Guest Post

(Free art activity included)

If someone asked me about the best way to learn art, I’d say, ‘Start and end with a mess!’.

I truly believe that art allows us to have fun, sometimes, even when we are not in the mood to have fun. 

One can express the silly part in them through art, especially through abstract art. I also feel that for us highly sensitive people (HSPs), it is important to experience regular doses of silliness in our lives. 

The pain we feel in ourselves and others and unforeseen events can be too much to handle. It takes a lot of courage to keep all of it aside and tell ourselves, ‘No, today, I want to be silly and make a mess.’

It is genuinely challenging to persuade our minds to enjoy life in a moment of exhaustion or sadness. However, I am glad that I have access to the wisdom of art. I’d like to share it with other HSPs, as I know that it can motivate others to see the light inside a dark tunnel and at the end of it. 

I chose to write about this topic because I felt stuck in an area of my life. I spent a lot of time reflecting and analyzing the problem; however, it wasn’t improving. So, I decided to do an art activity that would get me back to my center. Here, by the word center, I mean to connect with the side of me that could make me feel freer. 

I was able to connect to the creative, intuitive, and joy-valuing parts of me as I was performing the art activity. For some time, my mind stopped thinking about my challenges.

I was able to giggle and play with paint. 

I felt that sharing this activity with other HSPs would be a good example to demonstrate the underestimated impact of art. I hope for other HSPs to see the value in art as well. Hence, I would like to encourage HSPs to try the below-mentioned activity. It is a simple and beginner-friendly activity that would allow HSPs to express their silliness inside of them. 

Activity 

Materials required: 

1) An A-4 size paper (preferably a scrap paper or used paper)

2) Two paints (please feel free to use your choice of paint material, brand, and medium.) Pick one color of your choice and the color white. 

3) A medium-sized bowl

4) A medium-sized flat brush

5) A cloth to clean and wipe paint or water

6) A small glass of water

7) 3-4 big sheets of newspaper

8) An apron

To start the activity, please choose a spot that would allow you to be by yourself and make a mess. Please have a positive mindset and intention to let go of your inhibitions. 

Steps:

Step 1: Put on the apron and go to your chosen space. 

Step 2: Place the big newspaper on the spot you chose for this activity. It would be ideal if you could utilize three to four sheets of newspaper to cover a large area of the floor or desk.

Step 3: Place the A-4 size paper on a newspaper.

Step 4: Take the color you’ve chosen (excluding the white color paint). Paint the entire sheet of paper with the chosen color using a medium-sized flat brush. 

Step 5: Now pour a generous amount of white paint into the bowl and add a little water to the bowl. Mix the paint and water well with your hands.

Step 6: Take one of your hands and place it in the bowl. Let your hand completely drench into the bowl of white paint. Take a few seconds to feel the paint on your palm and note how it makes you feel. 

Step 7: Place your hand on the A-4 size paper. Press your hand properly onto the paper, making sure all the paint from your hands is transferred to the paper. 

Step 8: Step back and look at the beauty you have created. How does it look? Does it look messy? Do you hear yourself thinking, ‘What am I doing?’

Well, pat yourself on the back for being silly. 

Also, look around your space. Where has the water or paint spilled? Is it messy enough to notice your space's beauty and art?

Step 9: Cherish the moment.

Step 10: Clean your space with the cloth and wash your hands. 

Step 11: Place or stick the artwork somewhere you can be reminded of the importance of being silly and the positive effects of art. 

I hope that this simple activity introduced you to art and your playful side. I would like to share the painting I created by following the above-mentioned steps:

Isn’t it unique, creative, and playful?

I absolutely loved performing this activity, and I love the way the painting turned out. It is now stuck above the mirror in my room. Each time I pass by my room, I look at the painting, making me smile. I would love for HSPs to try this activity and share your beautiful creations with me. 

I would also like to share that it is okay to feel like you require more support to do such an activity or to learn art. I am here to guide you if you’d like to invest your time and effort to connect to the artist and the playful side of you. 

I am delighted to share an abstract artwork that I recently created. It is titled, ‘Special Roads’. Special Roads is an artwork that is inspired by my emotions.

I am sharing my abstract artwork with the readers, as I want HSPs to know that I began my art journey by playing with paints. Those first steps of silliness got me to create beautiful art pieces that are receiving love and praise. Also, I will be participating in a solo exhibition showcasing my work this month end. I am so excited!

I believed in the artist in me, and I put my faith in utilising art as a tool to support my HSP journey. Are you ready to believe in the artist in you and the positive impact it can have in your HSP journey?

Bio: Dr. Pranita Rao is a former dentist, published science author, creative intuitive, and a trained abstract artist. She is the founder of Expressive Sensitive, her virtual home that adds creativity and sensitivity in her life and that of other highly sensitive people (HSPs). She is inspiring many HSPs and empaths through her weekly bite-sized blog posts about art and her HSP journey. She encourages HSPs and empaths to manage their overwhelm, stimulation, and lack of expression through one-on-one abstract art sessions. As an HSP empath, she understands the challenges around overstimulation and overwhelm. She began utilising her creative abilities to manage her own HSP traits, and they are supporting her in overcoming stimulation. She recommends one-on-one abstract art sessions for HSPs as they can enable them to hone their artistic abilities, creative thinking, and self-expression. 

Dr. Pranita Rao is now making her artwork available for sale internationally. She is asking the universe to find loving homes for her artwork, as she created them with a lot of compassion for her HSP journey. She is welcoming HSPs and empaths who wish to have a trial session with her to assess the impact abstract art can have on one’s HSP journey and traits. To know more, drop an email here: pranitarao62@gmail.com. To know more about her services or to buy her artwork, please visit her website: www.expressivesensitive.com. 

Dr. Pranita Rao is happy to share that she recently joined Julie’s affiliate program. She is excited to connect to other HSPs and to share her experience of being part of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. She shares that she has enjoyed being a part of the Heart-centered business group, as it gives her a platform to connect with other highly sensitive entrepreneurs. She enjoys Julie’s podcasts, as they are informative and educational. She encourages readers to use the free resources and courses available on Julie’s website. 

Dr. Pranita is also listed as an art educator in Julie’s practitioners directory. She looks forward to teaching and sharing her artistic knowledge with other HSPs.

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Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is an HSP Psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, author of The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, and founder of the exceptionally ranked Sensitive Empowerment Community. Julie's HSP Podcast is among the top 5% of the most shared and followed worldwide. Her online courses and free resources have helped millions of HSPs reduce the challenges of living with sensitivity, and her greatest joy lies in helping HSPs discover their significant value to the world. Julie's brain training program has proven to reduce anxiety within the first two weeks. Explore all her resources at JulieBjelland.com