abandon, not thinking about the mundane things. I make a lot of pieces for myself and after I finish them I sell them. It’s great to be able to channel my thoughts or struggles to a painting and feel a lot better when I finish it. Then it’s not longer part of me and I can sell it, and the best part is that usually the person who gets it totally changes the feeling of it and turns it into something that reflects what he or she is feeling. The most private things go to my journal and are kept there. Sometimes when I want to get rid of a thought that is bothering me I write it in my journal very lightly, then paint and paste and scratch the page — I feel a relief after that. It’s there, but it’s not really there, but it’s no longer inside of me. Lately the city where I live has been very violent. Just last year more than 2600 people were killed (a drug cartel war). It’s so stressful. I would go crazy if I didn’t make art. I can sit in my chair and paint pretty things, peaceful places where I’m safe, where none of those horrible things happen. A place that is full of trick-or-treaters on Halloween who don’t worry about being abducted, robbed, or killed in the streets. A place with lots of love for Valentine’s Day. Girls with lots of animal friends. Pretty mermaids who swim safely in no contaminated waters. Girls flying without being scanned and seen naked first. A better, ideal place.

Art Will Save Me
If you looked at my art journals you would see that almost 80 percent of the pages are about something negative. That’s because when I’m very happy I usually prefer spending my time with my loved ones or going outside. Usually when I’m happy I tend to focus my creative energy in other things, like making jewelry or boxes using the images I already have. I actually have an entry in my art journal from more than a year ago that says “ART WILL SAVE ME” that I later covered with paint and papers. It was a really dark time for me — I was struggling with a horrible truth and a big family problem, and art helped me cope with all that. It has helped me a great deal and I think it will keep saving me as long as I keep creating.

Danita is a mixed-media artist living in Mexico. To learn more, visit danitaart.blogspot.com.

Comments

[linda]

I love how you pointed out that art is therapeutic...I believe that so much. Something about reflecting on your life and issues - being able to express freely to help yourself get through whatever it is - happy or sad! Thanks for sharing your process of getting those bad things out of you and creating over it, so to speak. That is such a nice way to get it all out of your system!

[lindsaybrackeen]

Incredibly brave and honest writing from you Danita! I think art helps a lot of people cope with many different things. For you to be able to help yourself and inspire others, well it just doesn't get much better than that. xo Lindsay

[shona cole]

yes! I love that sense of accomplishment that finishing a piece brings, like all it well with the world. I love that kit of yours for sale here.

shona cole

[Gina Purlia Johnson]

Danita---I am touched by your comments.....and I feel for you living in your city. I live about 30 minutes away from Tijuana and the same thing is happening here. I'm so sad that I no longer am free to take MY daughter there as my parents took me and my 3 siblings while growing up. I have such wonderful memories of lunches and dinners and shopping and the glass blowing factory and the panaderias where we scooped up bags full of pan dulce and puercos. As a fellow artist I am happy to hear that your art serves as your safe haven....keep creating and we'll keep buying your beautiful work.....

---Gina

[Claire]

So important to hear about ways of dealing/coping/living with depression that are not medication.
Thank you for your visibility in this.

[julee]

oh i love the idea of it being there, but not there of being out of you some place else and yet not something you have to live with tangibly. the transformation the energy makes from depression to expression is amazing!
xoxo
jul

[sherry]

Danita, I love your paintings and your jewelry and other pretty things. What you've written has really touched me too. I also suffered from depression and found art to be the thing that turned that around. Now, I can manage better as I can express myself. That's so important. Congratulations on being featured here and in the magazines. That is so inspiring to me! Sherry

[Sabbio]

Danita, it's been a long time now that I've been reading your blog but I didn't realise how deep art touched your soul nor that living in your city was so violent :/

Congrats for creating with your art and craft such safe, dreamy, loving places and characters for you and your daughter! :)

[Susan Reaney]

Thank you, Danita. I also suffer from depression...don't you think that many people who create art do? Creating always helps but I have not been as aware until you spoke out so clearly.

I love mexico and am sad that such things are happening. We hope to retire there someday. We had an exchange teacher from there and have spent a lot of time with her. My daughter is going this summer to improve her Spanish.

BTW, I love your new rubber stamps .Truly love.
Suz

[kelly lish]

Hi Danita,
I loved reading your story. I grew up with panic attacks and anxiety. Art was the only thing that brought me relief. Creating was my "safe place". I don't think I would be here today if it wasn't a part of me. How lucky we are to have it be a part of who we are. Love to you.

ps. guess what! I'm in the Somerset Studio with you! I'm so proud and honored! :)

Sincerely,
Kelly

[dawn]

I have MADE that rainbow cake before!!! It was SO much fun and tasted delicious too.

I connect with your story very much so. I too am stuck with depression, and it helps so much to sit down at my table and just create something when I am feeling lost in every other way.

[amy sperry faldet]

Wonderful story dear! You share so much through your art and spirit. Blessings.