I was asked on a few occasions from those who knew of my mental illness before I actually made it publicly known when I came out as Healingwithart, formally known as Customart2imagine, if I believe my creativity is due to my mental health. Before I dropped the Ca2i moniker to spread the word of how much art can heal someone mentally, I would get bombarded with hate emails and comments claiming that I shouldn’t assert something is helpful when I don’t truly understand what someone with mental illness goes through on a day-to-day basis. The challenging narratives often revolved around the misconception that art could only be appreciated or created by those who have not faced such struggles. I was told to stick to what I do best, which is drawing, and to refrain from portraying myself as some psychiatrist giving advice to a mentally ill person. All this hateful advice and statements not only came from those taking care of the mentally ill in their lives but shockingly from mentally ill individuals themselves, who were perhaps projecting their own frustrations and pain. It was then that I needed to make a significant decision in my life and in my journey as an artist and advocate for the mentally ill. I needed to embrace my illness fully and to no longer publicly hide myself from having it; this meant being transparent about my struggles while also celebrating how creativity serves as a channel for healing. Through my art, I realized I could foster conversations about mental health and challenge the stigma that surrounds it, empowering others to find their voice and to use creativity as a tool for resilience and recovery.

I needed to make the decision to not only come to acceptance of my mental illness publicly but to also change my moniker as an artist and on all my art accounts on social media. This was a significant and deeply personal choice for me, representing not just a name change but a transformative moment in my life. I had to weigh out the pros and cons of a name change as I have already heavily invested time and money in my Customart2imagine moniker for many years, sealed with merch and signed art pieces, along with one-of-a-kind drawings that were not only signed by me with my signature but also stamped with my Customart2imagine moniker. The potential loss of recognition and the brand identity I had built over the years weighed heavily on my heart. However, what I believed in doing right outweighed any money spent and time invested in a name I created and lived by for so many years. It was a leap into the unknown that felt daunting yet necessary. Once again in my life, I was leaving a part of my life behind that existed with joy and creativity only to bury it in the pavement of my life’s journey to start a new life with a new name. A life where everyone would put judgment upon me once again for something other than my horror collection and what I was perceived to be because of my love for horror. This realization made me feel vulnerable, as I was about to be judged with stigma that I fought so hard privately to end, and now I’d have to fight it even harder publicly. Every post, every interaction, and every new success under this new name would be scrutinized and potentially linked to my mental health journey, challenging me to redefine not only who I am as an artist but also how the world perceives me as a whole.

I decided to come up with a name for myself that not only encapsulated my beliefs but also resonated deeply with my experiences—especially in how art has the profound ability to heal the mind and soul. This journey of self-discovery has taught me that creativity is not just a form of expression; it’s a pathway to recovery and personal growth. It’s what I have always believed in, and it’s what I have been experiencing firsthand through various artistic endeavors. My new name had to carry a weight of truth, a reflection of my core values and the underlying principles that guide my work. It was essential for my name to symbolize not just my artistic cause but also to serve as a powerful definition of me as an artist within this transformative space. Furthermore, it needed to contribute significantly to my healing process, both for myself and others who might find solace in my art. Hence, after much contemplation and reflection, I arrived at the name Healingwithart, a title that perfectly embodies the essence of my mission and my ongoing journey toward healing through creativity.

Sincerely,

David L.

Healingwithart