Making Art | Here I Am!

I started making art almost four years ago. It’s hard to believe how much time has passed by so quickly. I took up drawing at the suggestion of my therapist, who I was seeing in order to help process events I had experienced at my work with the homeless through a local outreach organization. In the four years since, I’ve grappled with complex grief and I live with post traumatic stress disorder.

I’ve participated in a number of group exhibitions and had three solo exhibitions of my own, including one with my sweet mom, who herself is a visual artist. I’m currently working on a fourth exhibit and a book as I continue my recovery from PTSD.

You can see some of my work here.

All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.

Rick Rubin

Lately, I’ve been unhappy with the art I make. But, I keep making it.

Honestly, I’m not sure what that’s all about other than it’s somehow related to my healing process, which consists of weekly therapy sessions, walking, decluttering, and creating artwork.

Art is a very personal process that takes time. I’m a vessel, trusting my gut, and working within my limitations. I start with creating for myself, as a means of survival really, before I ever even consider the audience. The first answer to “who am I making this for?” is me.

To be clear, I don’t set out to be an artist at 60, now rapidly approaching 61. Yet, here I am.

There’s something about creating that is satisfying, like you’ve accomplished something today. Perhaps, it will live on. Perhaps, it won’t. It doesn’t really matter in the end. By creating you’ve done something wonderful for you.

That’s significant in the healing process as you, I…we, remember how to advocate for ourselves.

I’ve been blogging every day for 200+ days, as a means of therapy, too, I suppose. A means of therapy is a phrase for healing. Healing means getting better, improving. We can get caught in trauma loops if we’re not careful. I’ve heard them. I’ve lived them. Healing means breaking free from those chains ensnaring us under the rubble that remains from the weight of the world that came crashing down upon us. Maybe, we cared too much? Is that even possible?

I don’t know. I certainly don’t have it all figured out. Nor do I have to. For now, I simply do what’s in front of me and keep making art.

Until my next post…

Be salty, stay lit.

Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™

#bgbg2#BibleGateway

The Stigma Stops Here.

#mentalhealthmatters

© 2026 Rainer Bantau | The Devotional Guy™ | All Rights Reserved