Digital Collage a Creative way to Manage Stress
One of the ways that I process stress is to write or do something creative. Today I needed to take some time to narrow down what was really causing the stress and tension. I could give it names of people in my life but really its not them its my heart and my responses that are the problem. There is part of me that has believed the lie that God has abandoned me. That God doesn't care that I am uncomfortable and tired in the present moment. I know these kinds of thoughts are outright lies. I am a daughter of the King of Kings and I am in covenant relationship. Sometimes it takes dreams or visual things to help me discover what is really going on in my soul. Sometimes I just need to stop and remember to bless the Lord Oh my soul and forget not all His benefits. I can't do much to change the people around me but I can deal with myself and how I am choosing to respond. I can forgive and I can pray, particularly for the more difficult relationships in my life. My prayer is that God would give me more grace, patience, love and understanding in dealing with them. That God's will would be done in their lives and that they would fulfill their destiny and calling in this season.
So today Im being vulnerable and I'm inviting you into my process. Maybe it will help you to manage some of your own stress and relationships.
I allowed my self to chose only three images from the Unsplash photo library. It's a wonderful resource for photos that you can freely use in your creative projects. I did not go looking for anything in particular. I passed up lots of amazing photos looking for the 3 that reached out and grabbed me in that moment. I don't even know why they jumped out but they did.
I chose the dog first. His golden eyes pull at my heart.
Moving on I chose the woman with lavender.
Then finally the bike in the golden light.
I've credited the wonderful Unsplash photographers beneath each photo.
Then I took those images into photo shop to create a collage. You could do the same kind of thing using pictures from magazines or old photos. Or you could print out three UnSplash photos and cut and paste them into a more physical collage if you are not a computer digital art person like me.
The combined photos then become a writing pompt for me. I have noticed that images speak where I can't often can't seem to find the feelings or words to allow me the opportunity to express some of the pent up tension I am feeling and better understand myself. I also believe that the Holy Spirit is leading me to reconcile with various memories feelings and parts of myself.
As I set out to write I ask a variety of questions. I may not have the answer to all of the questions but I will get to ones that I can answer and then I turn off my inner editor and allow myself to write. What do these images mean to me? Why did I choose them today? Why are these three images together? What is their combined meaning for me? I think we often get locked inside of the relentless daily grind and our own expectations or those of others. We feel tired and frustrated and can't put our finger on why.
This is just a creative process of photo journaling or collaging that I am using today to sort out some things for myself. The following is what I wrote and did as I first created my collage and then thought about what each image might be speaking to me. They might speak different things to you. Picture language is kind of like the language of dreams. What do the symbols mean to me? How do I feel about them? How do they relate to one another? Your questions might be different. The same images may mean something very different to you.
"I have been very tired lately and I need to find why and what I can do to fix it. This is my exploration. For me it is easy to get pushed over the edge into compassion or caregiver fatigue. Maybe it adrenal fatigue from the waves of things that have slammed at me over the past month. Not all bad but all stretching in some way. I can be just fine until another stressor is added to the mix. That's were I am - one more stressor and I have to deal with it in a good way or crack under the weight of it. I promise I will be ok - so no worried phone calls needed. Prayer are always welcome.
Not sure if I will post this or if it is just a personal exploration exercise. I will probably post it because I think it is important for others to know that I have struggles, we all have struggles that we have to creatively work through and look at them in new ways.
THE DOG: He speaks to me of faithfulness. Waiting, upset when I leave and delighted when I come home. The dog is at rest when I am present. The dog says... I see you, I accept you on your good days and your bad days. When you are tired I will lay at your feet but if you want we could go for a walk. The dog is always there. The dog lives in the moment. My own dog is laying on the floor by my feet as I sit typing. In some ways a dogs life seems quite simple. I suppose there is a part of me that wishes my life was less complicated. I spend so much time caring for others that my own desires and dreams often get pushed to the background. The chain around his neck reminds me that I too often feel like I am constrained by my circumstances to a very short leash. His eyes are hopeful and expectant as He waits patiently.
THE BIKE: It is far in the background. Why? The bike represents lost freedom. I love bike riding. My bike was borrowed by a friend and got stollen. My friend gave me perhaps the most valuable thing he had at the time to make restitution. It is a table that I truly treasure because he had made out of beautiful wood with inlaid design and due to a brain injury is no longer able to do this kind of work. The bike loss was a difficult moment - and it is long ago forgiven. I have not gotten a replacement bike at this point. It exists in the background. It's not really about the bike. It is more of an image of my feelings of lost freedom. There are some restrictions in my life in this season of caring for my mother and aunt. There are also many great joys as well and things that these restrictions afford me.
THE LAVENDER: Represents calm and peace that I long for that gets lost when stress becomes overwhelming. It reminds me of the amazing opportunity I had recently to visit the very first Young Living farm. Perhaps my restrictions and loss of freedom are more in my head and in my heart than in my reality. I have gotten to do some wonderful things this summer.
As I looked at the picture I did not like how dark it looked. A reflection of my waking mood perhaps. Not one that I want to continue in for the rest of the day.
It occurred to me that I could look at all of this differently. It's my collage, I can change it. The same is true of my life, I could change things about it. It doesn't have to be so dreary as if I am there ready to lay the lavender on the casket of my life and freedom. What if I color it differently?
VERSION 2: I suppose in this 2nd version it is the bike is speaking. The images seem kind of cold and slapped together. It seems harsh and forced. I don't like it. Again it's my collage and my life and I can decide to do things differently.
VERSION 3: So back to photo shop and I moved some things, erased some things and changed the opacity of various items. Then I used a filter to turn it into an oil painting. Ta Da! I like it!
The added texture gives it a more settled feeling. I like how the golds flow through the bike. I love the
So today Im being vulnerable and I'm inviting you into my process. Maybe it will help you to manage some of your own stress and relationships.
I allowed my self to chose only three images from the Unsplash photo library. It's a wonderful resource for photos that you can freely use in your creative projects. I did not go looking for anything in particular. I passed up lots of amazing photos looking for the 3 that reached out and grabbed me in that moment. I don't even know why they jumped out but they did.
 |
| Rafael Ishkahanyan of Unsplash |
 |
| Haidan Soendaway of Unsplash |
Moving on I chose the woman with lavender.
Then finally the bike in the golden light.
I've credited the wonderful Unsplash photographers beneath each photo.
Then I took those images into photo shop to create a collage. You could do the same kind of thing using pictures from magazines or old photos. Or you could print out three UnSplash photos and cut and paste them into a more physical collage if you are not a computer digital art person like me.
 |
| Anita Austvika of Unspalsh |
As I set out to write I ask a variety of questions. I may not have the answer to all of the questions but I will get to ones that I can answer and then I turn off my inner editor and allow myself to write. What do these images mean to me? Why did I choose them today? Why are these three images together? What is their combined meaning for me? I think we often get locked inside of the relentless daily grind and our own expectations or those of others. We feel tired and frustrated and can't put our finger on why.
This is just a creative process of photo journaling or collaging that I am using today to sort out some things for myself. The following is what I wrote and did as I first created my collage and then thought about what each image might be speaking to me. They might speak different things to you. Picture language is kind of like the language of dreams. What do the symbols mean to me? How do I feel about them? How do they relate to one another? Your questions might be different. The same images may mean something very different to you.
"I have been very tired lately and I need to find why and what I can do to fix it. This is my exploration. For me it is easy to get pushed over the edge into compassion or caregiver fatigue. Maybe it adrenal fatigue from the waves of things that have slammed at me over the past month. Not all bad but all stretching in some way. I can be just fine until another stressor is added to the mix. That's were I am - one more stressor and I have to deal with it in a good way or crack under the weight of it. I promise I will be ok - so no worried phone calls needed. Prayer are always welcome.
Not sure if I will post this or if it is just a personal exploration exercise. I will probably post it because I think it is important for others to know that I have struggles, we all have struggles that we have to creatively work through and look at them in new ways.
THE DOG: He speaks to me of faithfulness. Waiting, upset when I leave and delighted when I come home. The dog is at rest when I am present. The dog says... I see you, I accept you on your good days and your bad days. When you are tired I will lay at your feet but if you want we could go for a walk. The dog is always there. The dog lives in the moment. My own dog is laying on the floor by my feet as I sit typing. In some ways a dogs life seems quite simple. I suppose there is a part of me that wishes my life was less complicated. I spend so much time caring for others that my own desires and dreams often get pushed to the background. The chain around his neck reminds me that I too often feel like I am constrained by my circumstances to a very short leash. His eyes are hopeful and expectant as He waits patiently.
THE BIKE: It is far in the background. Why? The bike represents lost freedom. I love bike riding. My bike was borrowed by a friend and got stollen. My friend gave me perhaps the most valuable thing he had at the time to make restitution. It is a table that I truly treasure because he had made out of beautiful wood with inlaid design and due to a brain injury is no longer able to do this kind of work. The bike loss was a difficult moment - and it is long ago forgiven. I have not gotten a replacement bike at this point. It exists in the background. It's not really about the bike. It is more of an image of my feelings of lost freedom. There are some restrictions in my life in this season of caring for my mother and aunt. There are also many great joys as well and things that these restrictions afford me.THE LAVENDER: Represents calm and peace that I long for that gets lost when stress becomes overwhelming. It reminds me of the amazing opportunity I had recently to visit the very first Young Living farm. Perhaps my restrictions and loss of freedom are more in my head and in my heart than in my reality. I have gotten to do some wonderful things this summer.
As I looked at the picture I did not like how dark it looked. A reflection of my waking mood perhaps. Not one that I want to continue in for the rest of the day.
It occurred to me that I could look at all of this differently. It's my collage, I can change it. The same is true of my life, I could change things about it. It doesn't have to be so dreary as if I am there ready to lay the lavender on the casket of my life and freedom. What if I color it differently?
VERSION 3: So back to photo shop and I moved some things, erased some things and changed the opacity of various items. Then I used a filter to turn it into an oil painting. Ta Da! I like it!
 |
| Digital Collage by Margot Jurgens |
gentleness of the woman's hands. The dog he just makes my heart smile. It is as if in acknowledging these parts of myself, noting that they are important that they are harmonized. I like the idea that faithfulness, peace and freedom can be part of the same story. It is a reminder that although I have some things that at times feel exhausting I am still the artist and I can change how I look at it. I can move my images from dark, tired and sorrowful to a place where they are woven together, harmonized into an interesting compelling image.
Maybe the dog and the bike say put down the the flowers and let's go for a ride. The flowers say your true peace is found in in doing what you love and were created to do. Ok it could mean that, but I feel like I need to dig a little deeper. Like the dog is saying "No Margot, theres more, you gotta dig for this bone."
Ok so what if we've been on a bike ride with the dog running along side. It's wonderful and exhilarating. Look there is that lavender field of blessing and we just have to stop and pick some. The lavender becomes the peace that I gather from this mental outing to bring home from my ride to bless those I care for.
Freedom is a state of mind. This final image reminds me to stop and smell the flowers, to enjoy the ride and to know that I am never alone."
I've made the final image available as a greeting card. Purchasing my printed art is a way you can help support the creative work that I do. I make a very small mark up on each item but every little bit helps. If you enjoyed this Simply Margot post please copy the link and share it with your friends.
Click on the link below to be taken to the page where you can purchase this card. I need to rework my Zazzle sites but thats a project for another day. This card is available by following the link below.
Maybe the dog and the bike say put down the the flowers and let's go for a ride. The flowers say your true peace is found in in doing what you love and were created to do. Ok it could mean that, but I feel like I need to dig a little deeper. Like the dog is saying "No Margot, theres more, you gotta dig for this bone."
Ok so what if we've been on a bike ride with the dog running along side. It's wonderful and exhilarating. Look there is that lavender field of blessing and we just have to stop and pick some. The lavender becomes the peace that I gather from this mental outing to bring home from my ride to bless those I care for.
Freedom is a state of mind. This final image reminds me to stop and smell the flowers, to enjoy the ride and to know that I am never alone."
I've made the final image available as a greeting card. Purchasing my printed art is a way you can help support the creative work that I do. I make a very small mark up on each item but every little bit helps. If you enjoyed this Simply Margot post please copy the link and share it with your friends.
Click on the link below to be taken to the page where you can purchase this card. I need to rework my Zazzle sites but thats a project for another day. This card is available by following the link below.
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