Did COVID-19 inspire you?

If you have anything to say, you can be an artist. Every “survivor” has something to say about COVID-19 because it is a new experience for every one of us. The vast majority of people were worried that they lacked the necessary skills to create an artwork and were terrified of failing at something they had never attempted before. However, due to job shutdowns and unexpected free time, many people uncovered their latent skills. Famous Russian figure skater Evghenia Medvedeva, for instance, used her rare free time during her lockdown to pursue her second passion: art. Even though her followers had no idea she could draw, Evghenia gained the confidence to display her paintings to the public. We need the humanity, expressiveness, and sense of community that the arts provide in times of crisis.

Now is an excellent time to appreciate the arts. Whether it’s large or small, sidewalk chalk painting or community murals, art has an impact on how we live our lives. The arts, any form of it, help us process our own lives and bring us together as a community, which promotes wellness in our daily lives. During COVID-19, art has allowed us to communicate from a distance, spreading joy, appreciation, and optimism. In times of social injustice and conflict, art enhances important ideas and messages.

 While we may not be able to gather with friends and family as we would normally due to the pandemic’s effects, art allows us to convey a message of gratitude from afar. Over the last few weeks, artists of many genres and from all over the world have been creating artworks to thank vital employees and healthcare staff. All kinds of artists have utilized lockdown to capture this period in history, from rainbows thanking the NHS in windows to graffiti artworks inspired by the global coronavirus outbreak. While some works are inspired by the fear and solitude felt by many throughout the crisis, others are inspired by the heroes who have emerged. And some works are centered on the concept of lockdown, from boredom to panic hoarding. What about you? Were you inspired to work on your art during the COVID-19 pandemic?