Feeling Artistic? Now's a Great Time to Be Creative

Have you ever heard the saying, "Art is for everyone?"Keith Haring is attributed to coining this all-inclusive phrase. If you haven't heard it before, it is high time that you learn it and take it to heart.Right now, everyone is in the same boat. Virtually every town, city, timezone, and country on this very earth is facing the most ultimate uncertainty—and boredom.But, what about your sanity?What more can you do, other than to make the most of what you have to offer in this turbulent time of self-quarantine and isolation?

It is Time to C-R-E-A-T-E.

Whether it be a temporary stress reliever or something to incorporate into a daily schedule, pursuing any sort of artistic hobby can indeed be life-changing. Being creative is said to have lasting benefits on a person's overall health, help them live longer, and increase general happiness.However, under normal circumstances, finding this time can prove to be quite difficult and even frustrating. Sure, you'd love to crochet a granny square blanket while binge-watching a favorite series on a Tuesday night. Yet, by the time you get home or finish tasks for the day, you're exhausted. It is a struggle to select "yes" on Netflix when it asks if you are still there.But everything is different right now. Even on weekends, you're not able to go to brunches or enjoy hikes. You can't go out to catch the latest movie release or wander to your favorite park without having to worry.The situation is not ideal, but there are ways to render the inevitable ennui of "social distancing" by staying inside and being creative.You must use this time to engage as much as possible in the artistic inklings we may feel all the time, and that would typically not be given the effort.

How to Pursue Being Artistic

From buying adult coloring books to mastering oil painting skills to curb the ongoing malaise, you can find comfort in the arts!It doesn't matter what type of art form you would like to pursue. You can use creativity to guide you through these tumultuous times and make yourself feel better all around.Here are a few ways you can keep the boredom at bay while satisfying your creative curiosity...

• Grab a pen, find an old notebook, and start doodling or writing down streams of consciousness.
• Find and participate in a virtual creative writing workshop.
• Learn how to knit, crochet, or make other "string art" such as cross-stitch or macrame. 
• Dust off your college paint set and start your next masterpiece.
• Create a collage from old magazines and newspapers you've collected over time (this doubles as a clean-up idea, too!)
• Pick up the guitar you bought ages ago and learn a new song. 
• Turn up your green thumb and give your garden a facelift. 

These are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing, but the possibilities are endless!Sometimes, creativity can be sneaky, too. Cooking, rearranging a room, or even cleaning can evoke some sense of artistry. Just embrace it!

Find Something Creative and Go With It

You don't have to be a self-proclaimed artist covered in paint or whatever that stereotype that tends to imagine. To create in any form is an impulse that should be explored, however big or small, and by whoever has the drive. Because, after all, art is for everyone. Right?