Dancer and choreographer Judith Jamison’s full quote goes as follows:

“Learn the craft of knowing how to open your heart and to turn on your creativity. There’s a light inside of you.”

Judith Jamison

Canadian author and philosopher Matshona Dhilwayo also writes:

“When life hands you dirt, plant seeds.”

Matshona Dhilwayo

Here in Canada we are about to start week 8 of the COVID-19 lockdown and it has proven to be a challenging time for everyone. We are missing our loved ones. Many of us ache for human touch. Or just the sun on our face and the wind in our hair! I am taking part in a study by The Happiness Research Institute on the impact of COVID-19 on our well-being and early indications show that across the globe we humans are grieving for our families, the outdoors and even just our “old normal.”

Yet, during this time of isolation, creativity is flourishing as we find new ways to stay in touch, express our inner Rembrandt or Emily Carr’s or even our hidden song birds. I don’t know about you but I’ve been moved by art and music like never before. This stirring rendition of “We’ll Rise Again” by Toronto Physicians is just one example of how we as humans are finding new ways to reach out and feel connected. Planting those seeds with the dirt we’ve been given.

In my last post, I shared with you my desire to reconnect with my own creative spirit through trying watercolours. I am inspired by my Mum who I miss dearly right now. While in her care home these past 5 years she took part in Art Day and this activity always seemed to bring joy and more than a little pride in accomplishment.

Well, I can tell you that I’m no Emily Carr! Over the past month I have been spending my Saturday’s toiling away at my drawing table, attempting to bring life to photos I’ve taken over the years. I can picture the soft palettes and peaceful watercolours in my mind yet they have yet to transfer from my paintbrush onto my canvas. My style at the moment could be called naive or even early Maud Lewis (like when she was 10 perhaps). Yet, in these moments when I’m painting, I forget everything! Missing family and friends. Worrying about the future. Eternal time pressures at work. All these seem to fade away when I take up the pencil, pen and brush. I think that is the point. That and knowing that I will eventually get better over time. Here’s my early efforts. Note that my favourite so far is ironically the page I use to test my colours. Sigh.

While I’m stretching my artistic muscles, I also find a great deal of pleasure from two apps that help soothe me in the early mornings. It seems I cannot sleep in past 4:30 a.m. right now so I’ve given up and have gotten up, put the coffee on and grabbed my beloved iPad. I do some mindless colouring in one of my favourite apps Happy Color, and transform old photos on my iPhone into saturated watercolours using the Waterlogue app. Here’s some of my favourite tiny squares of colour that give my spirit a much-needed boost each morning.

Before I leave you and go back to my drawing board, I wanted to share with you one of my favourite artists who is graciously sharing his talent with everyone when we need it most. Moses Lunham is from the Anishinabek Nation of Kettle and Stony Point. I had the good fortune of taking high school art class with Moses and was always delighted by his quiet, thoughtful pieces even way back then. I’m consistently inspired by his colourful paintings and with his generous work with schools, instilling the love of creativity and honouring this as a gift to be shared. This week Moses shared a project he is working on with a local school board called the “Connecting Hearts Project” where he encourages young artists to paint what they love and what they hope for. If you have young children at home right now looking for something creative to do, I urge you to watch Moses’ video tutorial for this inspiring project. Or even try it yourself!

In the midst of this time of isolation when we can feel disconnected from our very human need to love, touch, hug and support, there are so many silver linings to be found if we open our hearts and look. If you find yourself worrying, anxious or lonely, why not try Moses’ Connecting Hearts Project as it is good for the soul to remember who we miss yet will see soon, and that we still have so much to hope for. Stay safe. Stay healthy!