Graham Cullis
Graham Cullis is an artist and podcaster from the UK who has frequented Bali as a travel destination since 2009. His love affair with the island has seen him return year after year. It was on this very soil where he unearthed his talent for oil painting only 3 years ago during the pandemic of 2020. Since then, Graham has jumped ship from the 9-5 norm and has successfully pursued art as a full-time job. Graham is also passionate about philanthropy and wants to use his talent to give back in the mental health and wellness spaces.
Instant Karma sat down with Graham for a little chat to find out about his journey and also to see what he is up to on his current visit to the island.
What inspires you to not only unfold artistically but also to act as a mental health advocate?
So my advocacy for mental health stems from when I discovered my gift for painting 3 years ago during the pandemic. I was going through a bit of a dark time. I found my new hobby for oil painting really pulled me out of this. I found such therapy sitting in front of the easel and began to open up on my social media about my experience. I found that the people watching my journey really related to this. So I vowed from then on I would do my best to use this gift as a means to help others discover holistic ways to manage their mental health.
Could you tell us a bit more about your holistic approaches to promoting wellness and mental health through art and creativity?
The last three years have been a wild ride, and I have achieved so much advocating for mental health. Firstly, I began making YouTube videos interviewing people in the art world who were also doing great things in the wellness space. Then I went on to start a charity in Cornwall, UK called Youth Art Connect, which offers monthly therapeutic art sessions. Initially, these clubs were aimed at children who were experiencing social anxiety during COVID and has now expanded to all ages. I’m also passionate about cold water therapy, and I have set up three community-based cold water swimming clubs, two in the UK and one in New York. The New York Dippers Club even got me a mention in the New York Times. I used my skills in creating video storytelling content to promote these.
What advice would you give to individuals seeking ways to use their creative passion to strengthen their own mental health and improve their well-being?
Like the great Picasso once said, ‘The meaning of life is to find your gift; the purpose of life is to give it away.’ I am a firm believer in the act of giving. If you have a creative passion, of course, pursuing it and doing it will definitely improve your well-being. However, also if you can use your gift to help others discover and experience the joy creativity gives, then not only does this light them up but will also have the same effect deep within your soul.
What exciting projects do you have planned for the future that merge both your artistic passion and your commitment to mental health and wellness?
So right now, I am here in Bali painting a body of work which I hope to one day exhibit on the island. In the meantime, I am also trying to get my name out there as an artist by bringing smiles to strangers with my Prints For Kindness Campaign. What I have been doing is leaving packs of my prints for people to find or gifting them directly to people I pass by on the street or on the beach. The packs contain two of my prints with a cute little note like. ‘I gave this to you to make you smile’ or ‘If you found these, please keep them; they are yours and have a beautiful day.’ When they look inside the pack, they find two of my prints and further instructions for them to keep one print and bless someone else with the other. I have found so many amazing synchronicities from doing this. It’s been really powerful, and I have already made some amazing and important connections. I believe that all these little gestures of love will amount to manifesting my dream of having a very successful exhibition in the future. Also, I have just revived my Karma Club podcast for a 3rd season. I have been writing a weekly newsletter to my followers for the last 6 months, and now I have merged the content as an audio version. I am only a few weeks into doing this, but the feedback has been amazing. The listeners are getting some great value out of it. It is basically a journal for me and my experience navigating my journey as an artist and how I cope with my mental health along the way.
As a mental health advocate and artist, what does the concept of Karma and self-care mean to you, and how does it influence your creative work and your pursuit of personal growth? What would be your ultimate creative dream project that you would love to realise if there were no limits?
Firstly, Karma is very much rooted within my psyche. As someone who was brought up in a religious family, I have learned so many lessons such as you reap what you sow, love thy neighbour etc . I think we can learn so much from the teachings in all different cultures. It’s cause and effect so being innately kind and putting out positive vibes will only serve you well.
As for my dream project? I think right now it would have to be this exhibition that I am currently in the process of manifesting. I would like to grow in the art world to a point where my influence will open doors to collaborations that give back and inspire others to realise their own dreams.
If you want to find out more about the artist Graham Cullis check his work out at:
www.instagram.com/grahamcullis (check his bio for a link to his newsletter)
Search for his podcast “Graham Cullis Karma Club Podcast” on all listening platforms
Financially Support Graham’s philanthropy work and content on www.patreon.com/grahamcullis
