This week I thought I'd take you behind the curtain and share more about the reasons we use the arts in all that we do at Art After Dark.​

Lets start with this quote from Oscar Wilde;

“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.”

In other words, Art provides a safe container into which we can pour the truth.

The Power of Artistic Expression;

- Solving complex problems - My experience in corporate life taught me that giving people access to data only gets you so far and can leave people feeling overwhelmed and disconnected, rather than empowered to solve a big problem. Discussion and collaborative art-making helps by connecting you to your senses, body and mind. This grounds the problem in the world, sparks your imagination and stirs your feelings, spurring thinking, engagement and finally, action.

- Words are insufficient - Humans are complex creatures and even simple mark-making helps us to communicate experiences more fully. The very act of painting intuitively can clarify thoughts and feelings.

- Deeper understanding among teams - Sharing stories and creating together helps us feel more fully seen and understood and this supports our need for belonging. Feeling safe to share our true emotions can lead to a willingness to share our beliefs and concerns with our team, building stronger, more supportive relationships.

- Stress relief and positivity - Creative expression can help to reduce stress and negative feelings as well as significantly boost measures of wellbeing such as self-confidence and self-perception of creative abilities. As well as being fun!

Ideas for Action 👉

• Just do it! In every session I've run, all participants love the art-making just minutes after they get started! We can get so in our heads about whether or not what we make is going to look any good but in this case, it's really not the point of the exercise! So I encourage you to pick up a pen, pencil, paints or whatever you have to hand and just start making marks and see what comes out.
• Go to an art gallery with your team Why not?! The arts and culture represent one of the few areas in our society where people can come together to share an experience even if they see the world in radically different ways. The important thing is not that we agree about the experience that we share, but that we consider it worthwhile sharing an experience at all. In art, disagreement is accepted and embraced, often as an essential ingredient. Art also encourages us to cherish intuition, uncertainty and creativity and to search constantly for new ideas. So you could choose a gallery where artists have aimed to break rules and find unorthodox ways of approaching contemporary issues. Let me know if you'd like a recommendation. Perhaps I should start accompanied team trips?!

Of course, if you'd like my expertise in guiding your team through a transformative Art After Dark experience get in touch.💫

This Week's Painting🖼️

This week I painted "It's All Peachy", as this represents the layers of skin and flesh that we need to go through before we get to the core of our true feelings.

I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on what I've shared whilst studying this painting.

As always, stay curious!

Louise