Interpretive Knowing Through Painting

A parallel exists in the fine arts, art proper, and the art of nursing. Art allows access to the spirit and promotes profound experiences of healing. Art proper emerges from the creative process as an imaginative expression of emotions through intuition and caring.¹ Just as the artist serves as a conduit for an image to come to life through a paintbrush, the mindbodyspirit of the nurse emerges as a conduit for human connection to transmit caring-healing energy to others in a unique interpretation of socially constructed reality. The nurse has their own energy, yet they grasp the combined force of the environmental energy fields and the person’s energy field to promote healing of the soul.^2,3 This simultaneous interaction is not causal and enhances the energy field of others to experience feelings of joy, acceptance, compassion, and healing.⁴ Transpersonal caring through art and nursing encourages self-healing patterns and self-knowledge possibilities through multiple ways of knowing, fostering spiritual growth and soul care for the wounded healer.^4,5

A theoretical framework of Unitary Caring Science invites the presence of the spirit and energy of the person and healer.^5,6 The nurse’s nature of being is an artist, channeling healing energy to flow from lower energy of negative disease to higher energy of transcendence, healing, being, and becoming.⁵ Nurses support, guide, and heal themselves and others on a journey towards well-becoming by appreciating the human-environment-spirit connection. Just as hummingbirds flit between flowers, nurses flash from patient to patient, embodying a spirit of overflowing high energy frequencies to share their own energy with patients suffering from lower energy frequencies of illness.

Completing the twelve-week Healing with the Arts⁷ program offers a transformative experience of understanding what it means to be ontologically creative. Experimenting with a variety of visual arts mediums garnered a sense of wonder and inquiry, celebrating a dynamic reality and personal reflection. Painting encourages a deeper expression of complex thought, communicating the essence of an experience as though speaking directly from the soul. Figures 1 through 12 display the journey of discovery in taking part in the Healing with the Arts twelve-week program. Perfectionism, rigidness of thought, and fear of failure gave way to courage, spiritual enlightenment, and healing. An action-oriented energy of the divine masculine gave way to the divine feminine, allowing freedom in creation and caring while also embracing the irrational and erratic.⁷  

Relaxing into the fluidity and softness of emotions overpowers notions of accomplishment or efficiency, allowing a state of being over doing. Viewing the metaparadigm as an artist and through an aesthetic lens offers the gift of seeing beauty in simple moments and crafting special memories out of mundane experiences. An inexplicable internal driving force seeks to merge art and healing, co-creating pieces with other nurses for a deeper understanding of the lived experience. The process of engaging in the arts incites an insatiable hunger to learn more and supports inner healing in the pursuit of transpersonal caring. The images below depict a journey of inner healing and transcendence into transpersonal nursing as an ontological artist.

Figure 1: Letting Go of the Inner Critic, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

This painting represents my inner critic and my inner artist coming together in a cohesive image. Influenced by Mother Nature, the image that came to the forefront during the guided imagery was that of a human heart being wrapped in thorns, yet also blooming with wildflowers. My inner critic has the potential to wound just as much as it can yield a bountiful blossom. This imagery illustrated the importance of peacefully embracing and respecting this capability while encouraging positive growth. I am looking forward to forgiving the thorns of my inner critic to let my artist shine.

Figure 2: Merging the Inner Artist and Healer, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

This painting depicts how my inner artist and inner healer connect. My inner healer came from a place of trauma and uncertainty, leading me to visualize the right-brain, left-brain dichotomy of logical and creative thought. To me, this also represents the art and science of nursing and how both are vitally important in the energy field of nursing. Instead of a harsh line separating the two, a soft blend of colors overlaps in the florals and shapes. My inner artist and healer are experiencing a cohesion, creating a stronger artist-healer overall. This imagery illustrated my journey of accepting uncertainty and acknowledging growth.

Figure 3: The Spirit in Art Healing, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

I met my spirit animal and portrayed it through painting. The guided imagery prompted me to discover the place where I found peace and contentment. When the meditation asked for this scene, I picture a meadow on my property. As it invites the image of a horizon, I see this meadow basked in golden light. This imagery allowed my spirit animal to emerge in this serene setting. The black panther awaits patiently in the shadows yet is illuminated by the sun setting through the cedar trees. The black panther represents the divine feminine, protection, and the power of eliminating fear of darkness and unknown.⁸ The waves of grass float effortlessly on the breeze, and I feel a strong pull to sit in the meadow with this spirit animal and rest.

Figure 4: Finding Out What Needs to be Healed, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

This painting depicts what within my soul needs to be healed. In picturing my inner child through the guided imagery, I feel fear, vulnerability and innocence. The image of a fawn sleeping sounding in tall grass emerged. She is vulnerable to predators, small and defenseless, yet she sleeps peacefully and is surrounded by flowers and swathed in a halo of morning light. My inner child needs a place to feel safety and peace to heal and is symbolized in this week’s praxis.

Figure 5: Healing with Visual Arts, 12in x 12x round ash wood with burnt designs

I celebrated experimentation and pursued imperfection with this piece of art. Knowing my medium will be painting for my final art-project in this curriculum, I wanted to embrace this week as a safe space to try a new method of generating imagery. I selected a rough piece of wood, not wanting a smooth finish or an easy surface. Instead, I was drawn to the rough, imprecise edges, the cracks around the wood’s ring. This resonated with me as symbolizing the beauty of being human, the wildness and freedom from organization and standardization. I chose a wood-burning tool as something outside my comfort-zone and one that would eliminate the pressure of creating a range of visual colors or textures. I wanted my lines to be permanent, forcing myself to embrace my “mistakes” as intentional artistic empowerment, allowing the lines to exist as were meant to be while they charred into the wood’s surface. What emerged from my design was floral, circular, and flowing. When I took a step back from the piece, I realized it was a sunflower. To me, sunflowers have always epitomized joy and radiating light. I am drawn to them, and it was a surprise to see this image emerge without the intention to place it into the design. I rejoiced in the spontaneity, the texture, and the lack of control experienced with this method.

Figure 6: Healing with Words, 20in x 20in oil painting

With each of these exercises in this week’s praxis, I felt compelled to create a painting celebrating light and peace. I thought of the words in this chapter often as I pushed through my week, and a moment of insight occurred as I was paddling around the lake. It was sunset, and the light was peeking through the trees as the day gently ended. I knew that was the image I needed to paint this week. There is something magical about the beginning and ending of a day. This painting accompanied poetry created for this weeks’ praxis.

Figure 7: Healing with Music, Digital Image from an iPhone 14

As I embarked on my walk, I placed my ambient noise headphones on my head. These allow me to enjoy praxis-inspired soundtrack and still hear the sounds around me. I padded forward, looking around me and enjoying the feel of the breeze on my face and the sun peeking through the leaves. Certain songs came on that didn’t seem to fit the moment, so I skipped to the next. When a song played in harmony with the concert of nature, I committed it to memory. I was fully engrossed in this process and began singing along. The walk filled my heart with joy, and the friendly flora of the trail seemed to sparkle more than usual. As I walked within this enlightened space, I was surprised to find not one, but fifteen railroad spikes along my journey. The trail is a converted railroad bed, and it is rare to find more than one on my walks. I had never gathered so many! As I took the turn back into my property, I laid the spikes in a circle and snapped a picture to commemorate the experience. I’ll never forget it. It’s as though the trail wanted to give me a gift for seeing her so clearly and enjoying all she had to offer, and I gladly accepted.

Figure 8: Healing with Dance and Movement, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

The first medicine art dance in this week’s praxis invited a spirit animal or tree to encourage movement. My mind immediately shifted towards images of sandhill cranes dancing in the Platte River on their migration across Nebraska in the late winter months. They effortlessly float, touching down lightly on the ground only to spring up again with their proudly displayed wings outstretched. The cranes hold their heads up high, their bodies overcome by the movement. There is such freedom to their flow, and I invited the spirit energy of the sandhill crane for this exercise. The crane is a symbol of longevity and justice, serving as an expression of feminine energy. It invites a celebration of creative resources, encouraging focus and intention. The crane often lays two eggs but raises one, symbolically representing the importance of not dividing one’s attention.9 This is particularly resonant with my current experience of feeling divided between school, family, and work. Dancing as the crane felt like I was embracing intention and freedom.

Figure 9: Finding my Essence, 12in x 16in acrylic painting

My essence is that of a sunflower. It is strong, with broad leaves extending from a solid stem. Golden petals stretch from the burnt sienna disc with wild abandon. One assumes predictability and order when picturing a neat row of sunflowers, yet the dynamic uniqueness of each bloom transcends expectation. Emanating radiance, the sunflower follows the light from dawn to dusk. Symbolizing positivity and joy, this flower also represents loyalty and devotion. In casual searching of its meaning, I also came across sunflowers being a symbol of growth and resilience.10 This particularly resonates with me in my own life journey and how I am seeking a healing and caring path. Just as the sunflower withstands harsh conditions and perseveres, I am also standing up to the adversity of negative experiences and learning how to thrive. It is because of these challenging moments that I can truly appreciate the beauty of the life I am creating.

Figure 10: Experiencing Sacred Sexuality, 12 in x 16 in canvas with watercolor and black pastel

This exercise involved the help of my husband. We each created a piece of art depicting each other’s sacred sexuality using a medium of our own choice. I utilized watercolors to eliminate a sense of control and an intention to allow movement in the art. My husband chose black pastel to communicate his design clearly, not resonating with a paintbrush. We each painted our partner facing away from the viewer and facing to the right, wanting to capture each other’s strength and maintain a sense of modesty. There is an element of sacred sexuality that remains between partners. Each piece of art celebrated an inner beauty and power radiating through the physical self. It was a humbling experience to look at how my partner saw my spirit. This exercise promoted a deeper sense of connection and invited a dialogue that continued throughout the rest of the day exploring how we saw ourselves and each other.

Figure 11: Art, Healing, and the End of Life, 18 in x 18 in acrylic painting

This painting honored my grief and love for a special pet friend who passed away during this week’s praxis. While some people may view winter as cold, harsh, and full of death, I see serene beauty in the stillness. There is still sadness for those who are left behind, but unmistakable calmness and peace. The silence of a snowy day basked in the cool tones of purple and blue exist in a state of resting transition. The season of death is like that of winter, where souls are on a journey to find spring once again and be reborn. Trees lay bare, sleeping until they are ready to begin anew in the warmer days to come.

Figure 12: Final Art in Medicine Project

To be determined in the next week.

 To see additional Nurse art (from Ruth and others), be sure to visit our sister site Nurses Guild.

References

1. Edwards SD. The art of nursing. Nursing Ethics. Sep 1998;5(5):393-400. doi:10.1177/096973309800500503
2. Rogers M. An Introduction to the Theoretical Basis of Nursing. F. A. Davis; 1970.
3. Caratao-Mojica R. The Science of Unitary Human Beings in a Creative Perspective. Nurs Sci Q. Oct 2015;28(4):297-9. doi:10.1177/0894318415599219
4. Watson J. Postmodern Nursing and Beyond. 1st Edition ed. Churchill Livingstone; 1999.
5. Watson J, Smith MC. Caring science and the science of unitary human beings: a trans-theoretical discourse for nursing knowledge development. Journal of Advanced Nursing. Mar 2002;37(5):452-61. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02112.x
6. Rosa W, Horton-Deutsh A, Watson JE. A Handbook for Caring Science: Expanding the Paradigm. Springer Publisher; 2018.
7. Samuels M, Lane MR. Healing with the arts: A 12-week program to heal yourself and your community. Atria Paperback; 2013.
8. Andrews T. Animal-speak: The spiritual & magical powers of creatures great & small. Llewellyn Publications; 2002.
9. Watson Caring Science Institute. Watson’s caring science & human caring theory. https://www.watsoncaringscience.org/jean-bio/caring-science-theory/
10. Flower Station Dubai. The beauty and symbolism of sunflowers: A complete guide Accessed July 20, 2024, https://www.flowerstationdubai.com/blogs/news/sunflowers-symbolism-meaning