‘perspective shift’ is the second painting in my ‘home body’ collection – a watercolour series of self-portraits in yoga poses.
This piece captures me in a variation of pincha mayurasana (forearm balance). & my oh my do I spend a lot of time here!
Like the rest of this series, I used only three hues to bring this painting to life. I chose a simple palette of yellow, orange and purple to stay focused on the shape and energy of the subject, rather than realistic details in the photograph. The painting was created on arches 100% cotton watercolour paper – my absolute favourite for layering, softness, and control. Remember, you can see all my favourite art supplies here.
My ‘home body’ collection is all about feeling okay in the body that you live in 
Maybe ‘loving’ your body doesn’t really seem achievable right now, and that’s okay. Sometimes, it’s okay to simply aim for body tolerance, rather than body love. Aren’t we forever highly critical of ourselves? -often weighing our self-worth on the harsh judgements we make about our bodies.
It’s worth reminding yourself, that everybody, and every body, is beautiful. Even if you don’t see it yourself today.
I always try to come back to gratitude. For all the wonderful things my body lets me do. And everyone will have their own way of finding peace within themselves. For you maybe that’s going for a run, lifting weights, or meditating. For me, connecting with my body is a daily endeavour through my yoga practice. & never have I ever found more peace within myself than when I’m upside down!
If body love & tolerance is something you’re working on too, I’d love for you to follow along this journey of self-loving through painting self-portraits with watercolours.
🤍 pincha mayurasana means “feathered peacock pose” in Sanskrit
🤍 it’s a deep inversion that strengthens the arms, shoulders, and core while improving balance and focus
🤍 the shape requires grounding, openness, and control—it’s just as much mental as it is physical
🤍 leg variations like the one I painted increase both the challenge and the expressiveness of the pose. & the strong backbend in this variation makes it even more energising!
🤍 it’s a pose that teaches patience, trust, and letting go of fear (especially fear of falling)
As a provisional psychologist, I’m fascinated by how the body reflects the mind. In psychology, a “perspective shift” often refers to the ability to reframe or see things from a new angle – something we know supports emotional resilience and cognitive flexibility (Grant & Parker, 2009).
Painting this pose helped me process the emotional part of the shape too. It reminded me of how effortlessly fear and frustration can shift into strength and softness, when you trust yourself.
There’s also research showing that creating self-portraits -especially those involving body movement – can support self-compassion and body appreciation (Czajkowska & White, 2021). Whilst painting myself in this pose, I did notice that I was able to tap into mindful gratitude and offer myself some compassion.
Yoga and watercolour both ask for presence. And when I paint snippets of my yoga practice, I get to tap into the presence of holding asana, all over again.
In ‘home body’, I paint these moments using just three hues. This limited palette helps me stay with the energy of the pose, rather than chasing detail or realism. Each piece becomes an extension of my yoga practice, a new creative outlet, a meditation – a chance to honour the body I call home.
Painting these yoga shapes helps me:
🫶🏽 reconnect with my body through movement and art
🎨 stay grounded in a limited palette
🧘🏽♀️ create space for reflection, gratitude, and self-compassion
As a qualified yoga teacher, I love learning about the asana I paint. Before I started painting ‘perspective shift’, I took the time to:
🤍 review anatomical breakdowns of pincha mayurasana
🤍 check sanskrit pose names
🤍 study correct pose alignment
🤍 & actually stop to take a few breathes in forearm balance. I’m always doing yoga in my little art studio – there’s nothing quite like a sneaky little pincha in between painting sessions to re-centre 🤸🏽♀️
Whenever I want to learn more about a pose, I have a look through my favourite yoga book. If you love yoga and are interested in learning more, I would highly recommend it! ‘Light on Yoga’ by B.K.S. Iyengar is often called the bible of modern yoga—and for good reason. First published in 1966, this classic text breaks down over 200 asanas with detailed instructions, photographs, and the philosophy behind the practice. Iyengar’s clear, methodical approach makes the complexity of yoga feel accessible, while honouring its deep spiritual roots. It’s a book I return to often for inspiration, refinement, and a deeper understanding of how yoga connects the body, mind, and breath.
Painting your own body isn’t easy – but it’s powerful. There’s real research showing that self-portrait work in art therapy can improve body tolerance, emotional regulation, and self-understanding (Moon, 2010; Malchiodi, 2013). I am all for solid research and supporting body image 🤍🌻, so in saying that, bring on the self-portraits!
I do find painting self-portraits quite uncomfortable, I must say. Whilst painting ‘perspective shift’ I found myself being highly critical of my body. It was hard not to get all in my head when staring at a photograph of myself so intensly. But through the peace I fostered through my artistic practice, I was able to notice these thoughts, label them as nonsense, tap into gratitude and offer myself some compassion. It’s not perfect, but it’s showing up for myself.
So, sit through the discomfort I say! It seems as though painting self-portraits has far too many psychological benefits for artists to keep themselves away.
My ‘home body’ collection is well and truely underway and I am loving every bit of it. I’d love to paint other bodies one day, but for now I will keep at the self-portraits.
Here’s how you can follow along:
🛍️ Visit my shop – ‘perspective shift’ is available here as a fine art giclée print, printed locally with love. You can find all my other artworks on my shop page.
📬 Join the mailing list – Get art updates, behind-the-scenes peeks, and free resources delivered straight to your inbox.
📱 Follow along on socials – I often share work-in-progress snippets, new animal references I’m considering, and little moments from my home studio.
💌 Send me your ideas – Got a yoga pose you’d love to see painted? I’d really love to hear from you!
💻 Keep reading – in the mood to read more? check out all my articles to find something else that you love.
And of course, I’ll keep sharing the story behind each piece as I go ☺️🌻🫶🏽
☼ Czajkowska, Z., & White, M. P. (2021). Self-Compassion Art Therapy: A mixed methods pilot study. Arts in Psychotherapy, 75, 101826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2021.101826
☼ Grant, A. M., & Parker, S. K. (2009). Redesigning work design theories: The rise of relational and proactive perspectives. Academy of Management Annals, 3(1), 317–375. https://doi.org/10.5465/19416520903047327
☼ Malchiodi, C. A. (2013). Art therapy and health care. Guilford Press.
☼ Moon, B. L. (2010). Art-based group therapy: Theory and practice. Charles C. Thomas Publisher.
☼ What inspired Sarah Kiana’s ‘home body’ collection?
☼ What is forearm balance?
☼ What is pincha mayurasana?
☼ How can painting yoga poses support self-acceptance?
☼ What colours and materials should I use for my painting?
☼ How does yoga and art blend with psychology and emotional wellbeing?
☼ How does yoga influence my art practice?
☼ What are the benefits of using a limited palette?
☼ What are the mental health benefits of painting self-portraits?
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hi, i’m sarah, an australian artist head-over-heels for watercolour & creative practice- it truely is good for your soul.
& this ↑, is my girl alys.
i am completely self-taught in all the mediums i use & i am here to share everything i know with you!
i write about all things creativity, watercolour, gouache, hand-made ceramics, collecting art, & my own artistic process. I have degrees in human psychology & veterinary medicine- so you might find some sporadic related facts in my writing.
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