Michele Standen

Can you share the story behind your artwork “Reflective”? What emotions or thoughts were you exploring?

The story behind my Artwork “reflective” was that I found myself in a painful position where all that I thought was there to protect & safeguard me wasn’t. I felt still & alone, no tears could fall, I didn’t scream or cry, I sat in stillness processing new feelings. The emotions and thoughts I was exploring were grief, betrayal, abandonment, powerlessness, injustice and I felt bereft. Then I painted the picture as I believe it helps to regulate any nervous system dysregulation. I certainly always feel lighter when I’ve got those icky feelings out and onto paper (or whatever medium).

“Doctor Who” is a very expressive and textured piece. What inspired you to create it?

Doctor WHO is a very expressive & textured piece and the inspiration for that painting was channelling my rage and anger into a healthy cathartic process of painting. I was processing child trauma and had felt very targeted and therefore further insulted on top of assaulted. The whole painting process is very meditative to me and the clicking & clacking of palette knives hitting the wood was very satisfying during the painting of it. I felt like I was taking back my power and alchemising feelings of rage, anger, injustice and hurt back into power within my hands. At that time I couldn’t speak some words out loud because of shame, trauma & fear but now I can. Alchemising emotions through art is such a powerful tool we have.

Michele Standen | Doctor Who

How does your visual impairment influence your creative process?

My visual impairment influences my creative process massively because it’s so freeing when you can’t see detail without aids. You just get lost in the process without worrying if it’s any good or not which in turn I feel allows for more expression. It’s like a meditative process for me. No rights or wrongs just creating which is magical. But there are times I can’t use my eyes at all and that’s when I can write poetry and think about words more. It can be frustrating when my eyes have issues (for example I’ve had alot of ulcers on my corneas, from Lupus, I was told & then my remaining vision is completely blurred).

What tools or techniques do you find most helpful when creating your artworks with low vision?

The tools and techniques I find most helpful with low vision are Magnifiers and taking photo’s and enlarging to see details I’ve missed. I also use a fair bit of texture as I can do that by touch. I see colours clearly so use colour as a tool for me. But my sight loss is from steroid induced glaucoma and glaucoma is optic nerve damage so I don’t see black or grey like some eye conditions, I just only see with the little remaining vision I have left. Also with glaucoma you lose your peripheral vision first & tunnel vision last so using my remaining vision for art is easier for me than with a different eye condition I feel. Having said that we are all unique and brains/bodies are clever so we should use what works for us. Don’t allow anything to be a barrier. I dislike tick box exercises as no individual fits neatly within a box that rhetoric is so outdated. I say blur the lines and create.

You mentioned art helps your wellbeing. Can you tell us more about the role creativity plays in your healing journey?

I did mention that art helps my wellbeing, I would welcome the opportunity to share how creativity helps in my healing journey thank you. I believe it is actually scientifically proven that pain, anxiety and creativity use the same side of the brain. So getting lost within the process of creativity is the best pain reliever there is (for me) and it’s without side effects. Also I believe that when we are being creative we are alchemising any stuck or stagnant emotions so they don’t stay trapped within the body where they could cause dis-ease. It’s a very freeing process.

Do you approach visual art differently than your poetry or other forms of expression like interior design or gardening?

Yes I believe I do, with my art and poetry I am alchemising emotions so they don’t stay stuck within my cellular structures whereas with interior design it has a different role to play and needs to be how we want to feel within the environment and what it will be used for. With my garden design I had permaculture over monoculture at the fore and I wanted to plant food and medicinal plants to create a nature lover’s & wildlife wonderland for me. I’m a tree hugger and love them so I planted lots of trees. Interestingly to note that I never noticed the sacred geometry within flowers for example until after I lost my eyesight. I have to take photos and magnify them but I’m always in awe of Nature and her abundance.

Michele Standen | Reflective

What message or feeling do you hope viewers take away from your work?

I hope that they give themselves permission to start getting creative themselves and feel how freeing the process is. In my opinion you are gifting yourself wellbeing and time to rest, repair and heal. There’s no right or wrongs with Art & Creativity it’s all about the process and not the end result, that’s a happy bonus. Surviving adversity and finding healthy methods to aid wellbeing is pivotal in our individual holistic wellbeing journey.