Creative Wellbeing
Creative wellbeing is the state of mind we hope students experience when they leave Sharz Art.
They may have arrived tired, distracted, frustrated or simply carrying the noise of everyday life.
During their time in the studio, they have created something, explored some possibilities, learned something new or simply enjoyed being creative.
And, hopefully, they leave feeling a little calmer than when they arrived.
The Space Matters
There is something about walking into a space where you are allowed to slow down.
At Sharz Art, we want the studio to feel welcoming, comfortable and safe.
Safe to ask questions.
Safe to make mistakes.
Safe to try something that might not work.
Safe to be different.
Safe to simply be yourself.
We can’t know exactly what is happening inside someone’s mind when they sit down at the table.
What we can do is create an environment that gives them room to breathe.
What Happens When We Create?
There isn’t one answer.
For one person, it might be concentrating on something with their hands.
For another, it might be the quiet satisfaction of watching colour move across a page.
Someone else might enjoy solving a problem, experimenting with a new material or finally working out how to make something do what they want it to do.
Sometimes there is conversation.
Sometimes there is laughter.
Sometimes there is very little talking at all.
There might be a mistake that needs fixing, a new idea to explore or simply an hour where the focus is on something other than everything else happening in life.
Creative Wellbeing Is Personal
Creative wellbeing is personal because the experience of creating is personal.
What helps one person feel settled may not be what helps another.
For a young child, it might be the joy of making something for the first time.
For a teenager, it might be somewhere to switch off from school and expectations.
For an adult, it might be time that belongs entirely to them.
For an older person, it might be connection, purpose, learning something new or simply continuing to create.
Just as there is no single way to learn art, there is no single way to experience creative wellbeing.
The Role of the Mentor
Creative wellbeing isn’t something we can simply teach.
It grows from the environment we create and the relationship we build with each student.
Our mentors get to know the person they are working with.
They learn their personality, what motivates them and when encouragement helps or becomes too much.
They notice when someone needs help.
They notice when someone needs space.
They recognise when a student is ready to be challenged and when the better choice is simply to let them create and enjoy being there.
A good mentor doesn’t push all the time.
Sometimes we step forward.
Sometimes we step back.
We read the non-verbal cues.
We feel their state of mind.
And we adjust.
Enjoyment Matters
Not everything needs to be about achievement.
Sometimes a student simply enjoys creating.
They might enjoy the feel of charcoal moving across paper.
Watching watercolour spread across a page.
Finding the perfect colour.
Discovering that an accident turned into something better than the original idea.
Getting completely absorbed in what they are doing.
Laughing with the person beside them.
Or finishing a piece and thinking:
“I really like that.”
Those small moments matter.
Enjoyment creates engagement.
Engagement creates a willingness to keep learning.
And sometimes, enjoyment is simply enough.
“But They Didn’t Really Do Much Today.”
Sometimes a student goes home and says:
“We didn’t really do much today. We just had fun.”
But perhaps they did more than they realised.
They concentrated.
They made choices.
They solved little problems.
They experimented.
They experienced something not working and tried again.
They had time away from pressure.
They talked, laughed or simply sat quietly and created.
Not every session needs to produce a finished masterpiece.
Not every day has the same amount of energy, focus or capacity.
Confidence isn’t a measurable thing that increases every week.
Some days it looks like accomplishing something difficult.
Other days it might simply mean sitting down, having a go and enjoying being there.
The important thing is working with what the mind is capable of today.
What Students Take With Them
We hope students leave Sharz Art with more than drawings and paintings.
We hope they take something with them:
Confidence — to believe in their own abilities.
Independence — to have a go and work things out for themselves.
Resilience — to understand that setbacks don’t have to stop them.
Problem-solving skills — to look for another way when the first way doesn’t work.
Self-expression — to understand that their ideas have value.
Curiosity — to keep exploring and asking questions.
Pride — not just in what they create, but in who they are becoming.
And perhaps most importantly, we hope they learn that they are capable of working through things.
Because life doesn’t always go according to plan.
Sometimes things don’t work.
Sometimes we make mistakes.
Sometimes we need to start again.
Sometimes we simply need to take a breath and try another way.
If creativity can help someone discover that they are capable of doing those things, then it has taught them something much more valuable than how to draw or paint.
A Little Different From When They Arrived
Creative wellbeing isn’t about fixing someone.
It is about creating a place where people can slow down, explore, learn, make mistakes, enjoy themselves and spend a little time simply being themselves.
Because sometimes the most important thing we create isn’t the artwork.
It’s the way we feel when we leave.
That’s what we believe at Sharz Art.
Creativity Should Be For Everyone
Every artist deserves the opportunity to create in a way that works for them. At Sharz Art, we aim to make our programs welcoming, supportive and inclusive, while taking the time to understand each student’s individual needs and circumstances.
If you’d like to find out more about how we support different artists, explore our Creative Connections programs.
Give Yourself Some Creative Time
Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet, a place to learn something new or simply somewhere welcoming to spend an hour creating, we’d love to have you join us.
My 10 year old has enjoyed being part of Sharz Art School for over a year now and has learned the fundamentals of drawing and painting.