In March, when my business suddenly changed, like most everyone else’s, I was no longer facilitating in-house art therapy groups. I felt a deep loss. It was then that I realized how important it was to me to be creating within a community and interacting with people about their artwork. It was very clear that I needed to create art…
Friendships and human connections add meaning to our life. As a child, I loved getting a letter in the mail from my pen pal; a little gift opened with great anticipation. I had equal joy writing a letter in reply as I thought of her delight in receiving it. I learned at an early age that writing can build relationships.…
Have you taken the temperature of your mental health? The recent increase in using thermometers to check for symptoms of COVID-19 got me thinking about the general imbalance of attention to our mind with respect to our overall well-being. We may seek advice from a nutrition expert when we want to eat healthier, or look to exercise experts to find…
I don’t know about you, but during this stressful time I struggle to focus and my mind wanders more easily. To manage this, I’ve been using the art-making process of creating a mosaic collage out of old magazines, calendar pages, and advertisements. This art project involves ripping or cutting colorful paper into small pieces. Then I glue them onto a…
We need to move! It’s important for our mental and emotional well-being to get up and move around when we’re confined to our homes. Step outside to smell the fresh air and explore the world around you. Movement or exercise breaks up the monotony of being isolated indoors. Need a little incentive? Challenge yourself to create art in the form…
Our schedules are disrupted and our senses are either over- or under-stimulated because the normal things we hear, see, and touch in our daily routines have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your emotions are real and valid. We all need ways to express our strong emotions in productive ways that don’t diminish their value. Taking a creative break is…
We are born to create. It’s in our DNA. We were made in the image of the Master Artist himself, yet we often discount what is innate by saying “oh, I’m not good at art,” “I can’t draw” or “I’m not creative.” Maybe we narrow the definition of creativity to artistic ability alone. It’s as if there’s some unattainable, high…