Solace In the Woods | Mixed Media Project

The theme for my current mixed media project is "seeking solace in the most unlikeliest places". I love how the fantasy landscape I used as the background emits an ethereal vibe that gives light once one leaves the darkness. My thoughts when I first viewed the image was a helping hand guiding one toward the light. A person who offers solace.

To assist someone facing difficulties, solutions are available for those who are caregivers or what I term, expert at comfort giving. Some people hear about the tragedies of others and shrug the incident off, thinking they can't be of service or help.

What can I do? are familiar words I've heard often, and I am as guilty of saying them as others I know.

There are some situations in which experts who handle extreme adversity is required. At those times, it's not wise for a person to undertake advising others.

However, there are several ways in which an individual can offer solace when difficult times arise.

• Be There.
  By that, the term means when we hear of difficult situations, take time out of our busy schedules to be available and present for people we love or care about. The time doesn't have to be lengthy. It can be whatever is needed to ensure the person going through adversity knows that they can depend upon you.

  Being there doesn't always mean you have to be physically present in someone's space who needs solace. With technology today, you're only a phone call, text message, or video chat away from connecting.

• Tell Them (and Show) That You Love Them.
  Expressions of feelings to individuals who are going through difficulties provide reassurance that someone cares and about them as a person and the situation they are facing. Words mean something. And words not expressed may help someone in need of comfort.

• Let Them Know You're Thinking of Them.
  In the event you can't be there physically, a call to tell someone that they were on your mind lets them know that "yes" someone is thinking of my situation and is trying to help me. It tells the person that they don't have to endure the hardship alone. You may or may not understand fully the problem, but you are relating to their trauma.

• Take Time to Listen. The person is probably searching for answers. Sometimes those questions revolve around "why is this happening to me?" or "why someone this happened to someone else they know and love". No one person has the answer to such questions. Often the person who needs solace has been affected in some major way by the situation. Listening is more of what they want to solicit from you.

• An embrace such as hug can provide warmth and caring;
  The most important aspect of solace I feel is the passionate part of the encounter. It costs nothing to reach out and give the other person a hug and embrace. It's also a sign of reassurance.

  Just like a child needs reassurance when something goes wrong in their eyes, adults need it also.

• Share Memories.
  This is the absolute best remedy. Make someone smile or reflect in a positive way about an aspect of the situation. The situation may be dire, but there is always a pleasant memory that can be recalled that takes the person's mind off the present.

  Sometimes people forget all the wonderful memories when something tragic happens because they are so focused on the situation.

• After the initial shock of a terrifying situation, continue to offer caring support.

A call or visit weeks or months after an unpleasant situation reminds people that you are still concerned about how they are progressing toward resolution of the situation. That person may still need reassurance or assistance with some aspect of a loss or how to navigate another avenue that they are facing as a result of the situation.

I hope the above has helped someone in some way. I know that I have been attempted to console other in their time of need. I've also been on the receiving end of solace. What a wonderful experience to know that someone cared enough about may journey through the situation to help me through it.

After a while, I was able to see the beauty in life again. Yes, the traumatic event still is there, but it doesn't hurt as much.

^Source

In my approach to this mixed media project, I envisioned bringing several elements together that depicted the concept of despair and the search for relief. Instead of heading toward the light and to salvation, one shies away.

Canva, my design program, is the utility I use to blend the different type images. Once I upload all images, I then add layers of elements in accordance with my upgraded Annual Pro Membership that includes tools to colorize, remove backgrounds, resize, filter, duplicate, and reposition items as required.

Perhaps of all the features, the ability to remove the backgrounds from images or detach any part of any image from its base is crucial to the blending process.

The pictures set out below display my procedures, which began with me opening a blank, white canvas.

The images I included in my design are listed below.