The Role of Expressive Arts in My Life

As a child, I often felt inadequate in art class. In a system that rewarded replication over imagination, I struggled—especially when I couldn’t perfectly copy what the teacher had drawn. Low marks and constant comparisons made me internalize the belief that I simply wasn’t “good enough.” But outside the classroom, I found my own language through drawing and doodling. During times of stress, anxiety, or sadness, I turned to art instinctively. It became a quiet refuge, a way to process feelings I couldn’t yet articulate.

Over time, I came to understand that this intuitive relationship with creativity had long supported my emotional well-being. Without realizing it, I was using art as a form of self-regulation and healing. That early sense of creative failure lingered, but gradually, art re-entered my life—this time, not as a performance, but as a presence.

Today, I am a trained graphic designer and an art educator. I work with children and adults who, like my younger self, have been told they are not creative enough. My mission is to help them rediscover their innate capacity to express, to create, and to feel seen—through art that is free from judgment. I believe art is not about mastery or product; it’s about connection, courage, and self-reflection.

This belief led me to begin facilitating mindful art workshops across schools, community centers, wellness spaces, and online forums.

These sessions are open-ended, focusing on process over outcome, and invite participants to explore creativity with curiosity. I've witnessed how simple, expressive acts—drawing, collaging, mark-making—can unlock deep emotional truths and foster a sense of connection to self and others.

After completing my post-graduation in design, I enrolled in an intensive two-month internship working with children who are multiply disabled. I wanted to explore how art could support their daily learning and developmental goals. This experience pushed me far outside my comfort zone, but it also deepened my commitment to the healing power of creative engagement. It gave me a new perspective on care, communication, and the many ways in which art can serve as a bridge when words fall short.

My journey into expressive arts has been, in many ways, a return to wholeness. It allows me to integrate my design background, personal healing, and growing desire to serve others. I see expressive arts therapy not just as a profession, but as a calling—one that offers compassion, creativity, and presence in deeply human ways. It creates space for meaning-making beyond diagnosis and invites individuals to find their own language through art, movement, and story.

Eventually, I envision creating a multidisciplinary space/community/ arts-based school in India  that blends therapy, design thinking, and education — a space where creativity is honoured not just as art, but as life force and a space to just be present in the moment.

To learn more about me please visit - www.bhuvanaganguly.com