The Rainbow of Creativity: A Journey with Saba

Through art, Saba finds healing and confidence, embracing her unique creative identity.

A compelling story about how art became the bridge and connection between me and my student, Saba.

(Photo Courtesy : Anu Singh)

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Once, while working on an art form that involved black on white and white on black to showcase balance, Saba connected the idea to her two dogs, one black and one white. “After the walk,” she said, “I notice the black dog feels hotter than the white one. Why does this happen?” What followed was a wonderful conversation about light, heat, and reflection. In that moment, I saw how her curiosity, sharpened by art, was now guiding her towards science and towards deeper understanding. Each time we put paint to canvas or sketch pen to paper, we begin to bring the rainbow alive. The rainbow has always been more than just colours. It is our shared symbol of hope, joy, and discovery.

Saba putting sketch pen to paper

(Photo Courtesy : Anu Singh) 

Saba has been with me on this amazing creative journey for the last five years. She was only six when we started, a little girl full of curiosity and imagination, and also navigating the challenges of dyslexia. We learned, we discovered, and we created together. But her story has not been without its share of loss.

About four years ago, she lost her father. Those were tender, difficult times. We often sat together and talked about him, about his favourite things, his love for astronomy, and the stories he shared with her about the stars.

We created artworks inspired by his life, the night sky he admired, and how she would always remain his most precious star. Each creative session became a gentle way for her to deal with questions that remained unanswered, and also to realise that sometimes answers can be found, if not through words, then through the infinite possibilities of learning and creativity.

One of the most beautiful aspects of our journey was how art became a bridge to knowledge. Once she asked me how a rainbow is formed. I explained that whatever she couldn’t read about, she could watch and learn through videos. YouTube soon became her treasure trove, and she came back each time fortified with new understanding, no longer anxious about not knowing the answers. Every creative session turned into an exploration of colours, shapes, and stories. Her creativity grew, but so did her confidence in asking questions and seeking answers.

A rainbow of emotions 

(Photo Courtesy : Anu Singh) 

Working with the mandala was another turning point. I taught her how to use a compass to draw circles, but she struggled with it and admitted she wasn’t comfortable. I told her it wasn’t important to be able to do everything. But the very next morning, she surprised me by showing up outside of her class schedule. With a blank sheet of paper and a pencil, she drew circles by hand, small and big, nearly perfect, and many of them. She had spent the whole night working around her discomfort, teaching herself to overcome it with patience and practice. That day, I saw not just creativity, but determination and resilience at play. Today, she is proudly known as the “Circle Girl” in her school, and it has given her immense confidence in her ability to grow beyond challenges.

(Photo Courtesy : Anu Singh) 

Perhaps my proudest moment came in an unexpected way. At a gathering with her friends and family, someone asked Saba what she wanted to be when she grew up. Without hesitation, she answered, “A chef like my father, a baker like my mother, and an artist, like myself.” I admit, for a moment, I thought she might say, “an artist like Anu Maam.” But instead, she said, “like myself.” And that small shift in words made all the difference. It showed me her growing confidence, her independence, and her belief in her own identity. She was not aspiring to be like me or anyone else. She was declaring that she already was an artist in her own right. In that moment, I realised the true gift of creativity, the power to instill self-belief and pride in one’s own unique journey.

Saba’s journey is more than just about art lessons. It is about healing, hope, and growth.

Through colours and shapes, she has found ways to understand the world around her and within her. And through her, I have been reminded time and again of why creativity is so powerful, for every age and for children. It becomes not only an outlet but also a mirror, a guide, and a lifelong companion.

This is the special relationship of dear Saba, art, creativity, and learning. This is what connects us, and I know it will remain with us forever.

(Anu Singh is an Artist, Certified Zentangle teacher, Neuro Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner (Life Coach), Art workshop facilitator, Creator of hand-crafted colouring books, journals and diaries. This is an opinion piece, and the views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for the same.)