When a mother devotes years of her life to rearing children, it’s natural to feel a bit adrift after those children have left the home, creating adult lives for themselves. Hours that were spent cooking or helping or consoling children are now empty, along with the physical space in the home that the children used to occupy. Having an empty nest is a big life change, and some mothers are at the risk of falling into depression or other maladies because of it. However, Belinda Low took that sudden free time and did something productive — art.
Low felt lonely after working during the day and coming home to an empty house, bereft of the now-adult sons she’d raised. So when a friend lost a son of her own in a boating accident and slipped into sadness, Low suggested that they enroll in an art class to take their mind off of things. For Low, the lessons opened up a world she never would’ve stumbled upon otherwise. Painting became more than a hobby for her. Now, a number of murals she’s made can be found all around Singapore. She’s even transformed one of the rooms of her home into an artist’s studio.
Art became more than a way to pass the time for Low. As she painted, she realized that she was relieving any lingering feelings of sadness she’d had at having an empty nest. She was able to better manage her emotions as a result of it, along with having an often lucrative hobby. Though Low still works during the week, she now spends her weekends painting. Low paints for herself, and is unbothered by the idea that her husband and sons have never accompanied her on any of her mural projects. Painting functions as its own outlet for her, just as the rest of her family has their own hobbies and interests. A Singaporean government official has even sponsored her to personally dress up the plain and boring walls of buildings in a certain neighborhood.
The subjects of Low’s paintings are often strong women, and many times, come from her own life experience. One features Low’s own grandmother holding a younger version of the artist while watching men going off to work. It’s a commentary on gender roles as well as a tribute, and it gives passers-by the opportunity to consider all the various ways that women have impacted their lives.
Art can do everything from providing a new pastime to becoming a healthy way to process different emotions at various stages of life. You can explore the different ways art can enrich your life by visiting SGArtClass.com. SGArtClass.com is a website that hosts everything from informative art articles and discounted art supplies to an exhaustive listing of classes you can easily and conveniently enroll in.
To read more about Belinda Low’s life and art, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/empty-nest-leads-mum-to-discover-a-life-full-of-art.