I think all of us on this planet can identify with depression. I am no different. It’s how we deal with it that is important. I do not claim to have all the answers, but lately I have found a helpful outlet for depression – painting.

In this blog, I’ve included the phases of this particular painting, in the hopes of showing how depression develops, can be worked through, and opens up to a renewed joy and appreciation for our lives and impact on others.

Blue started with a generic photo I found on the internet, of a little girl standing in the rain. As you can see from the photos of development, I moved away from the rain idea and ended up with a stream of light behind her head. This stream of light represents God’s love, which is always shining on us, but in this case, the young girl’s face is turned away from it in despair. She has only to turn her head the other way to feel the warmth and light.

I wish that it was that easy to dig oneself out of a period of helplessness, apathy and turmoil, but the more we learn about ourselves and how God is always there to hold us and carry us if we let Him, the better. This is a simple illustration of that.

In the last phase, or the finished painting, there is more colour in the face of the child. I was feeling better at that point. 🙂