My Artistic Journey Amidst the Beginnings of COVID-19

I think that most of us can agree that the pandemic has forced us to go through some pretty rough patches, whether it be emotional stress, financial uncertainty, or the infamous burnout. After all, it seemingly came out of nowhere - one moment we were enjoying the lax waters of spring break, the next we were in lockdown mode and thrown into a haze of health protocols to follow should we step outside the house. The world we'd grown used to pre-COVID became a new environment entirely, which we began to adapt to via face masks, social distancing, and small groups. The sudden closing of our favorite hangout spots and cancellation of major social events put the quarantining population on a path to pass the time in the comfort of their home instead of outside.

As an artist, I initially thought the concept of lockdown was the perfect opportunity to get some art done and further develop my style, characters, and original stories. I was always more of a hermit crab anyway, preferring to conceive my creations from the comfort of my room whenever time permitted. What I didn't expect as lockdown hit, however, was the significant decrease in motivation and lack of desire to do anything art-related.

The image above is my 2020 Summary of Art, which is the best documentation of my art journey amidst the pandemic. Before March, I had a decent routine of drawing and level of inspirational drive. I was still shilling out completed pieces and actively posting to my art accounts. When quarantine really started to engulf the remainder of March, it seemed as though my will to draw went with it - hence why the picture for that month is a small doodle instead of a finished work. The realization that I wouldn't be able to see my friends and significant other for an indefinite amount of time, coupled with adjusting to school transitioning to fully-online classes, took a far larger toll on my mental health than I initially anticipated. Countless days were spent now curled in bed, ravenously texting and calling friends to fill the void in my stomach. In addition to this were the current events suddenly sweeping the nation, causing social and political discussions that broke friendships and strengthened the divide between groups with varying ideals. This onslaught of turmoil was the catalyst in significant demotivation in art and a focus towards the newfound issues erupting across the nation. My one tried-and-true escape - art - was now dangerously close to becoming extinct from my routine.

However, all was not lost. Amidst my increased screentime came the discovery of other artists also coping with this sudden freetime. Unlike me, though, they were actively creating art, using the fresh abundance of time to finish projects or revisit works. Seeing what they were capable of and realizing myself that I could be just like them, I finally got off my ass and cracked open a new sketchbook, eager to fill the blank white pages.

Above are some of the works I created in this reinvigorated state. While I did fluctuate here and there, my passion was ultimately ignited yet again and I went on to continue developing my style and art skills. I stopped viewing the quarantine situation as a depressive rut and more so as the universe's way of giving me the time I richly desired to focus on what I love doing most. It was just as well, considering that it was nearing time to apply for college and I needed a portfolio for my application. Luckily, my creative boost allowed me to produce some of my best pieces to date and even procure new techniques (see below).

 

On the left (top for mobile users) is a piece from July 2020, and on the right (bottom) is from November 2020. My style of digital coloring had changed completely, with much cleaner rendering, lines, and an overall more painterly feel. I was in love with what was pouring from fingertips, a statement that I could not say for myself earlier that year. Hell, I'm not even sure if I would've had that much stylistic development without the freetime that lockdown provided.

So yes; while quarantine really ran us through the mud, it also allowed us time to discover new hobbies or, in my and many other creatives' cases, rejuvenate the passion for our talents and skills. After all, it always feels as though we as a collective are busy with other things and don't truly have enough time to further our self-discovery. It has also allowed us to pursue new interests - even peculiar ones (in my case, I've gotten into morbid subject matter and analog horror). If there was one good thing that came out of the pandemic, it was the opportunity to explore new passions and reignite the ones that were already there.

Here's some more of my favorite pieces I made since the pandemic:

Thank you for reading!

-Adri <3