NEW MATTER

Mental Health & Creativity

It's safe to assume that the events of this year will have had an effect on a large majority
of people's mental health in some form or another. According to a survey by mental health charity Mind, over half (60%) of adults and two thirds (68%) of young people have said their mental health got worse during the first lockdown earlier this year. Even many people without previous experience of these issues have found themselves experiencing poor mental health during lockdown and have seen their mental health and wellbeing decline.

The crossover between mental wellbeing and creativity is something we're really interested in exploring here at Grand Matter, so when CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) got in touch about working with our roster it got us thinking.
As our artists have been working on a series of pieces for CALM's website, representing some difficult topics surrounding mental health and their services, we wanted to use the opportunity to speak to them about how they cope with anxiety or other strains on their mental health, and also how being creative perhaps helps with that.

Below we hear from some of our roster on striking a good work/life balance, using drawing as a means of communicating feelings, and finding new inspirations in uncertain times.

For more information about CALM's services, head to their website.

Alice Bowsher

"Drawing is a way for me to make sense of myself. As a natural born worrier, it’s always been a place for me to process things and get the worries out. As I began to get more work, although exciting, that space to express myself began to get hidden behind a wall of deadlines and briefs. Eventually I stopped entirely making work for myself and the unnecessary worries rose back up to the surface. It took a while, but over time I slowly began to gather back what I had lost and carved out making time entirely for myself, through life drawing, exercise and reading. It is still hard to get the balance, but I find it so important to remember that drawing is first and foremost for me."

Bryce Wymer

"I have to admit it's been more of a struggle that I originally anticipated when the lockdown began. Not being able to connect with friends and family and having cultural institutions closed has created a bit of a perpetually grey cloud around life in general. One thing that became obvious early on is that art of all kinds is absolutely paramount in these times. When the connective qualities of a group of people are stripped away you realize very quickly how important the arts are to maintain and enhance our culture and collective state of mind."

When the connective qualities of a group of people are stripped away you realize very quickly how important the arts are to maintain and enhance our culture and collective state of mind.

– Bryce Wymer 

Elliot Kruszynski

"For me being creative is my main release for helping to deal with any mental health stress, although admittedly a lot of anxiety and stress is actually caused from the uncertain nature of my career. Most of my work is digital and so I often find myself painting or making a physical object. I find it quite relaxing making something that has no deadline, or actual use, just an object that takes up a bit of space but probably has a nice big happy face on it."

Hollie Fuller

"Whenever I’m having a bit of a wobble I find it useful to focus on something else, if I can. I appreciate a good distraction, like going for a walk with my dog or re-watching my favourite series that I’ve definitely watched far too many times before. If I’m having a really bad day or I want to take my mind off something entirely, I’ll stick on a funny podcast.

It can be quite hard to feel creative if I’m having a bad day. Sometimes focusing on a project is exactly what I need, and I let myself get lost in whatever it is that I’m working on. I think it’s really important to acknowledge that bad days are literally that - just a bad day."

I think it’s really important to acknowledge that bad days are literally that - just a
bad day.

– Hollie Fuller

Saskia Pomeroy

"Meditation and exercise seem to be the best ways for me to deal with anxiety, and getting enough sleep really helps a lot.

I’m not sure whether being creative helps or doesn’t help, sometimes its soothing, but other times being my own boss is super hard. Right now my anxiety levels are really high because I am making a lot for Christmas and I have two young children who also require my attention so it’s a massive juggle between the two. Often it happens that I don’t get any time for relaxation at all because I feel I always have to push push push to get the best for me and my family, but a frazzled out mummy is not good either. Happiness and calm is always a work in progress, and it still surprises me that “work” is required to maintain this balance, it isn’t a given gift."

Thomas Hedger

"I find drawing is talking, communicating how I feel and what I see. It helps to make sense of myself in a space where I can feel like I really exist. Often I can get totally lost in my work, as there is so much love in what I’m able to do that it can feel like a barrier against all the problems. Creativity is magic. It really really helps, and the older I get the more I understand the importance of reaching out and talking to others, even in your work."

I find drawing is talking, communicating how I feel and what I see. It helps to make sense of myself in a space where I can feel like I really exist.

– Thomas Hedger 

Tom Abbiss Smith

"Anxiety has really affected me in the last couple of years and finding healthy coping mechanisms has been challenging, however, with practice, I'm starting to realise what works for me and what doesn't.

Going for walks always helps, especially being freelance and spending a lot of time indoors on my own - you get lost in your thoughts and at times they start to spiral out of control, so getting out really helps to get me inspired and motivated. This, of course, helps with being creative and exploring new ideas, which really helps alleviate anxiety and stress - I find myself getting overwhelmed and frustrated with myself when I can't think up new ideas/keep making the same kind of stuff, so finding new refreshing inspiration is really
vital for me."

www.thecalmzone.net
www.grandmatter.com/artists

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