Ascent Healing

Here it is the 2nd of January 2021! We made it through 2020 guys! Art therapy is a big part of my life and as my clients know, my office is full of art supplies all over the shelves and everywhere else. Every day before work, I start my day with painting early in the morning as a meditative practice. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with all these art journals I have but they are serving their purpose in the here and now.

Art therapy can be just about anything and everything. I’m a mixed media artist and my husband and daughter would tell you that I collect art supplies and have an addiction of sorts to my collection. Lol. I can’t deny it, its true. I have joined several art learning boards that have tutorials and I am continuing to learn more and more ideas for 1 and 2 page art journaling spreads.

If you want to try an art therapy exercise for yourself, give this one a try.

Start with a blank piece of either thick white cardstock or watercolor paper. Now write all your negative thoughts in pen on the piece of paper either in small or big print until you can’t think of anymore. This is an acceptance exercise. We don’t have to agree with these thoughts but we are acknowledging that they are there. Now lets turn them into something positive. Add paint to the paper. You can choose watercolor or acrylic. (Those are the two I most often use.) I use several colors in splotches on the piece of paper and in places I can still see the writing underneath either because the paint is transparent (watercolor) or there are places that I don’t paint. Now add another layer by collaging ripped pieces of magazines or pretty paper in various places of the painting you have done but don’t completely cover it. Just here and there wherever feels right to you. If you desire, add more paint or watercolor over your collaged elements. Now pick a positive quote to put somewhere on the page. Maybe even paint a flower or other meaningful symbol on the paper or collage a positive image on the page next to your quote. Now admire your work and maybe even hang it up somewhere as a reminder of the positive message.

Here is one of my pages though not a sample of the page I just described above. Have a great weekend!