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Art Therapy Journal
Art making as a process + Art as a language in therapy for discoveries and transformation
Sheridan's Art Hive Initiative
I attended my first public Art Hive at Sheridan College's Main Library, led by art therapist, mentor, and [at the time] Sheridan faculty Susan Beniston. Many students and some faculty were felting Xmas ornaments, another first for me. I was an overworked York University undergrad then, and the opportunity to creatively decompress as a collective was meaningful.
Piven Portraits Workshop
‘Piven Portraits Workshop’ with art therapists and authors Lucille Proulx + Lucia Simoncicova (Piven art therapy approach, Canadian Art Therapy Association (CATA-ACAT) Emergence 2021 conference). 30 min. No scissors. No glue. Find materials at home. Play with the materials. Name the portrait and something about the person behind it.
Compassion in Supervision with RAIN
Hosted by the Ontario Art Therapy Association (OATA), art therapist Hannah Sherebrin's 'Compassion in Supervision' workshop spoke to author Tara Brach's model RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, and Nurture), an important component in therapy. Sculpture done with Play-Doh. Note written with a brush pen.
Trusting the Process
I had incredible opportunities to explore art invitations throughout the pandemic in online art therapy spaces. This one continues to speak to my essence. Mixed media involving watercolours, collaging from scrap paintings, pieces of dried acrylic paints, pen + ink, and dry-rubbing with coloured pencils on cold press watercolour paper.
EcoArt materials
Painting during a full day at the CATA-ACAT 2022 Symposium 'LIFE as Medicine: Circle of Indigenous Healing Arts.' Collaborators: Dr. Fyre Jean Graveline, RCAT, Métis; Jean Tait, RCAT, Saulteaux; Jen Vivian, MA, Concordia, Inuit; Dr. Lana Whiskeyjack, Cree; Chris Larsen, DWHEAT, Métis. While art-making, we learned how to make EcoArt materials such as natural paints. My natural paints were made with coffee grounds, turmeric, and hot water—a brush, a drying flower and leaves, clear glue, and a mixed-media-friendly sketchbook.
Thank you paintings
When I was a peer facilitator at the Lighthouse for Grieving Children, realizing the sessions were ending was tough. So, I decided to do mini acrylic paintings on canvas/magnets for each of the kids in my group. I thought of their imprint in my heart and depicted their mark on each canvas. It made saying goodbye so much easier. They were all my teachers, and the art-making and gifting were therapeutic for me.
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