How art saved my life (long post): At the... - My Ovacome

My Ovacome

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How art saved my life (long post)

testarossa71 profile image
21 Replies

At the beginning of last year, not long after debulking surgery and just as frontline chemo started, I fell into a massive depression. The best efforts of the various clinicians, my friends, my beloved Welshman, and our families were all in vain. I couldn't see any light, just a very deep, very dark vortex into which I was being inexorably pulled. It was a truly terrible experience that I wasn't sure I could, or even wanted, to survive.

My partner (The Welshman - TW) urged me to read and would send me dozens of links he thought would interest me. One of those led me to a little craft session (run online by the very lovely Faith for Ovacome). I entered my details and shortly after was sent a little craft kit. I logged on to the zoom session - just audio, I couldn't bear to see myself on camera - and for one hour did something creative. It took me 3 days to finish, but I finally came away with a little bargello drinks coaster.

That sparked ... something. For the first time in months, I felt ... something. I saw another little post online offering 'arts on prescription' designed for people who had had, or who living were with, cancer. Signing up was mercifully simple, supplies were sent out, and every Monday afternoon for 2 hours, with TW's help, I made the enormous mental and physical effort to participate.

Trying to keep a long story short; I connected with other women with cancer. I created art. I allowed art to bring colour back to my life. And slowly, I started to feel better. I became involved with local charities including Artlift, and Yes To Life, and was asked to join the Steering Committee for a pilot magazine called Flourish. The principal being that art can and should be part of an integrative and complementary approach to conventional cancer treatment. Funded by the National Lottery and supported by Macmillan we put out a call for people in Gloucestershire living the cancer experience to submit their artwork - drawings, textiles, photos, stories, paintings, etc. We. Were. Bombarded. This is the first edition: artlift.org/artlift-program...

I'm still struggling with depression. Some days are better than others, and I accept that I may need the meds for a while longer yet. But without doubt, Art has been The Thing that saved me. We are now planning for our second magazine and, like for the first, I hope to have one of my pieces included.

If you're feeling lost and dark, even if you're just feeling a bit 'meh', please consider incorporating some kind of creativity into your life. If you don't know where to start, or need inspiration, please feel free to message me.

Thanks for reading xx

Footnote:

I have become completely fascinated with the ancient Japanese practice of Sashiko - the deliberately visible mending of worn out clothes with patches of new cloth held in place with beautiful, tiny, hand stitching. Different parts of the country favoured different stitching styles. Some pieces of work clothing, particularly jackets ('boro') have been found that have been stitched over time and time again, sometimes over a period of many decades. Each new layer or repair tells of another chapter of that item's history. Also, of Kintsugi - the practice of piecing together broken ceramics with layer after layer of lacquer which is then embellished with gold so that the repair gleams as it shows itself. Both techniques honour the story of an item that once was damaged, but now is whole again and is considered, through that lens, to be all the more beautiful for it.

It doesn't take a genius to understand the synergy between this and cancer. And so I remain determined to see the beauty in myself, not in spite of my very visible repairs, but because of them. And I remain determined to carry on creating.

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testarossa71
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21 Replies
Lyndy profile image
Lyndy

❤️ ❤️ ❤️!!!!!

CST1967 profile image
CST1967

This is beautiful work - really lovely and thank you for sharing. I think I will look into joining the ovacome craft afternoon soon too xx

Manchesterlady profile image
Manchesterlady

That’s beautiful, so pleased that you have found something that lifts your spirit x

delia2 profile image
delia2

This is a beautiful post. I seriously started painting four years before I retired in 2018 and was diagnosed with OC at the same time. I love creating art and connecting with others through it. Last year I did a series of paintings inspired by cancer cells under the microscope and had a show. Making those paintings really helped me deal with my anxiety about recurrence. Thank you for sharing and I hope your depression continues to diminish. Xx

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen in reply todelia2

I’d love to see yours and I will show you mine! X

delia2 profile image
delia2 in reply toArtgreen

Yes! How can we share images?

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen in reply todelia2

Not entirely sure but we could be Facebook friends or instagram ones if that works? If you Direct message me I can share my name ( not many of us around!) Here’s one to start off!

Monochrome doodle
delia2 profile image
delia2 in reply toArtgreen

This is amazing. What did you use to make it? Some kind of pen? My Instagram account is evestoddardpaintings.

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen in reply todelia2

Yes I used gel pens for all the zentangles. No need for pots and brushes! Thanks for the handle! X

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen in reply todelia2

PS I’m coppockbunce on insta. I love your work and your use of colour!

delia2 profile image
delia2 in reply toArtgreen

Thank you!

delia2 profile image
delia2 in reply toArtgreen

I looked at your Instagram page. I love your graphic work and your landscapes. You are obviously a skilled drawer. I need to devote more time to drawing. I also love your dog. I have a border collie.

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen in reply todelia2

That’s very kind, thank you. I love Border collies, they’re so intelligent! Our rescue is a Moroccan Beldi only 4 weeks with us ( novice dog owners). She’s training us well.

Jannibags profile image
Jannibags

😍👍💖!

SUE7777 profile image
SUE7777

Good for you 💕

Trickysite profile image
Trickysite

You have a real talent for colour and words. Xx

SASSY196 profile image
SASSY196

I'm so sorry about the depression. I've been there and it's horrific.But what a wonderful post, you have done incredibly to turn your situation around. Xxx

Mumsie13 profile image
Mumsie13

I am so sorry about your depression but what a beautiful post. I can attest to the therapeutic benefits of creating through craft work. I am on palliative care now but I still enjoy, when I have the energy, designing and making craft items. It's slower work these days but soothing. I share my offerings online with ex W I members who are similarly interested and occasionally we meet up which is great after the long dark days of lockdown. Thank you for sharing this with us.

A1r1t profile image
A1r1t

Hi testarossa71, I too was diagnosed in 2020 just before November and after the initial shock I found my water colour painting helped me relax and took my mind of the worry. Didn't always work I still had my dark days but on the whole it helped me enormously and still does. I would recommend getting creative to anyone especially for your mental health. Best wishes to you and keep on creating ♥ xx.

Tillymint61 profile image
Tillymint61

Thank you so much for your inspiring post. Creativity had got me through some dark times so I totally advocate what's you are saying. Xx

Artgreen profile image
Artgreen

I’m so glad that art helped you so much. I was an artist before cancer and the shock of the diagnosis stopped me in my tracks. I didn’t create anything but bit by bit I made postcard zentangles and drawing / paintings on a4 boards. I still haven’t got back to big expressive pieces but the confines of space have made me reflect on the spacial physical and emotional limitations in my life over the last 4 years. I even had one published in the Earthpathways calendar for 2023! It is a real pleasure to make marks and have the time to consider them.

Wishing you the very best

Alex xx

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