Creative Endeavors during the COVID-19 Lockdown, Part 1 of 2

Humanity is known for its creative solutions. During a pandemic, many people engage in creative activities, or participate in activities they consider meaningful. On today’s program, we’ll share some interesting COVID-19 lockdown projects. Art is known to be an effective tool to help people overcome stress.

Dr. Jaqueline Pflaum-Carlson, a staff physician in Henry Ford Hospital’s Division of Emergency Critical Care in the United States, painted personal images of what she saw and felt while working with patients. Her creations reflect her feelings during the pandemic and can be viewed on her Instagram account, “@critically_crafting.” Art also became a medium for communicating with her twin daughters during this period.

After noticing that parents were looking for ways to keep their children active while at home, children’s author and illustrator Rob Biddulph from the United Kingdom decided to host a free online art class, along with collaborators, Sam Barnett and Sebastien Blanc. He uploaded draw-along videos with detailed instructions on how to create some of his favorite characters in “Draw with Rob.” These free online classes have brought many hours of fun, joy, and excitement to kids and adults alike. On May 21, 2020, “Draw with Rob” broke the world record for the largest online art lesson. The class is also a platform to raise funds for the Founders Pledge for COVID-19 relief efforts.

To Lewis Leigh, 19, and his grandma Nanny Phyllis, 76, of Wales in the UK, the COVID-19 lockdown was really a blessing in disguise. While looking after his nanny during the lockdown period, Lewis downloaded the app TikTok and asked her to join him in creating dance videos. The sporty nanny agreed without hesitation. Their videos went viral, amassing more than 1.2 million worldwide followers. Both Lewis and Phyllis gained substantially from the lockdown, as their relationship is now much closer than before. Phyllis feels more uplifted, and Lewis is currently generating income from endorsements. What a fantastic outcome!