Spring Art Show: The Art of Recovery

I was introduced to ceramics at the age of 14 and it’s been a source of serenity ever since. I currently started selling my work again which has built up my self esteem. It’s one of my forms of meditation. I use my skills to make functional items but also make custom sobriety items.

I work with wood . I started out with a small shop and made little trinkets for my wife and her family. I recently discovered the peace in working with my scroll saw and have. Made many projects. The soothing sound if the saw and the feel of the wood relax me and take away my anxiety. Which helps me to stay away from “Pot” my drug of choice. Contact me via email and I will send photos of some of my projects

I’ve been a glass and jewelry artist since 1993. My work has been published in 4 books on glass. My creativity is a healthy way of dealing with my emotions rather than trying to avoid them. My website can be found at https://www.comstockartglass.com and my etsy store can be found at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeriComstockArts

Working with beads and mosaics allows me to enter into a quiet part of me where I can re-connect with my Higher Power and myself! This has been crucial for my sanity and recovery over time, and I am grateful to my grandmothers for teaching me to use my hands to create.

I work with paper. Always looking for new ways to use paper to create scenes. To do this I need to stay in the present, to focus and with any luck the project turns out as I have seen it in my mind. This work keeps me in my own business.

My colored pencil and pens pictures that I have done the past few years has been helpful in keeping me on track with my continued sobriety, especially these past few years. Extremely helpful for bouts of anxiety and isolation due to Covid, and losing my job.

My art which I will have on display falls under the abstract genre, and it’s geared towards spiritual aspects of numerology and symbolism behind the color. Also just some personal pieces which are related to my musical creations, which is my primary art form. My music and my visual art, amongst the photo and a/v work, acting, directing, studio engineering art has served as a tool(s) which allow me to believe in my future, and push myself to move forward. Since being in jail and rehab, coming out and hearing my own music and the skill level I hold in that regard helped me realize that I don’t want to throw any of that away by allowing addiction to get in the way.

My music and my visual art, amongst the photo and a/v work, acting, directing, studio engineering art has served as a tool(s) which allow me to believe in my future, and push myself to move forward. Since being in jail and rehab, coming out and hearing my own music and the skill level I hold in that regard helped me realize that I don’t want to throw any of that away by allowing addiction to get in the way.

@buckit_lysd

Making jewelry allows me to focus on the creation of items that bring joy to others. It is my way of giving back. Creating and sharing what others appreciate brings me joy, which helps to keep my mind in recovery, and has helped me to stay sober for 27 years.

Art is a direct channel to my higher power. When I’m creating, I’m fully present and at peace. Not only that — as part of the creation process, I’ve learned that you have to back up and look at the bigger picture. It’s just like life: If you’re too focused on the little details, you won’t see the greater masterpiece that’s right in front of you. It’s a powerful life lesson.

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Japan Collection
Children’s book

My grandmother taught me how to crochet when I was 7 and when I hit recovery at 44 years old I discovered how comforting the repetitive motion of crochet helped calm my overactive mind. Then about 4 years ago, that same overactive mind became “bored” and needed something new. It was then that wire wrapping and beads came into play and I discovered the same joy in making my spiders and hermit crabs. Just watching these little creatures come to life awakened a new excitement for me. The whole creative process just feeds my soul. While I’ve always been a rather “crafty” person, both crochet and beading in recovery have given me such a sense of inner peace that I’d been missing in my active alcoholism.

I’ve been doing art on and off my adult life, but it really took off when got into recovery. Since then I’ve starting painting again and am taking lots of art classes and workshops. My work is ever changing. It’s a calling now, there is so much I want to create. I’m inspired by nature and other’s art. As it relates to my recovery, I can say “To thine own self be true”. I feel like I cannot not create. At this Art Show, I’ll be sharing limited edition signed and numbered prints of my ‘Ladies’ series, original palette knife wave paintings, driftwood beach designs and some landscape photography (my new passion).

See some of my other work on my ‘Art by Cris’ Facebook page

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Facebook page

Art is something that has had a huge impact on my recovery(and sanity). Before I learned how to express my emotions properly, I channeled it into my pieces. Even currently, I still have to create an art piece to fully process life-changing events. Most of my art has the theme of mental illness, sobriety, and trauma. In the darkest of times art has saved me when nothing else could. A part of me goes into every single piece I create. Instagram: @Chels_Eye_art

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Online shop

I make handcrafted cards and custom scrapbooks. Creating cards with ink, stamps, and paper keeps me in the present moment, focusing on myself and my art. Working the steps with my sponsor built my self confidence. Over time I took classes and met new friends. Once a week, I get together with friends to share and critique our cards which keeps me accountable. Participating in art shows allows me to share my art with others. I continue to challenge myself with new techniques and classes so my art evolves. Creating art gives me joy and is part of my recovery, one day at a time.

I have been in NA and clean for 32 years. I’ve always loved making art and see potential in many discarded items. I am currently making inspirational words on driftwood , jelly fish from sea urchins and goat locks, pillows that I first hook then sew into darling small pillows.

Art is defined as realism and surrealistic. Also based heavily on nature and wildlife. Art helps me distract myself from people,places, and things that I have no power over.

Art helps keep my mind off alcohol .I get immersed in my art.

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Instagram

I love to draw, creativity helps me connect to Divine Spirit- my Higher Power. It gives me pause and an opportunity to reflect.

My art has supported my recovery by giving me space to express my feelings artistically in a healthy way. For me, it is also a form of meditation that connects me with my higher power – sometimes I just push paint around for the feelings it helps me work through. Art has also helped me to connect with others in sobriety, and as we often say, connection IS the opposite of addiction!

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Website

When I quit Raves & drugs, I thought I had to quit everything *fun. Then one day, instead of making Rave Bracelets, I realized I could make & share motivating Recovery Bracelets. Nowaday, I spend hours designing/lasercutting custom wooden jewelry (recovery necklaces, earrings, pins…) To me, recovery jewelry is more than “art.” Cause when we wear it… we feel PRIDE for our recovery… we show recovery can be FUN… we’re proof that recovery is BEAUTIFUL.

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Etsy

Art has always been an outlet for me to convey the deepest, most brutal parts of myself that I didn’t feel I could ever let out. The feelings that would drive others away can be spilled out onto a page. In my recovery, I know that no feelings are too ugly to talk about, so I use my art to celebrate the joys in my newfound life.

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Instagram

My art has always brought serenity in moments of calamity. The ability to channel both positive and negative emotions into a piece allows me to process my feelings in a positive way. While in my disease, the quantity of art I produced increased drastically, but the quality, the liveliness of my work fell to the wayside. In my sobriety I have re-connected with the beating heart of my work, and I am grateful for this restored connection.

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Email

Terry is a resident DJ for Pisces Music and Ambient Mafia, and will be playing selected tunes for this event.

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Mixcloud
YouTube Channel

Stuart will be providing a background music soundtrack for the event. He is a part of the Ambient Mafia DJ collective based in the Bay Area. Visit his profile and learn more about the group here