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...

Art media properties have been a thing of fascination for me. In a brief chapter written many moons ago [ Lorenzo de la Peña, S. (2015). 2-Dimensional Materials. In D. Gussak & M. Rosal (Eds.), The Wiley-BlackwellHandbook of Art Therapy [E-book version]. Oxford, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishers.] , I went into details on the various properties of art medias. That is something that I’ve built-on from my undergrad years as an art educator student and from sheer curiosity. In the last 4 or so years, that attention to detail and CURIOSITY, have become the main thread in my mindfulness groups. I work in forensic mental health. An often bleak environment with limited access to materials and rich in time. Boredom is the biggest complaint, right up there with lack of privacy and noise. The trifecta of negative behavioral expression. In spite of the recent explosive popularity of Mindfulness; I don’t have to screen those I serve to know that over 90% of them don’t know what mi...

#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...

Over the course of the past year I’ve gotten much advice. In fact I’d known this would happen, every ‘what to expect’ blog talks about it and how things will never be the same.  However, during the first trimester, I laid-low and attempted to keep the news to a select few. At this point it did not seem like much would change.  The lack of visible physical changes made it possible for a brief time for things to ‘seem’ business as usual on the surface.  On the inside, however, personal and professional practices were in flux. Conflicting emotions from happiness to guilt and anxiety were making their presence known. Was it the right time? Are we ready for this? What if I lose this one also, what then? Fears kept me from going social media public with the news and from making long term commitments. Only a core few knew early-on, as I would be needing their support in either scenario. The pregnancy would cause a ripple of changes from personal, to social/community, to care...

I first heard of the term “rainbow baby” after our loss in March of 2015 . As the condolences and advice poured-in and over us, this concept of a “rainbow baby” stuck silently to my grieving heart. [here is a post from a mom with her story and definition: 4+1 ] Some, identify babies born after the loss of a child as: Rainbow Babies. The concept being that when a rainbow appears it doesn’t mean there wasn’t a storm, nor that there wont be clouds in the future. It is a reminder that something hopeful has come in spite of it. In the fall of 2015, it happened, another life decided to blossom within me. This time there was an unprecedented amount of anxiety that I just couldn't shake. Every sensation, every ache, dreadful. The void left by the loss became filled with concern. The weeks ticked-by uneventfully, hitting all the markers and with good progress. The ache, the trepidation ever present, allowing just a breath of relief after each appointment. I didn't tell m...

It is with reserve and anxiety that I face the next stage of my life and (possibly) career. Soon my husband and I will be welcoming a baby girl into the world. I’ve heard it changes everything, even the things I don’t want to change. I know for certain that as a therapist things have already been changing and even my visual responses have moved in a new direction. It all began well over 12 months ago... When my husband and I, decided it was finally time to move towards the next stage of our lives, we certainly didn’t know half of what was coming our way. In retrospect, the decision seemed very easy at the time. After what felt like an eternity working on my dissertation and not getting anywhere, early 2015 brought the news that I was with child. Balancing a full time job, teaching, and writing seemed more daunting than the news of what was developing inside. Until about week 20 we just continued to do as we’ve always done... ...and then the first sonogram. Questions and smiles...

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...