![]() Loneliness is on the rise in Australia, I imagine we are not alone, and it is happening globally. It is not fussy about your age or gender According to the APS (Australian Psychological Society) one in four Australians feel lonely. During the 2020 and beyond lockdowns, this number may have been significantly higher. There is a plethora of information and statistics on the internet regarding loneliness and it’s mental, physical and health factors. The facts are frightening. I know when I moved to Melbourne coming up now 27 years ago, I didn’t know anyone. There wasn’t any family here, initially there weren’t any work colleagues, it was me on my Pat Malone. I found the loneliness extreme for the first three months. It was a fight to keep mentally positive. To meet new people, I attended courses such as photography and golf lessons. Each of them got me out of the house and meeting new people. It was an opportunity to break the isolation factor. Recently, I was running one of my art classes and, it caused me to think back to my own efforts to fight loneliness. I listened as the conversation hit a crescendo of multiple conversations, laughter and connection. Could art classes help the loneliness epidemic? Could those few hours each week, create deeper connections, could they foster a feeling of community and belonging? I believe it can. Those few hours of sitting in a room with likeminded individuals, deep in thought, or sharing titbits of daily life, recommendations of a movie or recipe, or a glimpse into family life, as you create, paint, and draw, transport you into another world. Does a world of connection and creativity, enjoying a new hobby or interest, come from those regular art classes? What re your thoughts? Do you think art and art classes could help with the loneliness epidemic? Please leave your comments below. Featured Artwork: Cityscape on the River
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![]() Future proofing is sometimes easy to neglect. Case in point. A few years back, I graduated from creating my art in our enclosed patio. I wanted somewhere that was mine, I didn't have to pack up each time we had people coming over. I wanted to be able to leave a semi- finished artwork up on the easel without worrying that someone would see it in progress. I wanted to be able to leave my supplies out and not have to pack them away after each session. You can read more on my previous post here about how my art shed came about. At the time, we purchased a shed that was basically a space for me to create and be out of the way. When we purchased the shed, it was the perfect size. It fitted all my materials, a good size studio easel, a desk and even a dog bed for my little studio companion who has since passed. It was perfect and was well used. Fast forward a couple of years later and the dilemma began. I started running art classes and required more supplies and although the supplies expanded the art shed walls did not. Slowly, I was finding it more difficult to create in the space as the class inventory took over. Hindsight is a valuable tool. Quite possibly, if I knew the direction of my business was going to change, I would have looked at a bigger space and this would have future proofed the space. Obviously, we don’t always know what is around the corner, however, sometimes it can be wise to think about where you will be in two, three or five years down the track. Will what you are planning now, stack up in three to five years? There are so many ways we can future proof our businesses and life by asking a ourselves a few simple questions. These questions can range from, what if ….., how will….., why would……, if I….., you can fill in the blanks based on what area you are looking at. If I had asked myself, if I grow this business, will this be suitable? What if I take on more clients, how will it effect the space? I am sure you get the idea. Do you look at future proofing areas in your life or business? How do you assess where you are at now and where you want to be? Leave your comments below, we would love to see how you do it. Featured Photo: My little studio buddy |
AuthorLee Cummins is a mixed media artist, workshop and art class facilitator. Archives
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