Art and Anger

When I had conflict with others over distribution of a property—and I felt ‘sure’ I had the right slant on the matter—I began to paint my journey of two-weeks time though the many thoughts and emotions I lived through. That artistic progression of my outlook (shapes) and feelings (differing colors) is shown below, along with an appropriate title I chose for each some weeks later. The art, in this case, went beyond "anger management"; I was provided with a cure, with the Lord's help in this. --Clif

This Anger/Healing series is titled “Disruption”

click to enlarge photos	Stage 1. CONSTERNATION Great fear or shock that makes one feel helpless or bewildered
	Stage 2. ABERRATION A departure from what is right, true, correct; a deviation from the normal or or the typical; any ideas for action are considered: right or wrong, Christian or otherwise
	Stage 3. DISCRETION Prudence; the quality of being discreet or careful about what one does and says; power to act or judge
	Stage 4. RESURGENCE The rising again of good qualities
	Stage 5. HEALING A return to wholeness in body and mind
	Stage 6. BRASSBOUND Inflexible, rigid; immovable in purpose or will

The Progression in the Process. When an event occurs that is devastating, and anger comes up within the victim, (1) much around seems hateful, broken and heated. The mind (2) tries desperately and creatively for modes of defense and action; partial truths seem all one can go by; and anger may be lashing out from this ‘simmering’ state (see the wok?). Vocally, (3) one may ‘sound off’ or be sad or wear a mask of tolerance; there is now more hurt feelings than true anger. The good qualities a person has (4)—patience, positivism, cheerfulness, even joy—return and one is feeling much their ‘old self’ again; this is a process and the individual’s true compiled nature does not uniformly normalize all at once. The healing (5) is both biochemical and psychological, and it takes place in many areas of the body and mind—little, really, is known how. One finally learns (6) to practice refraining from outburst and guards what one allows oneself to see and to hear; the person definitely controls what comes out of his/her mouth—the mind controls or chooses what the mouth must say. These separate themes developed quite on their own. I only knew I didn't want anger; my art busied me, my prayers sustained me, and both—together—changed me.

A Discussion of Color. This series runs initially from the left-hand side with a [#1] general heated red and shovel/earth brown on through the [#2] light of ideas and efforts to create an action, through the [#3] howling resentment (green), sadness (gray) and detachment (blue), to the [#4] regaining of a true constructive way (yellow) with its background of confident, pleasant sky, to the [#5] internal natural green and brown and chemical colors of healing to, at last [#6] the brass and silver restrictions of cool (blue) mind and mouth; what is heard from outside that is anger in others or their actions that run contrary to our ways and beliefs are, nevertheless, not voiced in any form of harsh manner. In this last painting, the background color and design are reminiscent of the American Indian art, and they very often exhibit an inherent dignity and contiguous-with-Nature demeanor.

Where the Word of God Heals. In the painting on the left (Stage #1) we see a floating Bible: the Word of God is nigh us (Romans 10:8 The Message translation): "The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest." But sad to say, by events of Stage #2 painting, the floating bible does not show its pages--all around is activity and thought (almost wild!) where the keys of scripture are not being made use of; all else seems worthy of considering. Inasmuch as it's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us, without that word of God being relied upon, the cure, the resolution will not come. This holy, constructive word near us may be a friend’s testimony, wish or prayer; or it may be the printed word having the Word of God on its pages. By image of Stage #3, the black Bible cover has swelled to "surround" the element of lashing out vocally (left-side man with the hat). The Word has had its "muffling" effect. And afterwards (Stages 4, 5 and 6) the person who was once-upon-a-time in anger becomes one who is both patient and content and not easily inflamed as before.

Art is a gift from the Spirit. You may wish to review our other web page that discusses anger. See "Anger and Depression" for the Understanding side of the process of "healing with art."

ART AND ANGER

This Anger/Healing series is titled “Disruption”