You could say art saved my life.
When I was in my 30s I was going through a hard time and art was the lifeline I grabbed for. I had always drawn a lot but never thought of it as cathartic. The time came when I needed to focus my mind away from the pit I was heading towards, though, so I picked up a sketchbook and started drawing under the moonlight.
When life stabilized, I wanted to remind myself of how art had once been my hero, so I started the Moon Over series...
I painted familiar views of cities I had always dreamed of seeing like Jersuleum and Rio...
and added a little moonlight.
Eventually, I expanded the concept to cover other interesting views like a desert oasis
The more I talk to other artists, the more I understand how emotion factors into creativity, making it the ultimate coping mechanism.
When life's got you down, I highly recommend a shot of creative power and a little bit of moonlight.