Elyse Baird

I am currently a junior in high school, I go to Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg Indiana, you probably know us for our Marching Band, Football Team, or Soccer Team. But we also have an amazing art program. I am involved in Band, Orchestra, and do theatre on the side.

I have always loved to paint, for as long as I can remember, I have been the most at home with a paint brush in my hand. People have encouraged me for years to sell my art I just haven’t felt confident enough to put myself out there. But here I am!

My art was interrupted my freshmen year because I got diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in my dominant arm. By the time the condition was discovered my brain had forgotten 60% of my right arm. Thus began the long road to recovery, along that journey we discovered Fibromyalgia, hEDS, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, among many mental health disorders. I have been in constant pain for over 3 years and have suffered from psychosis, panic attacks, self harm, suicidal ideations, and much more. Art has been my safe space over the last few years. There was a time when I feared that I would never be able to use my right arm the same again. But, one brush stroke at a time I slowly used art to regain fine motor skills till i could paint better than ever. Now art serves as my escape from reality, its how I process my thoughts and feelings.

I currently want to go into Art Therapy, while it doesn’t pay much, it is my passion and what I want to spend the rest of my life doing. I love helping people and firmly believe that art speaks directly to the soul and can heal us from the inside out. So I encourage you to go pick up a pen or a pencil and draw something today, or to grab a can of spray paint, or a paint brush, or anything. And just feel… don’t think about it, let your heart speak on the page.