Neurodivergent Art and My Creative Process
This article is by Justin, a Constellations member.
I create art based on how I’m feeling each day. I specialize in fluid painting and digital art. The colors I use in my artwork reflect my mood and the world around me.
When creating fluid artwork, one of the things that helps me get started is an emotion — like happiness, pain, or excitement — that I want to express. Then, I choose colors that help bring that feeling to life. While I’m painting, I visualize what I want to communicate to the person viewing my art.
When I create digital artwork, I usually start with a subject or image and then bring it to life. I use many different features and tools within my digital art software to create whatever I imagine. When I run into obstacles, I don’t give up — I keep working until the image looks the way I want it to. Some pieces take a short time to complete, while others take weeks. When I finish a piece, I save a high-resolution version for exhibitions and a lower-resolution version to share on social media so others can easily view my work.
Creating art supports my emotional well-being because it allows me to express my feelings in a productive way. It takes patience, persistence, dedication, and determination to create my art. I’m usually not angry or upset with others because I have art as an outlet. Having an art business has helped me build resilience, flexibility, and a strong work ethic. I am always learning new skills.
I wish more people understood that neurodivergent individuals don’t need traditional skills, like drawing, in order to enjoy creating art. There are many different ways to make art and express yourself. When people think of artists, they often think of women — but men can create beautiful art too. Anyone can create art — neurodivergent or neurotypical. The possibilities are limitless.
Here are links to my art website and online shop. Thank you for your support.
Website: www.jkvalenti2014.com
Store: www.jkvalenti2014.com/shop
