By Mohamed Abdulkadir, Yona A Berhane, Mesret Bihon, Emilia Canino, and Kai Chovanak, University of Washington Bothell School of Business
Elliott entered the Zoom call ready to show how art can be one of the most accessible and rewarding forms of mental care. During the interview, the sounds of classmates joining and leaving the Zoom meeting could occasionally be heard. Although Elliott’s background was blurred, a window with white curtains and light blue walls was still visible behind him. He sat at a desk wearing a black shirt, glasses with black frames, and a black headset. Throughout the interview, Elliott shared his personal experience with mental health and his journey using art to help both himself and others. At one point, he even excitedly shared photos of his own artwork.
As Kai asked each question, Elliott paused thoughtfully before responding. He spoke in a soft, calm voice and occasionally nodded or leaned slightly forward as he explained his ideas. His relaxed tone and attentive body language created a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere, making it easy for Kai to continue asking questions and explore Elliott’s story in more depth.
How did you get started with NAMI Seattle, and how did that go?
EN: First of all, I’m a person with lived experience in mental health, and I was originally diagnosed in my early 20’s. I had a psychotic break, and I was hospitalized for 2 weeks, and ever after that I’ve had a mental illness diagnosis. When I really got started with NAMI Seattle was when I moved here from Utah in 2003 after I graduated from Utah State University and I came here looking to succeed in the tech industry. After I moved here, I met my wife and I told her that I had a mental illness and she was really interested in it. She went online and she found some groups that I could go to and one of those groups was NAMI Seattle’s support groups for people with mental illnesses. I began attending support groups probably about 2005 and I went for about a year or two and then I stopped for a number of years because I was working and it was not always especially convenient for me. Later I became too ill to work again so I got disability and I started going back to NAMI Seattle. There I got connected back through one of the support groups at NAMI Seattle and I found out about an art group called the Circle of Friends, which was started by Eleanor Owens, who started NAMI Seattle also. I was also given a scholarship to go to the Kirkland Arts Center to take a class there. Through the Kirkland Arts Center, I learned to start doing watercolors and really started enjoying watercolors. I also participated in a juried art show, The Seattle Arts Festival in 2019. I was selected as one of the artists for the show and I think that gave me the confidence to start doing more public facing activities. I ran for the board, I got on the board and I was on the board for three and a half years.
Did NAMI start your art itch? Or did you dabble in art when you were working professionally, and then did it expand from there?
EN: I’ve sort of always been an artist. I had some violin training when I was in elementary school, did a little bit of drawing, and then in high school I got into photography. I took pictures for the literary magazine, the yearbook, and the school newspaper. Later at Utah State University I went and studied photography for a while then due to my illness I took a break from it and then I went back to Utah State University and graduated with an interdisciplinary degree. I didn’t really do a lot of art while I was working. It was really the class I took at the Kirkland Art Center that got me back into doing artwork.
How does art help you specifically? Is it the community that you are with? Is it somehow being in a flow state? What’s the mechanism?
EN: I think that the flow state definitely has a lot to do with it. It’s mainly a learning experience for me and I kind of liken it to a scientific process. When I start an artwork, I usually don’t really know where to start, but I usually start with a pencil drawing and I do an outline then I fill it in later. And I do enjoy the community aspect of it.
Image caption: A bright arrangement of sunflowers brings warmth and life to a quiet tabletop still life. The painting captures the soft beauty of the flowers as they lean naturally from a colorful pitcher, creating a calm and cheerful scene. In the image, several yellow sunflowers with large dark centers are placed inside a ceramic pitcher painted with soft blue and pink tones and a curved handle. The pitcher sits on a round white surface, possibly a plate or small stand, on top of a brown wooden table. The sunflowers extend outward in different directions, showing both their petals and green leaves in loose watercolor strokes. Behind the pitcher on the left side is a small brown object that resembles a decorative figure or plant form. The background is painted in warm, light beige tones, giving the still life a soft, relaxed atmosphere.
Can you tell us a little bit about art?
EN: Art is often about harmony. I’ve actually been in a couple of art shows. The art show at NAMI was a lot of fun in 2021. I have also been in a show with the Seattle Recycled Arts Festival. I made a 3D art piece for them. It was a juried show so I had to compete to get into it. That was in 2019 and it gave me the self-confidence to join NAMI’s board later that year
Can you describe your paintings and do you have any favorites that are special to you? If so, why?
EN: I’ve got sort of 3 favorite areas that I like to do. One is our travel sketches, one is still life, and the other is botanicals. A lot of times I’ll do still lifes in the apartment I live in. If we have a fruit bowl, for example, and I draw the fruit bowl. I like to draw with colored markers, paint with watercolors, and dabble with pen and ink. My eyesight has gotten worse as time has progressed, but I like to draw and paint with my glasses off. I think that it helps my connection with what I’m drawing. So there’s actually not really just one area, but there’s sort of three areas that I get into.
Image caption: A small bouquet of red roses stands vividly against a textured background, capturing a quiet moment of beauty in an expressive still-life composition. The bold colors and layered strokes give the flowers a sense of warmth and depth. In the image, several deep red roses with green leaves are arranged in a clear glass vase that sits on a tabletop. The vase has decorative geometric patterns etched into the glass and holds visible stems inside. The roses lean slightly outward, with their petals painted in rich shades of red and hints of pink. The table beneath them appears to be covered with a light-colored cloth with swirling brushstrokes of cream and yellow. Behind the flowers is a dark brown background with a horizontal yellow band that suggests a wall or furniture element, creating contrast that helps the red roses stand out as the focal point of the artwork
A lot of people don’t see themselves as artists. What would you say to someone who doesn’t see themselves as an artist, and how do you think art could help them?
EN: Art can help everybody. Most people don’t believe that they’re artists but they are. Even just walking around in your neighborhood is a form of art and most people don’t really realize that art is sort of intrinsic to being a human. I think it can be used as a sort of starting point. There are various forms of expression. It doesn’t have to be visual, it can be auditory, it can be sensory, there’s a lot of different ways to do that.
Can you talk about some specific art pieces, like maybe your favorite ones, or favorite paintings, or anything like that?
EN: The favorite one that I have is just called tomato. It’s sitting above my kitchen table right now. It’s just just a watercolor tomato and I think it was one of the most realistic ones that I’ve ever done. There are also some of my botanicals I really like.
Image caption: This watercolor painting features a single tomato painted in a realistic and detailed style. While Elliott shared this piece during the interview, he explained that it is one of his favorite artworks and is displayed in his home. His explanation showed that he holds still life painting in high regard because it enables him to dedicate his time to studying intricate elements. Elliott used watercolor techniques to create an elegant, natural look, which brought him mental serenity while working on his art. Through this painting process and flow state, Elliott uses everyday objects to help control his emotions.
Our takeaways
One of the biggest takeaways from speaking with Elliott was how simple and approachable art can be for supporting mental health. When Elliott talked about his own personal experiences, it made me realize that art doesn’t have to be perfect or impressive to matter for well-being. For him, art became a way to slow down, learn, and feel connected, especially through the support he found at NAMI Seattle. Elliott also shared that he believes creativity is an intrinsic part of being human—almost anything we do can be considered a form of art if it allows us to express ourselves or reflect. What stood out to me most was how much confidence and comfort he gained simply from having a space where he could create and be himself.
We hope readers feel encouraged to try some form of creative expression, even if they don’t consider themselves artists. It doesn’t have to be anything serious or time-consuming—something as simple as sketching for a few minutes, writing down a thought, coloring, or taking a photo of something meaningful can help you pause, reset, and focus. Elliott’s story shows that creativity can be a small but powerful part of daily self-care. We also want readers to know that organizations like NAMI Seattle offer real support and community, both in person and online, and can be a helpful place to turn if you or someone you know is struggling. If Elliott’s story resonated with you, consider trying a small creative activity today or supporting the work of NAMI Seattle by learning more or making a donation here.