Mind Craft Showcase: November 2023

The Mind Craft Showcase features all the incredible artwork from young people nationwide, who have participated in our Mind Craft program and shared with us how their artistic expressions support their mental health journey.

Below are all the November 2023 featured submissions from other inspiring young people of the DoSomething community.

🎶 Jamie, Massachusetts

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+++ "My piece is an original song titled “Sunlit Road” that I performed and produced. I recorded a video of myself singing the melody and performing the synth solos, and I recorded backing piano and vocals on top of that. ⤵ I had a lot of fun producing this piece because I tried out a couple of new techniques, and challenged myself to perform the melody and some synth lines live. This song came from a poem I wrote. This work of art helped me with a mental health challenge because rather than doing what I normally do in my approach to art, which is to take complex or powerful feelings and express them through a medium, I took a single moment in time, when I was simply walking down the street, and delved into it. I found this to be extremely valuable. With my creative process and outcome I did what I could to encapsulate the feelings I felt as I walked happily on a sunny day, to be preserved as a reminder to myself. Recently I have been struggling with a lot of anxiety as I battle with a chronic physical disability, but this song will always be a reminder of one of life's little moments that make it worth living." +++

✏️ Sarveen, Delaware

+++ "Making this work of art helped me by allowing me to visually describe what stress and overthinking feel like. ⤵ I often get overwhelmed and my mind feels clustered, so making this piece allowed me to show how it feels and put that energy into a creative artwork." +++

🎨 Amanda, Illinois

+++ "This piece was incredibly time-consuming, but painting it was incredibly therapeutic. This is a part of my AP portfolio, themed about the apathy of powerful people. ⤵ Expressing my views on topics such as this through my art helps me to process my thoughts and better understand my role in the topic." +++

🖌️ Dipti, California

+++ "The woman in the drawing I have made is my grandma, my nani. I made this piece off a picture I took of her when we were in the car together in my trip to India, visiting my homeland for the first time in four years. ⤵ In this image, my nani was singing a song about the yellow flowers seen outside the window, which are mustard flower fields, also known as sarso ke keiths in Hindi. This moment for me felt like a sum of all the moments I had missed out on getting to know my nani in the 4 years I was not able to spend time with her. When this moment in the car happened, my nani was already very sick, dealing with kidney issues, and I could tell that I would never get another experience like this again. Making this piece was very important to me as it was my way of grieving my nani and the short time I got to spend with her." +++

💡 Brenna, Virginia

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+++ "Making this work of Art helped me confront a mental blockage I've had this past year. Throughout out middle and high school I was emotionally dependent upon an emotionally abusive friendship. ⤵ At the time, I thought her treatment of me was normal as I had no other friends to compare it to. Around my junior year of high school, I began making friends within the art community and over the course of the following year I began to realize how mistreated I was. With the intervention of both my family and my new friends, I came to realize I needed to break away from that relationship. I finally got the guts to cut off communications after high school graduation. The creation of this artwork really guided me through addressing many of the open wounds she left on me that I've been neglecting since May. The overall process was very therapeutic, and the final result makes me extremely happy and proud of myself." +++

🗞️ Claire, Massachusetts

+++ "My passion for art is a profound force, transforming my ability to navigate society. It's not merely a pastime; it's an avenue for self-expression, infusing me with enthusiasm and positivity. ⤵ Each stroke of a pencil tethers me to the reality of my experiences. This being my most impactful piece delves deeply into the concept of identity, specifically my own. It stands as a vivid statement, bridging the invisible forces shaping me with our shared reality. Not only does it mirror my state of mind during its creation, but it also encapsulates the profound lessons learned throughout the process. It's a testament to how every action, emotion, and individual I've encountered leaves a mark on my identity. Threads of influence, represented by those around me, shape and redefine my identity. My art has unveiled the interplay between my inner self, my values, and the world, all of which build the foundation for who I am. Just as I craft my art, I craft my identity, propelled by an unwavering spirit of creativity and self-discovery. I have illuminated how these invisible hands work with my will and values, underpinning my unique identity. I create my identity just as I create my art." +++

🖼️ Emerson, New Jersey

+++ "Creating this work of art came in a time in my life where I was struggling with gender dysphoria. ⤵ Looking in the mirror felt like a stranger was looking back at me. This work of art helped me be able to see myself the way I wanted. Though I can't find myself in the mirror, I can still find myself in my work." +++

🖌️ Aneisah, Georgia

+++ ""Scorched by the Light" symbolizes the challenges of embarking on a new beginning. The piece conveys the inevitability of struggles in the journey of self-renewal. ⤵ Despite the potential for setbacks and hardships, the artwork encourages perseverance, urging individuals to reach toward the metaphorical light of their goals. Personally, this creation aided me in navigating mental health challenges by fostering an understanding that failure and struggle are integral to improvement. It reassured me that initial missteps don't define my worth or my ability to recover. This newfound perspective significantly reduced anxiety in other artistic endeavors, as I embraced the iterative nature of the creative process. The impact extended beyond art, positively influencing my social life." +++

🖼️ Gracie, Louisiana

+++ "Since being medically diagnosed with anxiety and depression, it has been hard for me, and especially my family, to come to terms with being mentally ill. Creating this piece was like a very successful therapy session, because it helped me understand one of the habits I have because of my mental illness. ⤵ “Grumpy Gracie'' has helped me accept my insomnia, and attempt to overcome the anxiety that falling asleep brings to me, and more importantly, it has helped my family realize that I can’t help some of my personal habits that they may find ridiculous because of my medical diagnoses. I am fortunate to be able to embrace my illness through this piece of artwork, and I hope it brings awareness to the family members and friends of people suffering with anxiety and depression." +++

🖌️ Submit your artistic expression and share how it is a beneficial part of your mental health journey for the opportunity to earn a yearlong SketchBox subscription, the best drawing and painting art supplies for you to continue exploring your creativity. (1 box per month, for 12 months, valued at $240) Join Mind Craft today!