Kerr's story
The reason I started drawing was probably a lot to do with the death of my son two years ago. I also live with depression and anxiety.
Just over a year ago, I was sitting in my in laws house where the whole family was gathering for a visit. My brain was at a loose end, so began a couple of little pastel pencil, pen and pencil drawings. I’d never tried it before, but I liked how they turned out. I did around 7 or 8 of them, then stopped. I gave her the very first picture I did to one of the people our team supports and it’s up on her wall. After that, I stopped drawing and couldn’t get back into it.
Cut to a year later. For some reason (it helped I was being asked when I was going to draw more pictures) I started trying out oil pastels, small touches of acrylic paint and actual canvasses. I could feel myself thinking ” I’m gonna try this and see how it turns out”. Even now, when I start a picture, I don’t think it’s going to work but if you don’t try, you’ll never know.
It’s all about taking your brain on a little holiday, even for a little while.
I think it has helped my mental health no end.
I have actually sold three of my paintings. I am constantly exhausted but happier than I have been for quite a while. In my experience, it doesn’t matter if you can draw or not. Drawing a big squiggle and colouring in the different parts is relaxing. It’s all about taking your brain on a little holiday, even for a little while.
Kerr is a Recovery Practitioner with our Edinburgh team and you’ll find his art on Instagram @clustermonkeyart. Thanks, Kerr, for sharing your story with us.
