Symbolic Projections

Every once in a while I tell myself to just go "art-about-it". Since I can remember I have loved going elbows deep into art supplies. Becoming an art therapist made my love of art closer to an addiction (the art supplies are everywhere!). Recently I was prompted by a student to create what "stress" looks like to me.  The resulting image was a bit jarring to me, it didn't sit well. It made me feel 'unfinished'. Created with watercolor and TomBow markers and water. When there is a mismatch between the image and my emotions the best thing for me to do is get back in there and work it out. With this particular image I decided to document the process in case I ruined it. As these things go, some emotions tend to be messier than others and "stress" is one of those that has a consuming energy about it. Splashed watercolors on it and added salt, then streaked some colors out. Moving-on. As an image is 'worked-on' some of the origi...

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...

These days it is hard to be mindful. So much negativity and anger floating around, bogging us down. In a mindfulness group I run we dived into a daily practice for the month of December (yes that was so 2016, seems like only yesterday).  We began by splashing and smearing paint on old folders (the 1/3 tabs). Then turning them into small books. Using a prepared calendar with prompts for each day's mindful practice. The writing of a goal. Contemplating on a color. Conjuring and writing a pleasant memory. And so on... Everyone approached the tasks a bit differently. Some with words, others with pictures, or even drawings. Everything/anything was OK. The purpose had been achieved. To slow down, stop, contemplate for a few minutes, before getting all wrapped-up in the day. Or as a breather after a long day. Having served its purpose, we now place it aside and ourselves permission to pick-it-up when we need a break. A distraction, and a breath. Have the c...

Making time to reflect on what has been one roller-coaster of a year. 2016 began on a high note, after the completion of the #creativedeed365 project from the year before. It took a couple weeks, but I was soon all wrapped up in mandalas once more. Re-Covering Creative Tracks (March) The Courage to be Pregnant and a Therapist: Over 12 Months Ago... Another Spark of Life First Trimester: Changes in Imagery & Practices Resilience Through the Second Trimester Planned Birth & Other Fairy Tales Postpartum Blues After Maternity Leave The Mindless Doodle ...and 2016 draws to a close.

#Hermine After the long pregnancy months and the 8 weeks (turned to 13 due to a timely hurricane), getting back on my feet was something I was looking forwards to. Finding the right daycare and resuming my career right where I left off... Except that, as soon as I did find daycare and returned to work, it was lackluster. Trading those long & slow morning routines for quick out-the-door and on the road ones. Taking only the memory of her soft skin and baby scent to get me through the long commute (50 miles each way) and even longer work day. ---- some will scoff at that statement, saying i should be more than ready to return to work after 13 weeks. And in many ways i was tired of the home monotony. I knew going into this that the stay at home mom gig was not for me. But jumping into an 8-4:30 (with commute more like 6:30-5:30) while my infant is raised by (essentially) strangers, is no walk in the park. I bare my soul to set the stage for why it worked out to have dissolved my g...

So after the baby finally comes - you get to go home and be a happy little family. Right!? Late one August night. Eventually, yes. However, as many "what to expect" and "new mom" books foretell, after the baby exits, your body starts re-calibrating itself. The first few days to weeks are intense. There's physical healing that needs to take place, returning your bits to their new "normal". There's a flush of retained fluids, and hormones are all over the place. All while navigating sleep deprivation and being chewed-on (if you're BF). You're also having to take a crash course in a new "language", that of your newborn's cues and cries. So even after reading 'those' mom books and tons of webMB cites, I didn't notice when the crying started. Latching was a huge issue and nursing was torturous. I cried through a good bit of it. Felt guilty that she may share in my anguish -- so I tried sucking it up. White-nukli...

active labor - ring of fire While I do not pertain to know where these threads on the topics of pregnancy and professional identity will take me, they have certainly been building up-to -- labor and a birth story. Also, this post is more about the labor experience than it is about professional identity (that comes into play a bit later-on). Forewarning this one is a bit gory.  But, before we get there, a brief background on myself (as I'm hoping that not everyone that reads these posts knows me). I am an art therapist (you may know that by now). I consider myself an artist. Mindful engagement with art media and related topics is my favorite means of connecting with my clients.  As part of my groups I teach breathing exercises and practical ways to self-soothe. So when I found myself unable to do any of those things during my labor, I really felt out of sorts. Here's how things went... I had no idea what was in store for me when I awoke before my alarm this past M...

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" 

...and just like that 365 days of creative deeds later the year-long project comes to a restful & reflective close. It all began with Gretchen Miller's Creativity in Motion  project for 2015. Here's a run-down: Create small pieces of art (about 3x2.5) daily Randomly gift the art pieces "as acts of kindness" + "to spread creative goodness" Date stamp and the # of the card were identified for each In addition, small "tags" were added that went on the back of each deed with basic information on the project and asking to share with  #found + #creativedeed365 on social media cites. I did not include my name, but I did include the name of my town (or wherever I made them, if I was travelling). In order for this project to be feasible I decided to recycle old pieces of art whenever possible as the base (some of the months with recycled art: January , April ). Each month's creative deeds were prepped as a batch. The paper cut into the r...

November, the 11th month of #creativedeeds, came and went with huge struggles. Just last month I posted on the need to "adapt" and go with what is needed, versus holding on to past methods of doing things.  One day after the next and week upon week November kept reminding me of just that. At first creation, then documentation, and even posts took more time and energy. Maybe it's the time of the year, maybe its other things taking a toll. Previous monthly creativedeed posts: January , February , March , April , May , June , July , August , September , October .   Stay up to date and follow the creativedeeds on Instagram . Thinking back and looking forwards to the last 31 days of creativedeeds for 2015 I'm going to re-do a few things from this past year that I believe worked well. 1. Square card format - yep, love it, seems to tickle my mandala-itchy hands. 2. natural dye/stain - I like the natural antique'd look, takes off some of the an...

All the planning and scheming didn't help, as October turned into a month of creative catch-up. Those on Instagram noticed my posts came in 2s and 3s -- sometimes days after the creativedeed. I wouldn't call it a creative slump; I managed to muddle through, didn't I! As the year winds down,  I too seem to need some rest and recuperation. On days where I just couldn't find the time I left post-its on my cards with the intended passage or image. At first there was plenty of guilt at the thought of leaving it undone. As if doing so would undo all the others before it (psst, it didnt).   High expectations can sure be motivating, but we must be able to take our own advice and be willing to adapt to our changing needs/demands. Only then will we be able to remain resilient in our practices. Began with a black chalkboard paint base - and it proved quite the challenge as very few things showed-up well. Made me miss the subtleties of the naturally dyed papers I used a c...