How Painting Can Help You Find Yourself Again

Everyone has a creative side - that’s part of what it means to be human. But we’ve all become so busy that we tend to not use that part of ourselves regularly. Realities of life have put us in straitjackets and made us believe that we’re inflexible and fixed. Some of us might be lucky to be able to flex our creative muscles through work or hobbies; but for many of us, those muscles have become so stiff and unused— and have left us feeling bored or uninspired with our own existence.

When was the last time you picked up a paintbrush without fear of ruining your clothes? When was the last time you created something you were genuinely proud of — something that really made you smile? This is what makes Malini Parker’s art classes so special— it’s because she liberates her students to create just for themselves. Everyone comes away amazed at themselves for being able to produce something meaningful with art — and they don’t even need to be artists to do it.

Finding Your Way Home is a special class that Malini teaches in honour of her husband, Greg, who passed away in 2014 from cancer. Greg was a musician who, even in the midst of battling cancer, continued to stage shows. Malini cared for him until Greg passed away and this experience strengthened her and her belief that creativity has magical powers. Although the grief was overwhelming, leaning into creative expression was what eventually led her back home.

Whether you’ve suffered an incredible loss like Malini or not, life has its own way of knocking us off of our feet. This weekend workshop isn’t just about learning how to paint— it’s about spending time caring for yourself and giving yourself an opportunity to explore. It’s about self-discovery and experiencing once again the light-hearted joy that comes from remembering anything’s possible. It’s about beginning to reclaim your centre and finding your way back home — back to yourself.