FAQ: Why don't you paint boys?

It's probably the most frequently asked question, and I always refer to my blog for an answer, but I just realized it's been a few years since I last wrote about it. Time for a new blog post about painting as therapy and why it doesn't produce boys!

Back in time...

It's been over 11 years since I got sick. I always call it that, but to this day, it's still unclear what was wrong with me. I couldn't do anything at all; I was so tired that even walking a few meters to the bathroom was a huge undertaking. It turned out there was so much wrong with me, and after a few months, I found myself in a room full of cans of paint, brushes, craft supplies, clay, and pencils. I felt like a fish in water in that space, but I also found it all terrifying. Until my therapist gave me a box of watercolors; it was small, didn't make a mess... I dared to do that.

Never stopped again

So I received creative therapy. In the months leading up to this, I'd already discovered that I really enjoyed being creative. I'd even dug out my old "children's crayons" that I'd kept. But in this therapy, I learned to express myself in a different way. I could comfort myself with cozy, safe, and warm little drawings. Sometimes I'd draw myself in a tent made of rugs, or hidden in a blanket. Almost always with my unofficial assistance dog, Bram. And I never stopped.

But I have a son and he would love that... so much, can you do that with a boy?

I think you can already see the answer coming, right? I still draw as therapy. I now know I have PTSD (among other things); I often feel anxious and I can't process stimuli very well. The world is too intense for me. What helps me is doing what I did 11 years ago: painting what helps me. Comforting myself, cheering myself up, letting myself relax. Giving myself what I need.

But you run a business?

Absolutely! And that's truly a dream come true! But that doesn't mean I only have to think about "what the client wants." Admittedly, it would be much more practical from a business perspective if I did that more, but I've promised myself that I want to live life on my own terms.

One of those conditions is that I'm free to create what I want and need, so I can stay healthy. Because it's still therapy. Of course, quite a few projects have popped up in the meantime, but always with the goal that I'd love to hold the final product in my own hands and find it incredibly helpful. For example, I wanted to live more in tune with the seasons, so I created a planner that focuses on exactly that. I felt quite anxious for a while, so I made a "trust" card deck, and I still enjoy and find puzzles relaxing!

Not really professional?

Well, maybe my approach isn't professional, but I do know that there's a great need in this world for authenticity, warmth, safety, and therefore coziness! I also regularly receive emails with sweet comments and stories about how helpful my art is. Fantastic, right? So, not very professional, but I do believe I bring something to the world that many more people need. Let's keep spreading the word together!