The most recent presentation at the group by an illustrator Linda Hurd looked at the ADHD and its challenges through the artistic lens. Linda, who suspects she might have ADHD herself and whose sons and husband are diagnosed with ADHD, paints what frustrates her – for example, laundry and dirty dishes that do not get cleaned right away. According to her, drawing the “products” of the disorganization so commonly associated with ADHD helps her accept and honor them. She admits, that drawing dirty dishes does not change them or make her house cleaner, but it helps her gain different perspective on the objects and appreciate them more. In addition, in the process of drawing her frustration transforms into creative energy.
Linda showed the group a series of drawings with corresponding written reflections on them and affirmations/prayers that focus on different aspects of Linda’s experience with ADHD. For example, her twelve drawings in the “ADHD Challenges” series present the names of the months written/drawn in different manner. The word “January” starts with the “J-A-N” as neatly blocked letters filled in with color and the “U-A-R-Y” as not neat, but rather scrawled. Linda explains that it is representative of her loosing motivation with things like New Year resolutions – starting well and then eventually getting bored and not finishing her resolutions the way she planned to. Every month has a reflection on the challenge and affirmation/prayer to overcome it.
Linda’s series “Wired” – watercolor paintings of various telephone poles – came as a result of her thinking and learning about the theory that ADHD brain is wired differently than the brain of the persons without ADHD. Linda says that it was therapeutic for her to reflect on differences in wiring through her art. A text under one of her drawings reads, “I don’t have to understand how people are wired in order to respect them.”
According to Linda, the paintings in the series “Trash” expanded from reflection on trash and difficulty getting rid of it that many people with ADHD experience to more general reflection on the role trash plays in our life. One of Linda’s messages reads, “Trash shows a story of experiences and work done. God, help me value the process not just results.”
To see Linda’s inspiring art, go to www.lindathurd.com
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