Both of my nieces love to make me art. I have a growing collection of their work at this point, but this time something struck me about the differences in their styles.

Both are portraits of me. Notice the stark difference?

To describe it like an art historian, Julianna's work is in the style of realism, while Sophia's is more like abstract expressionism.

You can tell Julianna made choices to depict me as realistically as possible—with her color choices and the way I'm shaped. She even incorporated a few words.

Sophia, on the other hand, didn't consider how I look in real life. She likely made choices based on how she felt, rather than what she thought would be the "best" choice.

What their work immediately expresses is their difference in personality.
Julianna is a straight arrow—she does well in school, follows rules, and behaves.
Sophia is silly and a bit on the chaotic side—she plays rough, laughs hysterically, and likes to get into a bit of trouble.

It's fascinating that you can see these personality traits reflected in their art. And it tells us something deeper about the fundamental forces of human nature.

Order vs. Chaos (Conscious vs. Unconscious)

Carl Jung would describe some of the fundamental forces of human nature as the dynamic tension between the conscious and unconscious mind—in other words, order vs. chaos.

The conscious mind is the realm of structure and decision-making—the domain of order, ego, and rationality.
The unconscious is everything emotional, dreamlike, and mythic.

Children have more direct access to the unconscious because their ego structures are not fully formed yet.

School plays a large role in developing those structures—which makes sense, since Julianna has been in school longer than Sophia.
In school, you learn to "not do that," "keep your hands to yourself," and so on.
It's where you're taught to keep your unconscious in check and follow rules.

Sophia has more direct access to the unconscious, which is why her decision-making—especially in her artistic expression—is likely more based on feeling than on the rules of realism.

The Key Is Balance

A large part of becoming a whole human being is what Jung calls individuation—the balancing of opposing forces:

• Light / Dark
• Masculine / Feminine
• Reason / Instinct
• Chaos / Order

The tension between these opposites is what fuels growth. Each force has its own energy, danger, and potential. The integration of these opposites is what makes us whole.

Although it may seem like we're meant to "overcome" chaos, Jung actually encourages us to embrace it—and to find a healthy relationship with it.
Too much order and you're neurotic. Too much chaos and you're lost.

Sophia and Julianna make great sisters because of their natural tendencies toward opposite forces.
Julianna can teach Sophia to be more orderly and behaved, while Sophia can teach Julianna to let loose and tap into a more creative side of herself.