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...

It's been a summer of experiments.  Playing with paint blobs, ink dribbles, and glue squirts.  Although results may on first glance look similar you'll see results of 2-3 varied processes. They all worked well for mindful exploration of media. I find the process to help connect my clients to their senses and to an abstract representation of behavior/action.  Here are some highlights in a photo-essay sort of way (mind you it's my first, so bare with me). Playing around with 'clean' mono printing. I called these "sac" prints because I used garbage bags "sacs" to sandwich the paints. Using this method leaves hands clean and lets the artist feel the paint squishing under their fingertips. You aught to try it! Print taken at the crease of the "sac" and the table gives a mirror effect. Reminiscent of ink blots! Also experimented with laser compatible transparency sheets and glue+india ink+watercolors. The effects were stunn...

Summer seems to be the time for tie dye and outdoor activities -- in Florida that also means spontaneous monsoon-like thunderstorms and zillions (yes, zillions) of mosquitoes. So, if you’re stuck indoors with weeks old (or older) tie dye, this post is for you! As seen in previous posts I love re-purposing and up-cycling, however believe me when I say that I do not go looking for these opportunities. I just go with it when the muse calls and sometimes it works out and others it does not. This was one of those creative opportunities that paid off. 1 First, I happen to find some tie dye left by my students (maybe as far back as April or early May). It had been mixed ages ago (months) and packaging instructions say to discard after a few hours...umm. OK so I couldn't bring myself to pouring it down the drain. 2 Finding some pieces of light color or white absorbent cloth (mine were about 4”x4” bed sheet cloth) I set to purposefully experiment. I folded & wrapped e...

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...

As as an artist it is hard to practice mindfulness. Don't get me wrong, I love mindfulness. I think it is a very attainable state of mind for the artist/art therapist/client to strive towards. Art part may even make it more attainable for those who have a harder time grasping the text-book-concept. However, when there is already an expectation of what something "should" be it is doubly hard to step aside and be "willing" to let things be as they may.  My creative endeavors and my clients remind me of those very concepts quite frequently (as is the case in today's post).  After 1 evening of soaking in Yerba-Mate tea. In my previous post ( Transitioning into 2015 ) I mentioned I would be participating in Creativity In Motions' Creative Deed 365 . In preparation for my participation I dug-up some old library cards from back in the day when they were hand-written. For those who have never used a library card, think of it as a 3x5 card stoc...

"Don't let one cloud obliterate the whole sky." Anais Nin On my way to work one morning I noticed the sky streaking by the window. I cannot say what had consumed my attention up to that moment, save the monotony of the road and passing cars. Dawn came as a surprise. It brought an artists palette of long wispy streaks... oranges, magentas, and golds. It may have had teals and purples too. The image persisted long after the casual blues and white puffy clouds set-in. The memory persisted long into my work day. By mid-day I knew I wanted needed to bring  that moment into one of my groups, and I knew just the one. Using rectangular pieces of orange hanging folders (yep, recycling), small sponges (cut from packing material), and craft acrylics I set to the task of composing a mindful-art experience. The beauty is in the simplicity of the materials and the 'magic' that takes place in the process. After our usual group discussion I set out to be their guide...