The large-scale sculptures I create embody a dichotomy: the aspects of myself unveiled to the world and those concealed within. Through these works, I invite viewers to delve into their shadow selves, dissecting personal experiences and emotions to uncover their own meanings within the forms. 

My work as a sculptor revolves around this exploration of duality, demanding a level of physical engagement that is both exhausting and exhilarating.  

I am in perpetual metamorphosis, constantly deconstructing and reconstructing, transforming trauma and captivity into physical forms that embody an incarnation of freedom. 

Every piece I create is a reflection of my life, both literally and figuratively. Wielding chainsaws, chisels, sledgehammers, and sanders, I tell my story—a visceral form of communication. It is a journey of discovery where each cut and strike reveals something new and unexpected, subliminally guiding the physical process of creation through destruction. 

This intense physicality channels a powerful, primal expression of energy and intent that I’ve only recently felt free to unleash.  

I have found that my purpose is to use art to amplify my voice and my goal is to dismantle societal barriers. Continuously learning, I embrace the judgments that come with presenting my diverse and authentic self. By passionately engaging in various forms of self-expression, I aim to challenge the traditional narratives that confine women to singular roles. 

I’ve never understood why people can’t grasp that someone feminine can also be fiercely powerful. Society often perpetuates a narrow definition of strength, associating it with traditionally masculine traits and overlooking the profound power inherent in femininity. This misconception diminishes the complexity and depth of feminine strength, which can manifest in countless ways—from nurturing and compassion to resilience and fierce determination. By embracing a more inclusive understanding of power, we can recognize and celebrate the dynamic capabilities of those who embody both femininity and strength. This duality should be seen as a source of empowerment rather than a contradiction. It is essential to challenge and change these outdated perceptions, fostering a culture that values and respects the diverse expressions of power in all individuals. 

Through my work, I strive to create a platform that encourages people to explore and celebrate their multifaceted identities without fear of criticism or limitation. This involves not only creating art that speaks to these themes but also participating in discussions, collaborations, and community initiatives that support and uplift women’s diverse contributions. My goal is to inspire a cultural shift where women’s diverse talents and ambitions are recognized, respected, and celebrated, propelling the conversation forward towards a more inclusive and equitable society. 

Leading with this theme, I named my first series of sculptures “Emergence,” depicting the body’s ascension from the depths of traumas dark waters, highlighting curves as they rise towards the light of freedom. To carve these models, I used raw, industrial materials typically seen as harsh and inflexible. I manipulated these to create feminine, refined forms. This juxtaposition challenges the traditional use of art mediums, particularly when modeling for large-scale sculptures, where softer, more conventional substances are often preferred. The result is a body of work that represents the tension between strength and fragility, exposure, and concealment.  

This year, each exhibit represents not just a culmination of my efforts but a dynamic milestone in my ongoing exploration of artistic expression, as I showcase my work in Monaco, Madrid, and Miami. These sculpture projects embody my commitment to continually evolve, refine, deconstruct, and construct my work.  

As I prepare for these upcoming exhibitions, I am excited to share my latest creations with a diverse international audience. Each venue offers a unique opportunity to connect with people from different cultures and backgrounds, fostering a global dialogue through my art. I look forward to the inspiration and insights that these experiences will undoubtedly bring, further fueling my passion for art and its power to transcend boundaries. 

In my creative process, I constantly push boundaries by experimenting with new tools, techniques, and scales. This relentless pursuit of innovation allows me to infuse fresh perspectives into my pieces, ensuring that each creation is a unique reflection of my artistic growth. Whether I’m working on a delicate, intricate piece or a monumental sculpture, I immerse myself in the physicality of the process, channeling energy and intent into every detail. 

My approach is not static; it is a living, breathing evolution of ideas and forms. By deconstructing traditional methods and reconstructing them in novel ways, I challenge both myself and my audience to see art from different angles. This continuous cycle of creation, social examination and experimentation consistently keeps my work relevant, allowing me to engage deeply with contemporary themes and push the conversation forward in the art world. 

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Author’s bio: 

Constantin Ford is a contemporary artist specializing in the transformative process of ‘subtractive sculpting’ whose work has been showcased across Europe and the United States. Ford meticulously carves a variety of materials to unveil abstract feminine forms. In her artistic exploration of the shadow self, she often tears the female form in two, symbolizing the contrast between materialized and conceptualized reality. Through these contortions, she conveys the complexities and dualities within the human experience. 

Ford studied Art and Design at the New York University’s Fashion Institute of Technology (NYU FIT). She draws inspiration from nature and a diverse range of influences including Egon Schiele, Constantin Brâncuși, Georgia O’Keeffe, Lucien Freud, Jean Arp, Francis Bacon, Salvador Dalí, Louise Bourgeois, and Zaha Hadid. 

 Learn more at https://www.artsy.net/artist/constantin-ford  

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MENTAL HEALTH CRISES ART CAN HELP YOU CONQUER

No matter the situation, you can always turn to an artform to get you through it. These are a few of the mental health crises that can be improved by creating art:

Depression

Depression touches more than 17 million people in the U.S. alone¹. It often leads to feelings of worthlessness, lack of accomplishment, and overall emptiness. Getting involved with artistic work can combat those feelings because of the positive emotions it can bring. Creating a song might make you feel accomplished as a writer, singer, and musician, for example. Drawing a lifelike picture can give you a sense of achievement. Creating a gorgeous sculpture of someone you love can give you confidence about your gifts and purpose.

Divorce

People experience a multitude of emotions when they undergo divorce proceedings. Depression, fear, and lack of purpose are three common emotional reactions to losing an integral long-term relationship. Discovering your identity in art can bring you out of the emotional avalanche of a divorce. It can place your life into perspective and help you find your most treasured creativity. Your artwork² can also help you create a business that could earn you the money you need to pay your bills after your marriage ends. You might become a renowned painter after using your pain to create an irresistible work of art.

Job Loss

The loss of a job can be one of the most devastating experiences in life. It can be worse for you if it’s a job on which you based the future of your career. The arts can help you bounce back from a job loss. Maybe you have a knack for writing³ poetry, stories, and journals. You can use all your frustration and disappointment to create a heartfelt poem that you could later turn into a popular song. Maybe you can write a story about the adventures you had while you were on the job. That story could even end up being a best-seller.

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause life-crippling fear that can disrupt and destroy your attempts to move forward. You can find a remedy in creating art, however. One benefit of using art to combat anxiety is that it will help you focus. Keeping your mind focused on your projects will block out the negative or fearful thoughts that enter your mind. Furthermore, you’ll have the courage to accomplish something, and you’ll benefit even more once you’re finished with your project. Painting and writing require a lot of concentration, so they might be just the thing you need to harness your creativity and tamp down your anxiety.

Loneliness

Sometimes, you might just be lonely. Your artwork can become your best friend once you put your heart and your best work into it.

Drug Addiction

Drug addiction⁴ puts a strain on your mental health and psyche for numerous reasons. It can cause you to lose relationships and job prospects, and it can cause you financial problems that invite depression into your life. Artwork is an excellent element to add to your recovery regimen. It can be a good form of distraction or replacement therapy. It can also teach you things about yourself that you may not have known. You might be an incredible artist, for example. Taking the time to explore the arts while recovering from your addiction can help to shape your artistic abilities. It’s not uncommon for certain drug and alcohol addiction programs to offer alternative therapies that implement art. That means starting an art journey puts you on the right track toward battling your addiction.

TIPS FOR USING ART TO IMPROVE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Now that you know that you can use art to improve your mental health, you just need to know how you can make it happen. These are some tips for incorporating art into your mental health and wellness:

Find Your Niche

First, you need to figure out which art form is most feasible for you to get involved in. You can do that by trying a few different things and then choosing the medium that makes you the happiest. You may have more than one talent, but you should focus on one that you can nurture.

Think About Your Purpose

Think about how you want to use your talent aside from improving your mental health. Ask yourself if you can benefit from it financially or in some other way.

Gather Your Supplies

Gather all the supplies you need for your activity. Go out and buy yourself a large canvas and all the colors in the rainbow if you’re going to paint, for example. Get yourself some studio equipment for your songs. You get the idea. 

Meet Like-Minded People

Being surrounded by individuals with the same goals and talents is essential. Those people can be a support system during this challenging time or be collaborators, advisors, and mentors.

Enjoy Everything You Do

Don’t ever rush a work of art or force yourself to create art when you don’t want to. The whole point of partaking in art is to enjoy it. So, delay working on your craft until you’re in the mood to give it your best. You’ll enjoy the finished product much more knowing that you had a fabulous time creating it.

START USING ART TO ITS FULL POTENTIAL

Now you know how you can take advantage of your artistic abilities to help resolve common mental health issues. Using the information above to improve the quality of your life and eliminate mental health imbalances can not only be beneficial, but a chance for personal discovery.

Author Bio: Dr. Harshi Dhingra is a licensed medical doctor with specialization in Pathology. She is currently employed as faculty in a medical school with tertiary care hospital and research center in India as well as a medical review for Sunshine Behavioral Health. She has vast experience of over a decade in diagnostic, clinical, research and teaching work. She has strong interest in medical content writing and reviewing. She also has several publications and citations in indexed peer reviewed journals.

Sources:

1 nimh.nih.gov – Major Depression

2 health.harvard.edu – The Healing Power of Art

3 creativenonfiction.org – Writing Memoir and Writing Therapy

4 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov- The Use of Art and Music Therapy in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs

All images courtesy of Pexels.com

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Art therapy has long left the office of a physician-psychotherapist or a physician-rehabilitation therapist and becomes important to expansive masses of people. It diagnoses a person’s condition, and heals, and brings that deep positive feeling of oneself, which is called happiness. And all because art therapy satisfies the most basic fundamental human need. This is the need for self-actualization. It is no secret that many people, living outwardly quite successful lives, neglect this basic need, which causes chronic dissatisfaction with their being in the world and makes us unhappy.

But the most striking results of art therapy (visible immediately with the naked eye) help relieve a state of severe stress. There is no equal among other psychotherapeutic techniques. We all know that art and creativity have a positive effect on human consciousness. But what happens inside the human brain, and how does art therapy generally affect a person? Find out below!

Things to Consider When Undergoing Art Therapy 

Art therapy should be used regularly as an ongoing stress prevention technique. And even better, having previously turned to a psychotherapist or psychologist, it can help solve problems comprehensively.

Why is that? Quite simply, creative activity has a unique property. It brings to the surface (a sheet of paper or canvas, for example) everything hidden that we are unaware of and that is latently suffocating us. Right-brain drawing, sculpting, etc., cleverly bypass the censorship of our consciousness, which bypasses negative thoughts, genuine experiences, and in general, everything related to deep unconscious processes. The censorship of consciousness does not let words pass, but it is powerless over images, over the choice of color spots, over scribbles.

First and Foremost Commandment

You must forever forget any comment or thought that you are not an artist or that a cow you have drawn is easily confused with a dog! The task of drawing beautifully is not a consideration and is even contraindicated. Here we are faced with a completely different task. Here we splash out, drawing out all the accumulated stress to improve your health.

Second Commandment 

Drawing art therapy (or sculpture or installation) should be analyzed primarily by the author himself and not by the psychotherapist. If you work alone, there can be no talk of a psychotherapist and his interpretations. Why is that? The fact is that art therapy is an insight-oriented technique. That is, it is aimed at achieving insight.

This means that when analyzing his creation, a person himself understands something about himself and his problem, which no one, even the most sophisticated psychotherapist, will tell him for any amount of money. Moreover, it is believed that the patient is obliged to come to this understanding himself. This does not happen the first time and never immediately after the completion of the drawing. But it always happens.

Third Commandment 

In any case, even if you hardly understand what and why you are doing, even if you are still far from insight, just remember that art therapy heals by the fact that you are doing it. You may not understand the mechanism, but it will become easier for you after creating the art. Remember this always.

What are the General Art Therapy Exercises and Recommendations

First, if aggression and other very negative, destructive emotions choke you, you should always prefer modeling. In this case, art therapy and, in particular, drawing will only irritate you, but modeling, on the contrary, will calm you down.

Second, always and especially at first, prefer drawing art therapy to pasting collages cut from magazines. Collage making is the last, highest, and final stage of art therapy work when all the main work has already been done, and you can enjoy pure contemplation with a minimum of creative effort. Start with a drawing.

Third, always have the widest selection of color palettes for art therapy — pencils, paints, or markers. However, you might prefer paints because the brush is more flexible and accessible. The force of pressure and the severity of the line, which a pencil requires, are less conducive to liberation, especially at first.

Fluid Art and How it Heals

The first thing that most people think of about art therapy is drawing, displaying their feelings on the canvas with the help of paints. In 2021, fluid art is gaining momentum as an avenue for art therapy. What is it? It’s the art of flow, the flow of fluids and images.

An abstract painting is created using acrylic or other paints. Each participant in the class uses a set of paints from 6 to 12 colors and creates a picture using flows of paint, mixing them with the movement of the canvas or paper.

In general, fluid art therapy has a very positive effect on a person since immersion in the process and flow is somewhat similar to meditation — creating a sense of calmness, without assessing what is happening, and just observing the process. After their creations, each participant may share their own experiences and what they saw in their picture. Often, paintings can have both whole images and abstract ones. For example, with the help of blue colors, images of water and sky are created, then when mixed with green, images of our planet are added, and more to tell the image’s story.

Author Bio: Jane Travis is a renowned psychologist in Great Britain. She has a higher philological and psychological education. She works as a writer for the BestCustomWriting.com service. She also regularly conducts master classes and speaks at various psychological conferences throughout England.

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