gmhTODAY 31 Winter 2021 Winter 2021 | Page 58

Anita Zanarde ( 100 Years Young ) Marilyn Abad

Cardinalli

Creativity During

COVID-19

Have you seen it ? Paintings all over Facebook by people

who have never painted . People making art out of whatever they have on hand : a discarded box , paper , air dry clay , paint , and recycled materials . Kids of all ages — and adults too — unleashing their creative abilities and their creative courage .
Suddenly , the need to create is as great as the need to find the next roll of toilet paper .
Having spent a lifetime teaching art , I saw a huge , innate thirst for creativity emerge when the pandemic forced people to confine at home . A creative spirit awoke in people who had never painted , drawn or even thought about doing art . Perhaps it was always there inside them but now it had time to surface and people were not afraid to try . This time to themselves may have allowed people to create without a sense of judgment , allowing something magical , new , and exciting to happen during COVID .
We all have the capacity to create , yet some people have put an early “ lid ” on it , telling themselves , or believing others who
Written By Carol Peters
tell them , they have no talent for art . This time spent sheltering in place has opened up endless possibilities and new ways of dealing with stress . By channeling that pent up frustration to make something new and wonderful , we feel better and our attitudes transform . What a great way to learn a new ability and focus a desire to make something beautiful . People have stepped out of their comfort zones and surprised themselves .
I have seen the magic happen to parents looking for ways to entertain their children . I ’ ve seen it unfold in grandparents playing with their grandchildren , and in many others . By tapping the creative mind , wonderful new things emerge .
It ’ s a wonderful thing to see someone make art out of clay , chalk , paint , crayon , or whatever supplies you may have around . All forms of creativity are good , healthy , and positive . They help us grow , and escape from challenging times . Being creative is 100 percent positive in every way .
COVID-19 and shelter in place may have shut some things down . However , it has opened up the right brain – the creative mind , for many .
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GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN WINTER 2021 gmhtoday . com