The case for making art during a pandemic

Three ways to be creative at home

Hi,

Welcome to Looking Around Boston, an (ostensibly) weekly newsletter about art and culture in Boston and beyond. If you aren’t already signed up, you can do that here.

Like many students graduating into this unexpected recession, my master’s degree program recently ended, I am underemployed, and I suddenly find myself with time on my hands. To stave off the existential dread, I thought I’d see what types of art-making activities we can do from home, even if we don’t think of ourselves as artistically inclined.

Creating art stimulates the release of dopamine—basically, it makes us happier. Taking time to create also helps us relax, slow down, and take time away from reading the news or feeling anxious about things we can’t control. I can’t stand meditating, but I’ve been craving the peace and focus that come along with it. Taking a few minutes to breathe and focus makes me feel calmer and more productive for the rest of the day. Making art can have a similar effect, and I think we can all see the value in creating something positive rather than dwelling on the negative these days.

Lots of people, myself included, have fallen for the mentality that they simply aren’t creative—that you aren’t making art unless you are drawing or painting a realistic image. This unfortunate myth can inhibit us from pursuing activities that provide the benefits I mentioned above. Don’t feel like what you’re making has to be perfect. Trying new things and pushing the boundaries of what you think you can do will teach you something about yourself and the world around you, even if you don’t produce exactly what you expected.

Tara Donovan, Untitled, 2003. MFA Boston. Medium: Styrofoam cups, hot glue, white thin rope, aluminum structure.

What’s more, if you go to a contemporary art museum today, how many traditional, framed drawings or oil paintings will you see on the walls? Especially since the second half of the 20th century, artists are working with found objects, words, video, even speech and actions (what we might call performance art). Whatever you try, you’ll be making something new and expressing yourself—which may feel particularly needed right now.

Ragnar Kjartansson, Still from The Visitors, 2012. ICA Boston. Medium: Nine-channel video production.

If you need some ideas to get started, grab a friend or family member (or just a glass of wine) and try one of the activities below. Don’t worry about making it perfect; try to enjoy the process. If you’re creating art of any kind in quarantine, I’d love to see what you’re doing. Share in the comments and drop a link to a social media post (since we can’t share images here, sadly).

Do some coloring

Like doing a puzzle or knitting, coloring is relaxing and detail-oriented, and so satisfying when complete. There are plenty of adult-level, printable coloring sheets online—check out these intricate mandala pages.

Take an art class on Instagram

If you’re on Insta, look around for local artists and shops that are offering online events. These often come with a fee, but you’ll be supporting an organization that is likely struggling to adjust to the pandemic. A couple Boston-area accounts to check out are @letteringbyliz, offering individual and group calligraphy lessons online (which would be perfect for a celebration or girls’ night) and @thepaintbar, a Newton-based “Paint and Sip” studio that’s leading lessons via Zoom for adults and children.

Image from The Paint Bar’s Instagram page

Take up photography

If you take pictures on your smartphone, you are a photographer. I have no patience for keeping journals, but I’ve been taking lots of photos—of myself wearing a mask, of signage and lines at grocery stores, of flowers blooming despite all the bad news. Challenge yourself to photograph three interesting things you see on a walk; get to know all the settings and filters on your phone’s camera; pull a Monet and photograph the same view from your window each hour throughout the day to see what changes. Someday, we’ll want a record of this time—whether to share with our children or to ensure that we’re better prepared for the next crisis—and photos can be part of that.

That’s all for today. I’ll try not to let a month go by between issues again! Have a lovely weekend, and let me know if there’s anything I should cover in a future newsletter.

Stay safe,

Cordelia