Re-Covering Creative Tracks

Spring has arrived (sort-of). Pollen is wafting and everywhere there are signs of life. After the intensity of the #creativedeed365 it took a few weeks before I could settle into a new "creative rhythm". One with a focus on building resiliency through creative engagement...

...and the first 3 months look like this...

*These mandalas are on 8x8 bristol sheets.

The 1st mandala of 2016 - using a vast variety of media: art stix, prisma color pencils, markers, sharpie pen, water soluble pencils. Processing the new year, changes, and hopes.

February's mandala - prisma color pencils & sharpie pen. Swirling emotions carried over from 2015 meet current ones.

March 4th mandala - using handmade paper, prisma color pencils, acrylic paint. Reflecting & documenting developing relationships.

"Feeling, feelings...and taking ownership"

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March Days of #creativedeed365

and it continues! #creativedeed365 continued through the struggles of march with lots of support from the Facebook group, family, friends, and even spouse. After the first 2 months of #creativedeed365 with Gretchen Miller , March began with a plan. Using the stained cards from Murphy in the Art Space which were already cut into 3"x 3" squares I set out to conquer Marchs' 31 days. One day card at a time. Much like the prior months I prepared the back of the cards with the # of the card and date plus a blip about the creativedeeds. Each day I found a few minutes to create the entry. Saving the cards for distribution once I was in public spaces such as the local university, coffee shops, or restaurants. This month I saw a couple pop-up on Instagram from people who found them and then found me through the #creativedeed365 tag. I was surprised by how exited I was at realizing where these cards had made-it to. Glad they were in good hands. Through the making of ...

Capturing a Moment: Gelatin Printing

Lets just get right down to it, you've either tried it and loved it or you're currently wondering what I'm talking about. Gelatin prints that's what. A few years ago a student introduced me to the wonders of using homemade gelatin as a printing plate (sugar free kind). As it turns out it is a very versatile work surface that brings an element of intrigue and play into the work space. When my clients first hear I'll be bringing in gelatin, they seek out napkins and forks and eagerly away the obviously tasty snack. The sound of dreams shattering as I pull-out the gelatin plates is audible (if only short lived). Soon everyone is poking and wiggling the gelatin and wondering what we'll be doing with it. Play is an important aspect of what I do. So is creativity and genuine interest. These things are however harder to come-by in adults than their younger counterparts (who jump-into explorer mode instinctively). Sometimes I have to coerce these attr...

Layered {Response} Art

Inchies in process of being stained. I recently read artist Seth Apter ’s post on a question we artists are often asked: How long did it take you? The following blog post will be my response to his thought provoking post which I found rang a few bells for me. Seth’s post for October 20th, 2014 can be reached via this link: The Surface of my Work So, how long does it take to create? ...the art therapist’s perspective. I will give voice to some accumulated thoughts on the particular topic of response art. I feel it is important to make the distinction between response art and other artwork I may engage-in for the purpose of “creating something pretty”. Response art to me indicates a creative process (and/or artifact) that seeks to process an experience; usually to do with intense experiences encountered as a part of carrying out the duties of our profession [for more on response art in art therapy see Fish, 2006, 2008, 2012]. Beginning. When the creative bug cal...

Symbolic Projections

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