Flourish in the Darkness

Making Art When the World Feels Heavy

Lately, it’s felt like the world is unraveling, one headline at a time. Some mornings I wake up with a pit in my stomach, unsure of how to hold it all. The weight of conflict, division, and injustice feels constant. It’s tempting to turn off, shut down, and go numb.

And yet… I paint.

Not because everything is okay. But because it’s not.

This week, I created a small acrylic piece I titled Flourish in the Darkness. A single soft bloom, imperfect, layered, a little bit messy, emerging from a stormy, chaotic background. It’s not meant to be delicate in the traditional sense. It’s strong in its insistence to be here anyway.

This painting was my way of pushing back against despair. Not with toxic positivity. But with a quiet refusal to let the heaviness have the final word.

When the world feels dark, create anyway.

Creativity isn’t a luxury reserved for peaceful times. It’s a necessity, especially when things feel out of control. Whether it’s painting, writing, cooking, planting something, or even rearranging your bookshelf… these small acts of creation are ways we remember who we are. They reconnect us to meaning, agency, and joy.

If you’re feeling heavy or stuck right now, here are some gentle ways to tap into creativity:

Make something small. A five-minute sketch, a doodle, a collage from old magazines. Let go of the need for it to be “good.” Let it be honest.

Create with what you have. I’ve painted with fingers, dollar-store brushes, even old gift cards. Creativity isn’t about the tools—it’s about the willingness.

Use emotion as fuel. Angry? Sad? Overwhelmed? Let it show up on the page. Don’t try to tidy it. Let it move through you.

Remember that beauty doesn’t cancel pain—it sits beside it.

That’s what this painting means to me.

Flourishing doesn’t mean thriving.

Sometimes, to “flourish” simply means continuing to show up, heart open, hands moving, breath steady. It means letting something beautiful emerge, even in the darkness. Especially in the darkness.

I hope this little piece reminds you that you don’t have to wait until the world is okay to make something beautiful.

You can start now.

Right in the middle of the mess.

With love and color,

Michelle Joy Brown 🎨 Your Blossoming Art Friend 🌼

P.S.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear what creative things help you feel steady. Hit reply or leave a comment, let’s hold space for one another here.

Your financial support really does go towards helping this artist purchase supplies to continue painting and entering exhibitions as well as selling art. I'm a full-time artist now, all monies I earn supports my continued journey.

Thank you for your support and love. 🥰🥰

© 2025 Michelle Joy Brown. All rights reserved.

No part of this content or artworks, may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the author.