“art started my healing journey.”

THROUGH THE BREATH WE HEAL

This is where it all began. I went through a traumatic experience in my life that affected me mentally, physically and spiritually. I found myself in a very dark place and knew I needed to find my way back to the light.

A beautiful soul I had known for years, Marleen, supported me through counselling and breathwork. Through breathing techniques, I began learning how to reconnect with myself, release what I was holding onto and find some balance again. After my final session with her, I was starting to feel a little better and more confident that the breathing techniques she had given me would continue to support me on my healing journey.

I remember that day like it was yesterday. The session took place at my home. Afterwards, I went upstairs and picked up one of the large statement necklaces I had designed for my fashion collection and gave it to Marleen as a thank-you gift. She loved it. Then she walked over to the wall, held the necklace against it and said something along the lines of: "This is such a beautiful piece. Have you ever thought about interior design? This would look beautiful on a wall."

I said no. I was a fashion designer at the time and interior design wasn't something I had ever considered. But for days afterwards, I couldn't stop thinking about what Marleen had said. Eventually, curiosity got the better of me.

I went to an art shop and bought a canvas and some art supplies. I had absolutely no idea what I was going to create. I just knew I wanted to try. I took apart one of my necklace pieces, added some of the threading I had been using on clothing at the time, and began adding embellishments. There was no plan. No expectation. I was simply creating, experimenting and having fun. And it was calming.

When I finished, I had created this beautiful abstract purple piece. I couldn't wait to show Marleen. She loved it. But as I looked at the finished piece, I realised something much deeper. Somehow, without planning it, what I had created seemed to symbolise what I had been going through.

That piece became the beginning of my healing journey through art.

From there, curiosity took over. I showed the piece to my brother. He loved it and asked: "Have you thought about doing celebrities?" Again, my answer was no. But off I went. 😂

I began hand-embroidering celebrities and icons onto canvas Bob Marley, Marilyn Monroe, Amy Winehouse and Scarface, among others. I even created a piece for actor Morris Chestnut and had the opportunity to present it to him at an event. Eventually, all that hand embroidery started taking its toll on my fingers.

So naturally, I became curious again. I loved working on canvas, but I started wondering: Could I take this into 3D? Could I somehow put the thread onto a mannequin?

Coming from fashion, I already had mannequins around me, so I started experimenting. I failed. Then I tried again. And failed again. 😂 At that point, I just couldn't work out how to get the threading onto the mannequin in the way I imagined.

But I had a huge bag filled with colourful wool. So I thought: "I wonder if I could cover a mannequin in wool?" And that's exactly what I did.

Strand by strand, starting with the face and slowly working my way down the body, I intricately glued wool onto the mannequin. There was no drawing to follow and no predetermined design. I freestyled the entire thing. I completely lost myself in the process.

I was in a zone, connected to something much bigger than myself. It felt as though something was flowing through me, and the feeling was blissful.

Constraints was born.

She was vibrant, full of colour and energy, and unlike anything I had created before. After that, there was no stopping my curiosity. Trainer customisations, cushions, furniture you name it. If something excited me, I wanted to see what I could do with it.

And eventually, after all those failed attempts, I finally worked out how to apply my threading technique to the mannequins. That curiosity, experimentation and willingness to play eventually grew into the work you see today.

Looking back now, I can connect the dots. Art had actually been part of me since childhood. I was always drawing, doodling and creating, but as an adult I chose fashion. Years later, during one of the most difficult periods of my life, that creative child found me again.

And this time, she brought my two loves together. Art and fashion. Thread became the bridge between them.

Today I can look back on what happened with a very different perspective. I found forgiveness, including forgiveness for the person who caused me pain, and releasing that weight became another important part of my healing.

It wasn't quick. It took years. Healing takes time. But I can now see that something beautiful grew from an incredibly painful chapter of my life. Without that experience, I don't believe I would be the artist I am today.

I'm still evolving. Still learning. Still healing. Still curious. And perhaps that's the greatest thing art gave back to me permission to explore, to play and to keep finding new parts of myself.

So when I say, "Art started my healing journey," I'm not using a tagline. I'm telling you what actually happened.

And if you're going through your own dark season, I hope my story reminds you of something I eventually discovered for myself:

Through the darkness, there can still be light.

— Karla Cornwall