Kyomii Brown - Painting through Pain

Kyomii Brown is becoming a well known name in the SmallWorlds Art community; she's been a SmallWorlds citizen since March 2009 and lives in the UK. As well as being an accomplished painter on the boards, there is another side to Kyomii's work that is less well known. Kyomii lives with constant pain and actually uses the creative work she does as a way of dealing with that pain. Here, reporter Ruby Rush talks to her about art, pain, creativity and a lot more besides...

Ruby: Hello Kyomii, I'm delighted that you agreed to be interviewed! To start off, I'm curious about you and art in RL?

Kyomii: It's a pleasure Ruby, its great to be interviewed for the Chronicle! In real life the last time I did art was in my schooldays - If I had my time back today I would definitely take it further and learn as much as a could about it. I taught myself photography a few years ago and I love to do that but I am only able to do it the odd time today, which is rarely and I do miss it! I have done a good few other things over the years, such as poetry of which I have some published and I also used to do commissions and write them out in calligraphy on parchment paper and frame them for people. I simply love being creative and I yearn to learn!

Kesha by Kyomii Brown

Ruby: As I ask that last question, a part of me has a little chuckle as of course your SmallWorlds artwork is RL artwork too isn't it... I mean you are a real person!

Kyomii: Ah the complexity of the virtual world, which can be as dramatic and enjoyable as the real world! I believe our avatars are an extension of ourselves and to some extent we are all "role playing" when we log on to our other virtual life, after all, just as in real life we have a role to play, we all have a role to play virtually too! It's easy to forget that a "real" person with "real" feelings is operating those pixels sometimes, although its amazing how a unique virtual world and community is born from just pixels on a screen!

Ruby: I have heard that one of the challenges you face in your daily life is dealing with pain. I have also heard that you are utilizing your artistic endeavors as a kind of pain relief - I'm really interested to hear more about this!.

Kyomii: I am unfortunately bed bound for a good 95 percent of my life, due to debilitating conditions which cause severe chronic pain, weakness, fatigue and other problems, and I basically have to take each minute as it comes. Dealing with daily life is difficult emotionally and physically but I have a choice - I can either wallow in self-pity or look for the positives - I much prefer positives! Obviously pain and exhaustion cause negative energies and I am utilizing that very energy and turning it into positive energy and creating something from it - a piece of art.

I began to use the boards just less than four months ago, the design a plant competition SW ran got me started and I found that using the boards in SmallWorlds helped me take focus off the pain I am feeling at that moment, and placed focus on creating a painting, and since then, I have never looked back. I even call it PAIN-TING, painting through pain - because for me, that is what it is. Of course its easier said than done and I have to really push myself sometimes, but I am finding that the boards are helping me focus positively - and my motto in life is "if it works, use it!" and that is exactly what I am doing.

Cherries by Kyomii Brown (now owned by Wheezy Bee)

Ruby: Drawing on what you've written above, what would you say to people who are dealing with pain in their lives - whether emotional or physical pain? What have you learned about dealing with pain, the wisdoms you've gained?

Kyomii: Whether you suffer pain emotionally or physically or both it is important to keep a passion for life and find different coping techniques, in fact its essential. Being creative is just one way to fire up that passion for life and cope, and the best thing about being creative is you have an end result - a product of your creativity! Be it writing, painting, drawing, sewing, knitting, photography or others, there is always an end result and the benefit is you have channeled "negative" energy and turned it around into something positive, that not only you can enjoy, but others may enjoy also, and you have also taken your mind away from focusing on pain, which is the most important thing about it.

The one thing I have learned over the years about pain - whether physical or mental or both - is not to fight with it, but to go with it and accept it. The more you fight it the more frustrated you become, the more pain and exhaustion you feel, the more down you become and so the vicious cycle seems to have no end. Once you learn to accept that you are feeling pain, you can then look to find different coping techniques and I would certainly recommend anyone out there who is currently feeling pain to have a go at the boards! It does not matter what you create - no masterpiece is required - it matters that you are releasing the pain and focusing on something new - in other words you are painting for you, for your benefit and well-being, and you never know, you just might be amazed at what you do create.

Ruby: Back to art once again, do you have any hard-won tips you'd like to share about making the graffiti boards work for you? Things that might make life easier for other artists / tips you wish you'd known earlier?

Kyomii: The best tip I can give, is to ALWAYS take your time....there is no rush to complete a painting after all. The more you take your time with different strokes, the more you will learn. Buy a practice board and keep it in your space for practicing different methods - the idea of the practice board is that you try out different strokes, opacities, and ways of drawing, and you can clear the board afterward when you think you know how to create a certain effect and then you can practice other effects and apply the affects you have learned on your practice board in your paintings.

Spirit of the Wind by Kyomii Brown completed a few days ago

Ruby: Thinking about creativity... what do you have to say about the healing power of the creative force within you (and within us all)?

Kyomii: I hear a lot of people complain they are "bored" and really there is never any need to be. Being bored is nothing more than a symptom of lack of imagination and creativity - that might sound harsh but you only have to look around your surroundings and open your eyes to what is on offer to you and you will see there are plenty of things you can do! The internet is a vast tool you can utilize to learn more, and whenever you are bored there is a whole host of information available right at your fingertips - there are tutorials for so many things online nowadays there is no reason for anyone not to be creative in some way.

Every single one of us can be creative, you just need to look inside yourself and push yourself to get your creativity flowing. Using your "bored" energy in creative endeavors is not only a boost to your morale but it can be very therapeutic and healing. Remember that no one is here forever, so use your time wisely and find something that you enjoy doing!

Ruby: Thank you so much Kyomii ...we can all take something away from the deep wisdom contained in your words. Is there anything else you'd like to say about your involvement with the SmallWorlds Art Community?

Kyomii: I'm very new to the SmallWorlds art community and prefer to keep myself to myself mainly. If I was to add one last thing, I would say to remember that painting should be about you, should be done for your enjoyment first and foremost whether you feel pain or not, and creating a masterpiece is not what it is about, its simply about being creative!

Ruby: Thank you so much for talking with us Kyomii, you are a strong and inspiring example to us all, and your art adds much to the vibrant art community here in SmallWorlds. May I take this opportunity on behalf of the Chronicle team to wish you all the very best. If you'd like to see some of Kyomii's paintings in-world, try UAG - more of her work (those that are not in private spaces) can be viewed here.