About 30 years ago, a minister handed Dr. Jill Aiken paint.
Her first husband had died, and she was struggling with her grief. She didn’t feel like she could talk to anyone about it – then she picked up a paintbrush.
“I didn’t expect it to be so powerful,” she says, “but it was.”
Art became a form of self-expression and healing for the Tidelands Health pediatrician — a method of stress relief and communication she now recommends to patients who might benefit.
At the time, Dr. Aiken had never really painted before. But when she was going through the grieving process, she didn’t feel she could open up to anyone. Something changed when she picked up a paintbrush.
“It was a chance for me to have control over my grief and healing process,” she says. “Art distracts you, but at the same time you’re also dealing with your emotions. Art can help you make sense of how you are feeling and square those feelings with the rest of your life.”

As a pediatrician, Dr. Aiken has found art to be a powerful tool for children to manage stress and anxiety and communicate more effectively with adults, she says. The art a child makes can be a great jumping off point for a conversation about how they’re feeling.
“It’s really good for kids, especially those who can’t verbalize and can’t tell you what’s wrong,” Dr. Aiken says. “Giving them crayons and paper and having them start drawing can help open them up.”

When she first started, Dr. Aiken says she painted a lot of beaches and marshes — places she felt at peace. Now, she often does plein air painting and, as a member of the Brookgreen Gardens Plein Air Guild, exhibits her work twice per year at Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet. Her art is currently on display until Nov. 5.

“I don’t paint every day,” she says. “But it’s always something you can come back to. It’s a way to regulate and manage stress and deal with your emotions.”
Given the many pressures that face children and young adults these days, Dr. Aiken says it’s important for parents to stay attuned to their children’s mental health needs. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to your child’s pediatrician or other qualified provider.