Blossoms have given way to fresh green leaves. Nature’s changes, as ever, helping us understand the way of things. Make sense of the news. Make sense of the changes.
Joy and Heartbreak.
Open our eyes to a bigger picture.
And a bigger vision of ourselves.
In my last post I talked about stress and presenting drawing as a way to reduce it. Later I realised, I should stop telling you about drawing (although I won’t because I love it THAT much) and let you hear more from what others have to say. Art has many incredible benefits – so I’ll share a new one with each post.
Let’s start with art therapist, Cathy Malchiodi. According to Cathy, in her book, The Art Therapy Sourcebook, art therapy is “a modality for self-understanding, emotional change and personal growth.” In her own practice, Malchiodi helps clients with everything from processing emotions to personal growth. In the book, she explains her role:
“I believe that my role as an art therapist is to help people explore and express themselves authentically through art. Through this process, people may find relief from overwhelming emotions, crises or trauma. They may discover insights about themselves, increase their sense of well-being, enrich their daily lives through creative expression, or experience personal transformation. I recognize the power of art to expand self-understanding, to offer insight not available through other means, and to extend people’s ability to communicate. I also view art expressions as personal narratives conveyed through images, as well as through the stories that people attach to those images. Finding personal meaning in one’s images is often part of the art therapy process. For some people, it is one of the most potent therapeutic qualities of art expression. It is a powerful way of knowing yourself and a powerful form of healing.”
Read the full article HERE.
5 Quick Facts about Art Therapy By Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S.
All That Happens When Pencil Touches Paper
The experiences that happen to us day to day wind up as information stored in our bodies. How do we process this information?
Through a process of:
- INNER REFLECTION: Understanding our feelings (about experiences)
- OUTER EXPRESSION: Communicating our feelings (about experiences)
Writing is one idea; thoughts and feelings are expressed in words. Extensive vocabulary or not, at times the words are hard to find. Drawing is a stage before words — more elemental — and can catch the feelings one step before. In this way, drawing provides an easier way to tap into those feelings: Enabling us to understand them for ourselves and express them to other people. Drawing is a way for us to process our experiences and make peace with our stories.
So together with reducing stress, opening up a creative channel, nurturing community and collaboration, idea sparking, highlighting issues, celebrating events and self discovery . . . Isn’t it time you gave drawing a try?
Ok, I’m in! What’ve you got to get me started, Divya?
For those of you who’d like to try drawing (you’ll be CHO happy you did!) you can receive part one of my Online Course for free, plus my Bonus Film, “Drawing for Stories,” to get started and discover what drawing can do for you. Head over HERE.
Make sure you’re signed up for DMK news to receive all the latest on tips, treats, training and my book, ‘When in doubt, draw’.
Prince
To the rare and remarkable ones. To leaving the world a funkier place. Imagining Prince and Bowie creating things on a whole new level up there. Imagining what’s possible down here. Us earthlings can do some incredible things. Let’s go about doing them. Helping others do them too.
For you rare and remarkable ones. Yes, you!
Look out for our “Big Juicy Retreat,” an exclusive retreat brought to you by yours truly and the exceedingly rare and remarkable Sarah Furuya of Clever Rebels. One place already gone. October 1st and 2nd. Keep your eyes peeled.
Ever draws, DMK x
