Giving My Pain a Place to Rest

How does making art help you transform pain?

When I’m in the energy and space to transmute my feelings, I litterally feel my pain being captured by the painting itself.
This usually happens with self portraits. Like the canvas, panel or paper is some sort of trap, as the paint sinks in, or dries on layers the emotions are weaved in every brush stroke. I can feel my body even minmicing the pain, I can feel my face sharing the same expression. And when I’m the painting is done, the feeling has left my body and all that is left is the reflection, this mirror. It starts to feel so far from me. Like, that person no longer exists within me and now has it’s own presences. Like I create a new being. It’s a death and rebirth sort of process. I’m killing this part of me while simutansaly giving it a new life outside of me.
You know, I’ve never quite took the time to think about this in words. I’ve always been aware of this feeling, the feeling of this pain being expressed moving from my body into a surface.
It makes sense that it’s always with self portraits, a true reflection.
As i think about this more, I realize this could be such a healing tool that I should practice more.
Maybe go back to childhood and bring up those feelings and transmute them into paintings. Give that little girl a chance to express herself in ways she wasn’t capable.
Man, these prompts are hella healing. aha
I hope you are healing through them too.

Man, these prompts are hella healing. Aha.
I hope you’re healing through them too.

What about you?
How does your art help you move through pain, grief, or transformation?
You’re more than welcome to journal about it, create from it, or share in the comments if it feels right. I’d love to hear how your creative process holds you.