Art heals and empowers - when words meet nature and creativity
When under intense pressure picking up a pen and a piece of paper helps. A Touch of Yellow: Nourishment for Body and Soul. Orange immunity bomb recipe.
Although I am not someone who jumps with joy at the idea of AI, I felt compelled to ask my AI helper, Mark, how my life might look in the future based on everything "he" knows about me. The images he created are delightful, and I must admit they cheered me up and brought a sense of hope to my heart.
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It’s been another couple of weeks where pressure has walked hand in hand with moments of solace—forest walks, cooking healthy and simple meals, drawing, and sending out more applications.
I can't say whether astrological charts truly influence our lives, but it feels as though some kind of blockage is still lingering. Hopefully, it will be released soon, making way for clarity and progress.
And now, more notes, though and a touch of art.
December can indeed feel like a whirlwind of expectations, and the constant demand to embody festive cheer can be exhausting. The commercialization of joy, amplified by the relentless presence of holiday music and decorations, often leaves little room for personal reflection or genuine connection. It’s no wonder our nervous systems feel overstimulated before the month even begins.
This is where art-making and writing become acts of self-care. They offer a safe space to process emotions, memories, and the unseen pressures that weigh us down.
When we engage in creating or reflecting on art, we step into a dialogue with our inner world, untangling tension and reclaiming balance.
Even something as simple as pausing to look at an image or painting that resonates can be transformative. It invites you to sit with your feelings, acknowledge them, and let them flow. In these moments, creativity becomes a grounding ritual—a quiet rebellion against the noise of the season, allowing us to reconnect with what truly matters.
Thirty-five years ago today marked the beginning of the end of the Communist era in Romania, and I always feel overwhelmed when reflecting on it. Writing about those times for the first time - Naked truth series - is a cathartic process for me. We carry so many unprocessed emotions, so many frozen feelings. Writing and drawing are the ways I cope with it all, and perhaps they help you too.
A few lines, a few touches of colour, an imaginary pot full of magical flowers infused with the memories of a tai chi day, meaningful and blessed conversation while sipping a new concoction, ideal for this time of the year. Recipe below. Enjoy!
Painted 11 years ago and titled “1989 the Romanian revolution” this painting talks through symbols and colour about the restrictive world I grew up in—both in society and within the sharply critical environment behind closed doors. The bursts of color, like tiny dots of light, represent the hope and inspiration I found in books.
A quick drawing and an intense desire to see how it would look in a frame. Sometimes, I have the curiosity and impatience of a child. I tore the page from my notebook and quickly replaced an image in the frame. Miracles... so many people need them.
"În pădure nu este niciodată singurătate. Acolo trăiește sufletul pământului."("In the forest, there is never loneliness. There lives the soul of the earth.”)
Starting the week with a few words: fragmented, values, and strength! Art helps us “vocalize” our feelings and bring them into physical form. It helps clarify our minds.
We’re all guilty of spending too much time on our phones, endlessly scrolling and feeling unable to stop. I’ve discovered that drawing and coloring can be powerful pattern interrupters, helping to break the cycle.
I’m a firm believer in natural remedies and often feel inspired to explore new combinations. This week was no exception, and the result brought so much joy to my heart. The vibrant yellow hue of my creation felt like a reflection of my week—moments of yellow showing up unexpectedly and beautifully.
A walk in the forest with a dear friend revealed glimpses of yellow everywhere: a leaf, a patch of moss, the bark of a tree, sunlight dancing on the surface of a puddle, even a yellow pen on a table in a café. It felt as though my soul was craving yellow.
Yellow, in its simplicity, is often associated with brightness, energy, warmth, happiness, joy, intellect, and spirituality.
With the colder season upon us—both in temperature and perhaps in spirit—it feels like the perfect time to fortify our systems. Here’s a recipe I’d love to share with you:
Orange Immunity Bomb
Ingredients:
1 orange (whole)
1 lemon (whole)
A knob of ginger
A touch of honey
1 tsp turmeric
Method:
Clean the orange and lemon thoroughly using a mixture of water, bicarbonate of soda, and a touch of vinegar.
Place the whole fruits, along with the ginger and turmeric, into a blender. Add 1 to 1.5 cups of water and blend until smooth.
Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for a few hours.
Once frozen, remove the cubes from the tray, transfer them to a plastic bag, and store them in the freezer for future use.
How to Use:
Take a cube, place it in a cup, and add hot water. Strain the mixture, then stir in a little honey for sweetness. Sip and enjoy the warmth, energy, and health benefits of this sunny drink. Enjoy!
To be continued.
Until next time, be well!
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I am reacting now on your Art. Not being an expert, my reactions are entirely emotional. I find it colourful, alive and somewhat naive. At the same time, the black frames make the pictures solid, reflecting on a resolute personality. Looking at your art cheers me up, for sure.
Art that does not attempt to reflect photographic images is often controversial - "Scream" is the "classic" example. Your life, as reflected in your posts on substack, finds its own representation in your paintings - always dramatic, always colourful, always a reflection of the imperfection of your life in the facial images you intentionally produce. One day, perhaps when your life is calm, when fear and drama has gone, when worry is a thing of the past, if you continue to paint those around you then will see a different you on the canvass, one where your gift of colour synthesis, technical competency as an artist, and love of humanity will shine through.
My dear Daughter,
I am reacting now on your Art. Not being an expert, my reactions are entirely emotional. I find it colourful, alive and somewhat naive. At the same time, the black frames make the pictures solid, reflecting on a resolute personality. Looking at your art cheers me up, for sure.
Carry on! Karina
Art that does not attempt to reflect photographic images is often controversial - "Scream" is the "classic" example. Your life, as reflected in your posts on substack, finds its own representation in your paintings - always dramatic, always colourful, always a reflection of the imperfection of your life in the facial images you intentionally produce. One day, perhaps when your life is calm, when fear and drama has gone, when worry is a thing of the past, if you continue to paint those around you then will see a different you on the canvass, one where your gift of colour synthesis, technical competency as an artist, and love of humanity will shine through.