Exploring the Terrain Within: Creating Your Body Landscape of Emotions
This Pride season, one of our artists created a beautiful self or group guided art activity to allow our minds to approach ourself in a new way. In this activity you will go on a journey of creating using your emotions to visually create a landscape of your body. Before beginning please collect the following materials, find a quiet and relaxing space, and begin to clear your mind.
Materials list:
Paper
Pen or pencil
Markers, pencil crayons and/or oil pastels
Optional: glue, scissors, string, tissue paper, any collage materials
In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to neglect the intricate landscapes that exist within us. Our emotions, like the shifting sands of a desert or the calm waters of a lake, shape the terrain of our inner world. Yet, how often do we pause to explore these landscapes, to understand their contours and hues?
Today, we invite you on a journey inward, a journey to create your own body landscape of emotions. This activity requires introspection, honesty, and above all, compassion. So, take a deep breath, and let's begin.
Before immersing yourself in the artistic journey of creating your body landscape, take a moment to reflect on how you are feeling in this present moment. Is there a sense of contentment that envelops you like a warm embrace? Or do you find yourself grappling with tensions that weigh heavily on your shoulders?
Consider the nature of these emotions. Are they steadfast and unwavering, like the steady beat of a drum? Or do they fluctuate and shift, like the dance of flames in a flickering fire? Recognize that emotions are fluid and ever-changing, coursing through us like the currents of a river.
By acknowledging and understanding your emotions in this moment, you lay the groundwork for a deeper exploration of your inner landscape. Embrace the complexity of your feelings with openness and curiosity, knowing that each emotion offers valuable insight into your inner world.
Start by simply jotting down words or phrases that represent your emotions. This can serve as a foundation for your body landscape.
Use simple shapes and symbols to represent different emotions. You don't have to be an artist to convey your feelings visually.
There are no right or wrong ways to express your emotions through art. Embrace imperfection and focus on the process rather than the outcome. Don't be afraid to seek inspiration from others' artwork or nature. Allow yourself to adapt and reinterpret ideas to suit your own expression.
Understanding the Why
As you reflect on your emotions, delve deeper into the reasons behind them. Are they reactions to external events, or do they stem from internal struggles and beliefs? By understanding the roots of our emotions, we gain insight into ourselves and cultivate empathy for our own experiences.
It's important to acknowledge both the positive and negative emotions that arise within us. While it's natural to gravitate towards joy and happiness, don't shy away from exploring the darker corners of your emotional landscape. Embrace your fears, your sorrows, and your anxieties with compassion, for they too are a part of who you are.
Creating Your Body Landscape
Now, armed with a deeper understanding of your emotions, it's time to bring your inner landscape to life.
Close your eyes and envision the terrain within you. Are there rolling hills of contentment, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun? Or perhaps there are stormy seas, tumultuous and unpredictable?
Let's Get Started!
Grab a sheet of paper and let your imagination run wild. Sketch out the contours of your body landscape, adding details and colors that resonate with the emotions you've experienced. Don't be afraid to let your creativity flow freely, for this is your personal masterpiece.
Guiding Prompts
- Think about the role of color in expressing emotions. How does each color make you feel? Incorporate these feelings into your artwork by choosing colors that resonate with your emotions.
- When selecting colors for your body landscape, consider the interplay between light and shadow. Use lighter shades to convey moments of joy and brightness, and darker shades to represent challenges or obstacles.
- Experiment with blending colors together to create gradients that symbolize the complexity of your emotions. Allow the colors to flow and merge organically, mirroring the fluid nature of our emotional landscape.
- Explore contrasting textures to represent the diverse range of emotions within you. Mix smooth surfaces with rough textures or incorporate collage elements to add visual interest and depth to your artwork.
- Consider using metaphors or symbols to represent your emotions if drawing landscapes feels daunting. For example, you could use a tree to represent strength or a flower to symbolize happiness.
- Reflect on how your body physically responds to different emotions. Are there sensations or gestures that accompany specific feelings? Use these as inspiration for your body landscape.
Examples:
1. Volcanic Oasis: Imagine a landscape where lush, tropical vegetation thrives within the crater of an active volcano. The juxtaposition of vibrant plant life against the fiery backdrop of molten lava symbolizes resilience and vitality amidst adversity.
2. Whimsical Tundra: Picture a surreal landscape where whimsical creatures frolic amidst towering icebergs and snow-covered plains. This fantastical scene evokes feelings of childlike wonder and imagination, offering a playful escape from the challenges of everyday life.
3. Twilight Jungle: Imagine a dense jungle shrouded in perpetual twilight, where bioluminescent plants cast an eerie glow. The mysterious atmosphere of this landscape reflects the complex emotions of introspection and contemplation, inviting exploration of the depths of the subconscious mind.
Immersing Yourself in the Landscape
Once your body landscape is complete, take a moment to gaze upon it. Imagine yourself standing amidst the valleys and peaks, feeling the soft grass beneath your feet or the cool breeze against your skin.
Close your eyes and allow yourself to fully immerse in this inner world. Run through fields of joy, climb mountains of resilience, and swim in the depths of your emotions. Embrace every aspect of your landscape, for it is a reflection of the beautiful complexity that makes you who you are.
If you made your landscape with another person or in a group, take this time to share your landscape with each other if you feel comfortable.
As we embark on this journey of self-exploration and compassion, we not only deepen our understanding of ourselves but also cultivate empathy for those around us. By learning to be gentle and accepting our own emotional landscapes, we become better equipped to extend the same kindness to others.
Empathy, rooted in self-compassion, allows us to connect more deeply with the experiences of those we encounter in our lives, fostering understanding, support, and ultimately, a more compassionate world. So, as you traverse the terrain of your inner world, remember that by tending to your own emotional landscape with care, you are sowing the seeds of empathy that have the power to transform both yourself and the world around you.
Canvas is a registered charity in Ontario that provides empathy-based education on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion and consent. Each year, we run programming for over 10,000 youth and youth-serving adults, making communities safer and more inclusive.
This pride month, please support us in creating a society free from homophobia and transphobia through innovative, empathy-based education. Your donation makes a difference in the lives of 2SLGBTQ+ youth.
