'Draw thunder storms if you're feeling angry. Draw flowers if you're feeling happy. Draw scribbles if it feels amazing'
Artist Emma Major in conversation with Monique about keeping a creative practice while experiencing Long Covid
Emma and I met online through the Long Covid Creative Support Programme I codesigned and run with 64 million artists.
Emma is a talented artist in her own right and I was delighted and inspired to see the work she created responding to a series of 28 challenges over as many days on display via social media.
I was really taken aback by the ‘My Covid Timeline’ video Emma made during the workshop. It can be really difficult to map the journey of what it is like to experience chronic illness, however Emma shares her story in such a relatable and humane way.
Emma was kind enough to respond to some of my questions:
How has having a creative practice helped you during lockdown / the pandemic?
Being creative every day has given a rhythm to my day even in the most unusual and changeable times - every day I've had the certainty that I could create and relax into that. It's a time when I can use paint and creativity to let my feelings and fears and tears go, or to share happy feelings.
What has motivated you to share your artwork on social media?
I shared a few pieces of poetry and some simple drawings at the start of lockdown and people often responded with their own photos or poems or pictures. It was as if I was giving them permission to get creative and share that. So I continued. And then when I'd not share for a day or two people would say they were missing it so I would share again. I wasn't asking for comments or approval, I was just sharing my feelings and creations and people said it cheered up their timelines. I think people appreciated the space and permission to do the same when everything else in life felt so strange.
What do you think most people do not understand about what it's like to experience Long Covid?
I think the fatigue is what people struggle to understand, I mean I struggle to understand it and I live with it. It's the fact that I can seem pretty ok for an hour but then crash for the rest of the day. The fact that some days are good and some bad and I can't predict them.
In your video ‘My Covid Timeline’ you speak about coming out of hibernation now it is Spring. What makes you hopeful at this time?
I think Shielding for a year was like a hibernation and then getting covid in the winter of 2020 was an even greater hibernation. Now it's spring and lockdown is lifting I'm trying to think positively about taking tiny steps back into the world and getting used to how my life with look. There's something about the idea of hibernation and spring emergence which feels natural and that's helping me process the crazy year we've lived through. Right now the weather is really warm and I'm so thankful for being able to meet with friends in the garden even if I'm laid on a lounger, at least it feels like almost normal.
Do you have any advice or suggestions to share with someone thinking about making artwork?
Advice? Pretend you're 3 again and that you've been given a box of gorgeous coloured crayons and a stack of paper that is all yours. You have been told it's all for you. Pick up your favourite colour and just scribble it onto the first piece of paper. How does it feel? Then get another colour and do the same, and another; how does it feel? Don't worry about what it looks like, just do what feels wonderful. Keep doing what feels great. Draw thunder storms of you're feeling angry. Draw flowers if you're feeling happy. Draw scribbles if it feels amazing - call it abstract art and enjoy the joy.
Poem by Emma
Long Covid has taught me a lot
Too much
In such a short time
Taught me about me
About my personality
And my creativity
Taught me about my body
And my energy
And it's inadequacy
Taught me about my family
How much they love me
What they give up for me
Taught me about spirituality
How much it means to me
Prayerfully
Taught me about living fully
Loving generously
No matter my disability
Long Covid has taught me
Will keep teaching me
I'll keep learning, thankfully
Emma Major - Instagram and Twitter
64 Million Artists - website