Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sheila Darcey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Sheila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Roughly seven years ago, while experiencing a personal crisis of faith, I reached out to a therapist to tackle my crippling fear of flying. Seeking a remedy, my therapist recommended I return to sketching as a meditative escape, a means to relieve anxiety and reconnect with my inner-child and an unburdened, unbridled sense of joy.

Initially, the Morning Pages from The Artists Way inspired the idea of daily sketching. However, instead of writing, I was seeking an expression that didn’t require words. Since the sole (and soul) purpose of this was to address my pervasive anxiety and suppressed trauma, words either overwhelmed or understated ALL that I was feeling.

I remembered how much drawing served as a lifeline throughout my tumultuous childhood. It became my solace and my playground. It was an important part of my journey to find my way back to this inner child, who intuitively knew that art was the language my muted voice could not express.

Since embracing this practice, I have become increasingly aware of the psychological and physiological effects of daily sketching. There is an art and science behind it all. Understanding the deeper connection to daily sketching helped to expand my world view. It introduced me to new and innovative experiences. It opened my eyes to the holistic approaches to health and wellness, specifically advocacy for mental health and the healing arts (i.e. meditation, breathwork, movement, sound baths, quantum healing, etc.)

My definition of healing as outlined in my book, “Sketch by Sketch: A Creative Path to Emotional Healing and Transformation” involves bringing one’s subconscious and unconscious thoughts to the conscious field.

The thought of writing a book arose after about a year into daily sketching. I observed how a commitment to release emotions through daily sketching began to transform my life. What started as a creative and emotional expression soon evolved into a spiritual one. I observed in curious wonder how much stillness began to envelop my life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Art has always been my passion. It was my haven as a child, a means to creatively explore my inner thoughts and emotions. In my youth, I viewed my talent as a gift, and would often share it with others as a way to show my love. As a young adult, art became less of a focus and success in business became the driving force that would propel me forward.

Twenty years later, I hit the pinnacle of my career and striving to find balance in my life when work consumed so much of it. As my role grew, so did the divide between myself and others. The mask of perceived success was suffocating. After some extensive soul-searching, I decided to reignite my true passions and returned to my artist’s roots. This was when SketchPoetic was born.

My initial goal was to commit at least 30 mins each day to daily art practice. I started my Instagram account to track my progress and hold myself accountable. It was also the perfect platform to share my thoughts and musings that inspired my art. It gave me an opportunity to express my voice in a way I’ve never done before. The anonymity of SketchPoetic gave me the freedom to embrace the artist within. What I didn’t expect is how vital this community would be in my growth and transformation.

Within a year, my following grew, and with it, the purpose and mission of my art. It unfolded naturally and eventually deepened my resolve. Through art, I was able to find time to reflect, express emotions, and process past trauma. It allowed me to go inward and give myself the gift of self-love. As someone who prides themselves in taking care of others, it was an important decision to choose myself first. Seeing the benefits of this practice lead me to create collaborative art experiences for others to do the same.

Art is a healthy way to express emotions we may not want to show. It is a tool that bears witness to what you’re feeling without fear or judgment. When you embrace this process, you begin to experience a shift in perspective. You start to connect your inner world to the world reflected around you. Going inwards gives you permission to be whole, and to see yourself in all your technicolor ways.

The intention of my art is to make it accessible to the masses. I want people to connect with the process as much as the outcome, to create without over-thinking, to create without fear, to create without expectations, and to create because its fun. It’s about being in a safe place to quiet the mind and spark the child-like curiosity we sometimes lose in our busy lives.

Ultimately, I hope my art inspires and brings light to the world. We all need more of this in our lives.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Since SketchPoetic was born from pervasive anxiety, feeling such inner peace was new to me. It unlocked the power within and helped me to reconnect with my inner self. I often tell people that this practice isn’t about evolving into a newer version of self. Rather, it is a remembrance of who we have always been. The return to our knowing.

Since being of service is at the core of my upbringing and seeing the transformative impact this had on my life, I was compelled to share it with others. Using my 20+ years of facilitation and consultative skills, I began to host workshops with individuals and group. It started in my home and evolved into partnerships and collaborations with organizations promoting health and wellness. The positive feedback was an affirmation of what I knew to be true.

Creative expression is a tool for transformation and healing. Art Heals.

Seeing the effect this tool had on hundreds of people, it was an important next step to find an avenue that would allow SketchPoetic to scale to the masses. As a bibliophile, writing a book seemed to be the natural progression and the perfect stepping stone towards this vision. While my career is digitally born and bred, nothing can replace the companion of a good book.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Writing this “Sketch by Sketch – A Creative Path to Emotional Healing & Transformation” was similar to giving birth. The manuscript took close to 9 months to write. The initial months were marked with joy, anticipation, and wonder. Each month brought new physical and emotional challenges. The final months were filled with discomfort, fear, and a desire to prolong the delivery.

What I didn’t expect is how the writing process would invite me back to the early days of when I started daily sketching. The trepidation, the uncertainty, and most of all the criticisms and judgments that arose. I didn’t feel like I was a solid writer. I didn’t feel worthy of sharing my stories. I questioned why me. Why now. All of these fears and doubts served as a reminder of what new readers will experience as they go inward. It served as inspiration for the narratives and prompts shared.

Ultimately, this experience has given me a new found respect and admiration for writers. It was at once agonizing as it was restorative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sheiladarcey.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sketchpoetic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sketchpoetic/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheiladarcey/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sheiladarcey
• Other: https://www.sketchpoetic.com/

Image Credits
B&W Bio Photo by Pola Rubis