"Brushstrokes of Healing: From Watercolors to Art Therapy"

The journey - Beginning

“The privilege of a lifetime is to

become who you truly are.”

^{- Carl Jung}

I've been away for a bit recovering from eye surgery, but I'm thrilled to say I'm back and feeling great! During my time away, I've achieved my certification as an art therapy facilitator. There's so much to catch up on, and I can't wait to share this journey with you all! 

Let me start it all again! 

Who am I?

 This is Dr Megha, founder of byTheArtBug, Watercolor Artist, Art educator and Art Therapy Facilitator. I am a full time Art entrepreneur. 

 Here is my journey from a Watercolor artist to diving into the world of art Therapy!

The journey began in a somewhat comical twist of fate! I've always been doing and teaching crafts, but whenever I shared my passion or about my classes, I would get the inevitable question: Very nice but "Do you also teach art?" This recurring query, frustrated me and led me to pick up a cheap watercolor set at a supermarket, and that's where my watercolor adventure began. Little did I know, those first brushstrokes would lead me on a path of healing and self-discovery through Art therapy later on!

So, I dove into painting with my new art supplies, and oh boy, it was a disaster! I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, but that didn't stop me from exploring and experimenting. I turned to YouTube, took some classes here and there, spent hours and hours learning, but did I get it right? Nope, not even close. Then I thought, maybe it's the cheap watercolors. So, I splurged on what I thought was a better kit, and to my surprise, it was just as bad! Terrible decision, right? So, I gave it all up for nearly a year. But then something surprising happened... 

The Last leaf 

I was out on my morning walk with a friend when I spotted this beautifully colored fallen leaf on the footpath– all yellow, brown, and greenish, like it was straight out of a painting. It reminded me of that O. Henry story, you know, "The Last Leaf", Key elements of the story include the strong bond between the main characters, Johnsy and Sue, and the compassionate act of their neighbor, Behrman. Behrman paints a leaf to inspire Johnsy and give her the will to live, ultimately sacrificing his own life in the process.

The story explores themes of friendship, sacrifice and the power of art to inspire hope. And we can’t underestimate the Artists’ skill! Despite abandoning his dream, his unwavering dedication to painting the leaf ultimately led to his masterpiece, though it tragically cost him his life. His sacrifice was what allowed him to achieve his lifelong dream. I can go deeper into this but for now let’s leave it here!

Anyway, I just had to pick it up and take it home to paint. 

I sat down, grabbed my watercolors, and started to work. I mean, that leaf was my muse! And you won't believe it – the painting turned out amazing! I was so proud of it. I showed it to my husband, expecting him to be blown away. Instead, he just laughed and said, "Did you glue the leaf to the paper?" Well, I hadn't, but seeing him try to scrape it off was priceless! 

That moment was my big "Aha!" It was exactly what I needed to kick-start my real journey into painting with watercolors. And you know what? Ever since then, painting realistic leaves has been my absolute favorite thing to do. It's like capturing a piece of nature's beauty with every brushstroke. 

 How did art therapy come into the picture? 

All this was before lockdown. Well, this story seems all fun and hunky-dory, but I have always been an anxious person, suffered with depression on and off. I was painting on and off but not doing it professionally, and then came the lockdown! 

Art is not always about pretty things,

it's about who we are, what happened to us,

and how our lives are affected.

^{- Elizabeth Broun}

And it pushed me to the edge, triggering a severe nervous breakdown. In that moment of panic and desperation, I knew I had to take control. 

So I said enough and went into therapy for the first time willingly. Then slowly, things happened one after another: from reading a book that changed my life, to success in therapy, to finding business mentors to dive into art full-time. So in a way, my ART is what saved me. During lockdown, I would paint a lot, teach, record classes and that helped me stay mentally sane. Art became my lifeline, keeping me grounded and mentally resilient as I navigated uncertain times. 

And I wanted to dig deep and see how art actually helps in dealing with emotions and living a happy life. That's when my art therapy courses began. 

In conclusion,

Art therapy is not just a profession for me; it is a calling rooted in my own experiences and a deep belief in the power of creativity to transform lives. I am committed to fostering a community where art becomes a tool for resilience, self-discovery and holistic well-being.

Until next time,