Art Therapy and Eating Disorders : Radio Interview http://latalkradio.com/archives/Living-111411.mp3

Eating Disorder is a monster.  I am separate from ED.  ED is so much bigger than her - has a lot more power.







Many people who struggle with body image issues will draw heads separated from their body.  There is a disconnect.





One person saw this drawing as a baseball, and another saw the stitches on the baseball it as sewing her mouth shut so she is not allowed to eat or talk.  We see in our art ways to describe how we are feeling and what we are experiencing in this moment. 

So You Want to be an Art Therapist

The Healing Arts

The Restoring Power of Imagination

by Cathy Malchiodi

So You Want to be an Art Therapist, Part One: Art Therapy as a Career Path

Seriously, can you make a living as an art therapist in the 21st century?

Published on January 24, 2011 by Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPCC, LPAT in The Healing Arts

My last series of posts focused on the "top ten coolest art therapy interventions" historically and currently used in the field of art therapy. I didn't realize by the end of that series that I would be receiving so many emails asking, "just how do I become an art therapist." I am inspired and impressed that so many readers became interested in art therapy as a result. On the other hand, due to all the unexpected email traffic I had to take some time off from writing this blog to do some research on "art therapist" as a career path in 2011, both nationally and internationally. After talking to and/or reading the responses of over 100 colleagues around the US and the world, I learned quite a bit of new information about art therapy as a career path that I am eager to share with those of you who want to be an art therapist.

Related Articles

• So You Want to Be an Art Therapist, Part Three: The Art Therapy Credentials Maze
• So You Want to be an Art Therapist, Part Two: Art Therapy Education
• More Art Healing Q and A
• The Palette of Place Brings Writing Alive
• Be warned: 'Online therapy' is not therapy, not really

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There is already a lot of information on the topic of art therapy as a career on the websites of professional guilds and membership associations and via some excellent descriptions by the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association. What these sites do not provide is a complete picture of the influence of mental health and healthcare fields and healthcare reforms on art therapy, and the rapid evolution in the ways art therapy services are delivered and by whom (because it is not always an art therapist who is delivering them-more about that later in this series). That is what I will fill you in on so that you can make an informed decision about undertaking the cost of education, internship hours, and credentials needed to practice.
So in the next several posts I will be giving potential students a realistic overview of how to prepare for a career as an art therapist and how to decide if it is the profession for you. I'll be talking more specifically about the practice of art therapy in two parts of the world: the US and the United Kingdom; these regions happen to be the most developed in terms of art therapy education and professional recognition. I will also be including information about related fields-- arts in healthcare, creative arts in counseling, play therapy, and expressive arts therapies-- to help you understand the similarities and differences between art therapy and these closely related areas. Finally, I hope to put everything into perspective with regard to today's mental health and healthcare settings so that if you decide to pursue a career in art therapy, you will be as knowledgeable as possible about the job market, what to expect and what the return on your investment will be. Until then...
Be well,
Cathy Malchiodi, PhD, LPAT, LPCC

FREE Manadala Coloring Book!

To help promote Art Therapy worldwide, I am making a special offer...
Free Manadala Coloring Book when you purchase any Art Therapy DVD
"Art Therapy: Healing Grief and Loss"
"This IS Art Therapy: Anxiety Disorders"

For details and purchase: http://www.hayesarttherapy.com
Then click the "Product" tab.

PeaceLove Studios' 26% Project

Check out PeaceLove Studios' 26% Project- Contribute an image and share the project w/ your friends to help change the face of mental illness through art:


This project was created for the 1 out of every 4 people in this country living with a diagnosable mental illness. That’s nearly 80 million people who, due to stigma, are often misunderstood and discussed in secrecy. The project is a free inclusive campaign that combines creative expression, advocacy and story-telling to create awareness for individuals and their loved ones living with mental illness.

http://twentysixpercent.com/

Cleaning out my closet

Actually...
Today my closet AND wardrobe was revamped.  Wendy Tipp, owner of W T Consulting, provides a one on one service: she came into my closet, went through every piece of clothing that I own (EVERY item: t-shirts, sweaters, pants, shorts, tops, coats, shoes, accessories and even my workout clothes).  She told me what to throw out, what to keep and what I need to purchase to round out my basics.  Wendy even organized my clothes by category and by color!

In addition, Wendy SAVED me money!!! Instead of going mindlessly shopping because I am tired of my same-old clothes,  I have new outfits with my "same-old" clothes.  Wendy showed me how to put clothes together in ways I have not even thought of, because I was totally stuck in a rut. Also, when I DO decide to go shopping, I  now have a specific plan. I know that I specifically need dark boot-cut jeans, black boots and some basic black and white t-shirts.

I am SO excited to get up tomorrow and wear my "new" clothes!  Thank you Wendy and W T Consulting. Please check her out on Facebook.

Dancers

     

These are simply sketches colored in with markers, but they came out very dramatic.

I have always loved to draw dancers and musicians. They are so expressive and sexy (maybe that's why I married a musician).  Maybe I like to draw dancers and musicians because I feel that I can not dance and I am not musical.  This is my way to be connected to the performing arts.

Speaking of performing arts....
I am going to be in a feature film - playing an Art Therapist.  Filming begins Oct 3, 2011.  Nervous and excited.

Calabasas is Mourning

As summer heat climbed into the triple digits, school started this week.  Both my daughters are now in high school, and they were really looking forward to seeing their friends and starting a fresh new year.

On the second day of school, all the families were informed of an unspeakable tragedy... a beautiful, talented and loved 16 year old girl took her own life.  The entire community of Calabasas is in mourning for the family as well as the future that was not meant to be for her.

As a parent of a 16 year old girl, I am devastated and saddened to my core, but I can not even imagine the anguish of waking up each morning and realizing that it was not a bad dream.  I send you love, light and hope.

As an Art Therapist, MFT and grief counselor, I would like to offer my services in any way that I can.  I will meet with friends, siblings, classmates or adults.  Or I could facilitate a group at the high school, Swim and Tennis Center or my office here in Calabasas.  Please feel free to contact me directly at 818-836-1239.  I am here for support.

SoulCollage: Four months after surgery

Way back on May 6, 2011, my daughter Cydney had a surgery to remove a cyst from her ovary (the Dr had to take the ovary also).  It very was scary, and I felt angry and helpless.

Now, almost four months later, she is healthy and it is almost as if it never happened. I created this SoulCollage right after the surgery while I was still scared confused and angry, but also grateful.

There are images in this collage that look like an egg, as I was thinking about my daughter's ovaries and her ability (in the future) to get pregnant - or not.  To be a mother is something that is very important to her - something I did not know about my own daughter until this situation came up.

The hands holding cans look like that old telephone game.  I guess I was thinking about communication.  At first it was hard for my hubby and I to talk about our daughter without blaming each other, but I realized that we had to be on the same team and stop the blaming.  But there is a knot in the line - that interferes with direct communication.

Officiating a Wedding

On July 29, 2011 my brother married the girl of his dreams, and I had the honor of officiating the ceremony.  When they first asked if I would be interested in performing the marriage, I was sure they were kidding.     After it became clear that Dave and Nathalie genuinely wanted me to preside over the wedding vows, I went down to the County Commisioners' Office in Norwalk, CA to take an oath and become deputized for one day to perform a marriage ceremony. (I did not even know that was a "thing")

On a breath-taking cliff, overlooking Malibu's Point Dume Beach, and surrounded by family and friends, I conducted the marriage ceremony.   I did not realize how emotional it was going to be.  We all cried and then we ate an awesome dinner at Geoffery's Restaurant in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

If the whole Art Therapy thing doesn't work out, I can use this as a fall-back career.

Flying Pig!!!

This is a really funny drawing.  Or at least it was meant to be funny, but now when I look at it, the pig looks a bit angry or judgmental.

I did this drawing a few days a go, so I kind of forget what I was thinking that day.  Maybe I was feeling fat and angry about something I ate.  Could be.  Who knows?

A flying pig represents and impossibility "When pigs fly..."  There are many things in my life that feel that way right now.  Impossible.

As I am looking at this drawing more and more, I am thinking that the pig looks more determined than angry.  Maybe she is going to accomplish the impossible.  I like that interpretation a lot better than feeling fat.  I am feeling determined to turn things around in my life - both personally and financially.  Determination.  The old Billie Holiday song "Crazy He Calls Me" comes to mind.  She says, "The difficult, I'll do right now.  The impossible, will take a little while".

You go Piggy!

Degas Dancer in Oil Pastels

Another drawing that was done during client session.  Client was drawing her relationship with her daughter, and I just started drawing the example picture that is on the box of oil pastels.

I need to draw more with oil pastels.  They are so forgiving and fun to blend. Because I was copying this drawing, I was surprised by the color use of the shading and highlights. I would have never seen the shadows as blue or the skin as purple and yellow if I had not drawn this image - in fact, I have looked at this drawing hundreds of times on the pastel box, but I have never really seen at it before.

Looking and seeing are NOT the same.  Check out "Zen and the Art of Seeing/Drawing as Meditation" by Frederick Franck  .  Great book.

"Healing Through Art" - Worldwide Art Therapy

Sangeetha Neeraja

Express News Service

Last Updated : 11 Jul 2011 08:33:35 AM IST

CHENNAI: Words lie, Art doesn’t. For the query, “How are you?” Most of us instinctively say, “I am fine”, even though we might feel far away from it. On the contrary, when given a piece of paper and some colours and asked to express through ‘art’ for the same query, “How are you?”, the drawings that people come up with throws up a whole new dimension.

Magdalene Jeyarathnam, Founder-Director of East West Centre for Counselling Centre, who has been in the field of counselling for close to two decades, made the above observation as she shared the ingenious use of Art Therapy in counselling.

Going by this premise, East West Centre for Counselling has introduced the first-of-its kind certificate courses in Art Therapy in Chennai for those who wish to pursue professional counseling or Art Therapy as a career.

Magdalene noted, “Art Therapy is a powerful tool in the hands of the counsellor, mostly people are incapable of expressing themselves in words. When words fail, art comes to rescue.

Through art, the memories or the images that otherwise lie buried in their unconsciousness is brought to the surface, and then the therapist through various sessions helps the client to deal with it.” In Art Therapy, various art techniques such as art work, clay, water colours, crayons, oil on canvas, sewing, collages, group discussions, games and exercises, case studies, role-play presentation and testimonies are used.

Art Therapy is successfully used to deal with individuals, couples or families who are suffering from trauma, grief and loss, substance abuse, vocational burn out, depression and anxiety and also personal development.

The training methodology used is experiential learning. They also use some quantitative common test like Silvers Test-House -Tree-person test to get a baseline understanding of the client.

Magdalene said, “During the course, the therapist can also create their own assessment test. For example, at the beginning of the therapy, if the client takes the House-Tree-person test, and after three months into the therapy, the client is asked to undergo the same test again, the therapist can draw inferences on the assessment test.” There is a paucity of professionals in India to train people in this field of Art Therapy. Magdalene observed, “Most of them go abroad to get trained in Art Therapy, but sadly they don’t come back to India to practice or train others.” Melba Thorn, who holds a BFA from Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam and MA in Marital and Family Therapy specialising in “Clinical Art Therapy” from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, will be the trainer for this course.

They offer a weekend module for professionals at a cost of Rs 3,000. And the one year diploma course comes with a tuition fee of Rs 50,000. They also offer Art therapy sessions for those who need it.

Call 9884100135, 98847 00164 or visit www.centerforcounselling.

Torn Paper Collage with Ink

It has been awhile, but I am back and my promise to you is that I will post my art again on a weekly basis (more often if I am able to).  

This is a ripped construction paper.  Glued together and than enhanced with ink pen design. 

I began this piece while I was working with a client.  She is an adult female who I feel is very controlled and fearful. After several weeks of her drawing, I took away some of her control and told her that she could only tear the paper.  As she worked I created my own torn paper collage.  I have been making art along-side my clients more often these days.  I have abstained from doing this in the past, but recently I feel that I can watch my clients without staring at them.  Otherwise, I get bored and the client sometimes feels judged.

I completed this collage by adding repeating patterns (some of which I borrowed from Henna designs).  I liked the focus that these tiny designs required, but at times it was exhausting and felt very much like I was perseverating. I like this and I want to do more in the genre. It is really an interesting juxtaposition of letting go of control and almost OCD control.

Great article about Art Therapy and Grief

By Gayla Elliot, art therapist, Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune

A detailed sketch of a human skull and a blood-red rose. A pencil drawing showing an aerial view of a combat scene where Marines lie wounded and dying from a blast. A painting on canvas of a Greek warrior seeking vengeance from an angry sun or god. These images are snapshots of artwork produced by enlisted service members as they participate in the art therapy program at the Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune (NHCL).

With so many of our military service members returning from war with visible and invisible wounds to body, mind, and spirit, health care providers face a challenge to provide the most comprehensive care. Art therapy is one form of intervention that can be highly effective as part of an overall healthcare program for military personnel. A little over one year ago, NHCL launched a new art therapy program which now treats approximately 60 patients per week. At NHCL, we use our art therapy program as a mental health assessment tool, and for group interventions or individual psychotherapy. In general, art therapy becomes an expressive outlet to aide with physical, mental and spiritual rehabilitation.

For the rest of the article go to:
http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2011/06/medical-monday-art-therapy-services-offer-service-members-specialized-care/

Soul Collage: Committee Suit "The Restless Self"

I have been feeling this intense sense of restlessness lately.  The need for change - something new.  I really think this has to do with my stage in life: 43 years old - married almost 19 years.  The questions of "Is this all there is?" and "Do I ever get to feel that sense of novelty, thrill and excitement again?" keep bubbling up to the surface.

The background is an exploding volcano - so much destructive energy.  I am a little worried that my restless energy could become destructive - doing something I will regret later.  But most of that background is covered up.  So maybe that is a good thing.  Keep it contained.

There is the speedboat that probably represents thrill and excitement but also luxury and indulgence.  A bit of dangerous playfulness too.  The jar with the lightning bolt conveys a bottled up power force.  As if that cork is going to pop off any second.  Could be alcohol, "tiger's blood" or just potential energy.  Right now I feel I have so much to share, but no outlet for it.

I picked the gun - not for a violent image, but as another symbol of power.  "If I can not gain your respect, I will just take it!"  Fear. There is a credit card coming out of the top of the gun -  I did not even see that until I started cutting it out - credit is potential money, money is potential power.  Really starting to feel the pressures of money, or lack of.

I am a bit baffled by the  tree trunk body / TV headed figure.  It seems frightened and confused. I am frightened and confused by all this bottled energy.  How do I sublimate it without hurting myself or others around me? I am also uncertain of the meaning of the leopard.  It seems to be stalking its' prey.  Maybe it's a "cougar".  What is it I am "Stalking"?

I think I need to stop thinking about all the exciting things that I don't have, and refocus on what already exists in my life that I can get excited about.

Soul Collage: Committee Suit "The Warrior"

This started out as "The Warrior". I wanted to portray my strength.  I am a strong person - physically and mentally.  I maintain my strength through the practice of martial arts and distance running. I travel for work, and I am often alone.  I need to feel strong when I am in a strange city. I trust that, if I had to, I could protect myself.  It may be a false sense of security, but I believe that we all need to live our lives with a sense of security - false or not.  If we do not live with some delusions, than life may be too hard to handle.  Maybe that is what causes people to be depressed. They live without delusion. They only see reality, without the silver-lining or rose-colored glasses  We need our delusions.

But I digress...

This collage became about something else. Now this collage seems to be about opposites.  I love the jockey on the snail.  Not sure why I originally chose this image.  So often my life is a "Hurry up and wait" or maybe it's that I expect to hurry things that just can not be rushed.  When I achieved my 1st degree Black Belt  I though I was a badass.  However, my Sensei told me that NOW I was a student just beginning my journey. I often try to rush the process.

I placed the woman swinging a pick-axe at balloons.  Overkill when a small pin would do the job?  Using the wrong tools for the job.  Bigger and more aggressive is not always better. Sometimes, it seems, that I make my life seem much more difficult than it is.  Am I working too hard at things that should be simpler?

However it could be something completely different.  On occasion a balloon can be deceptively difficult to pop.  Stronger than it looks.  Just like me!

New Assignment!! The SoulCollage

I will be starting on a new art assignment.  This will be a weekly art activity, as opposed to a daily one.
I will be doing a technique called "The SoulCollage, created by Ms. Seena Frost.  The SoulCollage process is an intuitive way to tend the soul and explore the psyche at the same time.  Some images that I will choose may show parts of my multi-layered personality, while others will express archetypes, personal animals guides or my community.  I will create an entire Soul Collage deck to address many aspects of myself.  Just like in a traditional deck of cards, there are four suits to the SoulCollage:
1. The Committee Suit: The Psychological Dimension
2. The Community Suit: The Communal Dimension
3. The Companion Suit: The Energetic Dimension
4. The Council Suit: The Archetypal Dimension

I have begun with the Committee Suite (I love the word committee because of all the double letters).   Here I am taking a deep look at all the different aspects of my personality - you know, the voices in my head.  This week's choice I am calling "The Confused Parent".

I have moved from the young child parenting stage into the teenager/young adult parenting stage.  This new stage is so vastly different that I am reassessing who I am and where do I fit into this relationship - the boundaries just are not as clear.

Okay, so here's what I came up with...The background is a map because I need some direction and/or because I am lost.  Than we have the person rubbing their eyes in this universal "I give up/I can't cope" gesture.  The eyes are closed and the glasses are removed so I can not see or see clearly.  Maybe I have the tools (the glasses) but I am just not using them properly at the moment.

The top of the head has been replaced by a clock - time ticking away.  This is a very different type of internal biological clock that I felt when I was ready to have babies.  This clock is my life and opportunities slipping away.  The feeling of "I will never do ______ again".  Fill in the blank with "push a child on a swing", "get into shananagans with my friends", "fall in love".

Notice that at the bottom, there is organic baby food that is morphing into alcohol.  How did I get from being in control of everything to almost nothing?  I used to know what/when/where they ate/played/pooped/slept.  Now I am lucky if I get eat one meal a day with them or even meet their friends.  It hasn't happened yet, but I am waiting the day when one of the daughters comes home drunk and puking from a party (oh yes, it will happen eventually).

There is a stack of hundred dollar bills behind the right side of the head and hands.  Money is a big issue right now. I hate that it is.  I feel that at this stage of my life there should be less financial struggle. But the struggle is there everyday, and it becomes more obvious as designer clothes are requested, driver's license are archived and collage approaches. As I get older, their stuff gets more expensive.

Finally, in the upper right corner (the future) is a dinosaur skull. Every day I feel like I am more and more obsolete and archaic.  Sometimes I can not even understand the conversations taking place right in front of me - it's like they are speaking a foreign language.  I feel old. I am struggling to hang on to youth, but having teenagers is a constant reminder that youth belongs to them.

So there it is... "The Confused Parent"  The first in the Committee Suit.

Day 65: Mahogany

Last Day of Crayola Crayon project.  Sad.  Not a great place to end.  Bad day.

My private practice has dwindled to almost nothing in the past few months.  I had one client scheduled today and she cancelled (she's agoraphobic, so she cancels about every-other appointment).  So, I went in to the office anyway, because I was expecting some checks in the mail - NOTHING.

Money is diminishing quickly from every direction.  I was lecturing in Toledo and Detroit last week, very low turn out for the seminars and almost no sales of book and/or DVDs.  No one signed up for my webinar this week. I am to the point where I am considering having to give up my office and practice, because I am barely seeing enough clients to cover rent and expenses.

This economic depression has finally hit here, and it has hit hard.  I feel like Dorothy, where everything I know and identify with has suddenly been pulled out from under me.  I know this is happening all over the country and many people are worse off, but I am at the point where I need to rethink my career path.  Is private practice still a viable livelihood?  If not, where do I go from here?  The rules have completely changed, and I do not even know who I am anymore.  If I am no longer an Art Therapist, who am I?

Day 64: Orchid

Before I even looked at the color name, "Orchid" I felt that I wanted to draw either lotus flowers or water-lilies (are they the same thing?)  Something about this color reminded me of Monet's "Waterlily" paintings, but the word "lotus flower" was more prominent in my head.  I Google Imaged "Lotus Flower".

I have not researched the lotus flower, but my understanding is that this type of flower grows up out of the muck.  That is why it is such a powerful Eastern metaphor for rebirth.  Also representative of being pure of body and floating above the muddy waters.  I feel like right now I am in mucky waters.  Money problems.  Navigating through parenting adolescent girls without them hating me all the time.  Trying to find excitement in a 19 year relationship.  Renegotiating my career, because the rate of incoming clients has diminished significantly and in direct proportion to the declining economy.  But I know "This too will pass".  As every other hard time in my life has - it comes to an end and things look brighter on the other side.  But while I am here it is dark and hard to hold on.

Yesterday I had lunch at Wolf Creek Restaurant and Brewing Co in Agoura Hills, CA with three of my friends from my martial arts class (Team MMA in Woodland Hills).  We were celebrating an upcoming wedding. We decorated our lunch table with beautiful pink lily and white hydrangea center pieces, and I took one home after lunch.   I just walked through my kitchen, and smell of that beautiful lily fills the entire room.  Although I did not think of this flower at the time, I am sure I was subconsciously influenced by that smell and the colors.

There is one more crayon left in my 64 box of Crayola Crayons.  Any guesses as to what that last color might be?  

Day 63: Melon

I wanted to make this look like watermelon, and it does a little bit, but that is so hard to accomplish with just one color.  I really want to use more than one color!! Now that I am looking at it, it looks like a bowl of lentil soup. (I'm not even hungry - just finished dinner - left over Indian food from last night).

I was not really motivated to draw today.  I am thinking about what I should do with all the used crayons. I have been saving them all - most are broken and many have the wrappers removed. I want to melt them together and make some final project.  I am thinking of one giant multicolored crayon.  Or maybe I should create (or purchase) a mold of some kind.

I need your suggestions...

Bonus:  for some reason I have TWO more crayons left in my box.  I am thinking that I must have picked up some crayon from another stash early on (I do believe that I have two "Red Violet" drawings).  Anyhow, you all get an extra day!  Yeah!

Day 62: Cerulean

This morning I was watching "CBS Sunday Morning".  You know how they always have the elaborately drawn sun between segments?  I was inspired, and I told myself that when I sit down to draw later today I will draw a really cool sun.  That was at 9am.

After an hour and a half of MMA class, grocery shopping, a shower, straightening up the house, seeing "Limitless" with my friend Justine (the movie was awesome BTW), then picking up Indian food for dinner, and sending out an email to try to find parent volunteers for an event at our middle school, I finally sat down to draw at 8pm.

I still intended to draw a sun.  I even Google imaged "CBS Sunday Morning suns". Somehow, my sun started out as a moon, than stars, than what looks much more like an octopus than a sun.

So, what's going on?  Well, for starters, it IS night time - so the moon makes sense.  The three stars? I am thinking those exist because it was just me and the daughters for dinner tonight.  I really want to try to reconnect with them.  Older daughter asked me today, when she drove me to pick up the Indian food, "Are you mad at me?"  I wasn't.  She said, "You seem like you are mad at me." I was actually in a good mood, so I was surprised.  Than she added, "Well, I know you hate younger daughter, and I think sometimes you hate me too."

We were not even fighting.  This makes me sad.  I am hard on younger daughter.  She can be lazy and easily distracted, so I am redirecting her more often than her sister.  I guess I need to lighten up a little.  This is the type of thing that future therapy session will focus on.

How about the octopus?  Sometimes I feel like I am doing so many things that I need eight arms to get it all done.  I think that the octopus is a fascinating creature.  It is better at camouflaging itself than a chameleon.  (check out this youtube video of the octopus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmDTtkZlMwM&feature=related).  Maybe the sun became more of an octopus because of the color - Cerulean.  Its a blueish under water color.

 I just looked up "cerulean" and Wikipeadia says it is "derives from caelulum, diminutive of caelum, "heaven, sky". Interesting that I made a sun/moon/stars image with THIS color. There is something to be said for Carl Jung's idea of the collective unconscious.  There are things that we know without knowing.

Day 61: Red Orange

Only three more days - three more colors to go.  Wow.

I Love Dr. Seuss!  I like to draw his architectural fantasies.  I would like to live in one.  I have made a few paintings of my own houses in the Seuss style.  That's fun.

Notice the bed in the upstairs window.  I am writing this from my bed (even though I did not draw it while in bed).  I am tired.  I have jet-lag.

Day 60: Goldenrod

When I think of Goldenrod I think of allergies.  So I started by drawing a nose.  I wanted it to be a feminine face, but it turned into an old man face. How did that happen?  Again, I did this during my lecture, while the attendees were collaging (in Detroit, MI).  One of things that I tell the attendees of my Art Therapy seminar is "the art can lead you in a direction you do not intend." Consciously I wanted to draw a woman. However this is definitely male.  The other thing that changed from my original intention is the tree-like thing inside the head.  I was thinking about allergies, so I had intended to draw sinuses.  This looks more like the brain.

So, what does that all mean?  I'm  not sure... I was feeling manly?  Not feminine? That does not feel right.

I have not had seasonal allergies in many years (I took allergy shots for several years). Despite the shots, I think that's mostly a result of moving out to the west coast.  Different pollens here, and it's so much dryer (although it is hard to say its dry here after the torrential rains we've been having).  

Maybe the Golden"rod" has become the brain-stem.  The lifeline to my thoughts and behaviors. It also connects the inner world to the outer world.  I like that.

PS:  because I titled my last Tweet "Is there Thai food in Detroit?"  I now have a Thai restaurant in MI following me on Titter.  Too funny.

Day 59: Mauvelous

I drew this during my seminar.  The attendees where working on their collages today, so I had some drawing time.  This was inspired by the collage - overlapping pictures.

I had no idea there was a color called "Mauvelous". What does that even mean?  Is it a kick-back from Billy Crystal's SNL character?

I'm in Detroit, and I think I will go seek out some Thai food.

Later Biotchessss!

Day 58: Chestnut

Today I am in Ft. Wayne, IN, and I will be heading to Ohio this afternoon.  I was born and raised in Ohio.  I checked out the Crayola name and when I saw "Chestnut" it reminded me of a buckeye, and being that Ohio is "The Buckeye State" I really had no choice but to draw the state of Ohio.  Without having a map to look at, I drew this.  Despite that I think I did a pretty good job with the Ohio shape.  (Okay, I have to confess that I actually drew it backwards.  Once I got on the Interstate between Ft. Wayne and Toledo, I saw the actual Ohio shape and realized that I drew it backwards.  So, through the beauty of the Photoshop, I flipped the drawing and now it looks right.)

Its too bad that I am not going to see my family at all while I am here.  My Mom is in Cleveland, and that is about 2 1/2 hours from Toledo, and my Dad does not even know that I am here.  I told him, but he does not remember.  I have a great father.  He's really loving and demonstrative with his affection, but he is quirky.  He only recalls about half of what I talk to him about.  I used to think that memory problem was some type of early Alzheimer's, but now I am pretty convinced that he is just on a shit-load of pain medications.  We all wish that our relationships with our parents were different/better.  I wonder what my daughters will say about me in 10 years.  Or what they say about me now.

I feel like I need to call home and check in with hubby and kids now.

Day 57: Scarlet

When I looked at the name of this crayon, Scarlet, the first thing I thought of was "Ms. Scarlet" from the board game "Clue".  I used to love that game.  I played when I was a kid with my family, and I played as an adult with my husband and young daughters.  I have not played in many years.

I drew the game pawn.  Ms. Scarlet was so sexy, mysterious and alluring.  I always wanted to be Ms. Scarlet.  Also, I was in a very sensual mood tonight.  I believe that may be a giant vagina behind the game pawn.  

Day 56: Violet (Purple)

I CANNOT believe that I have gone 55 days without drawing a crayon with a crayon.  It is so Post Modern. I LOVE this drawing! It is so much fun - playful.  No need  for any deeper explanation. 

Day 55: Tan

It rainy and cold.  Its Sunday and dreary.  The house is sticky and messy. The laundry needs to be done, but the daughters refuse to pick up their clothes from the floor and put it in the basket.  There are cup and snax left about the house from last night (after I was in bed).  The cats' litter box needs to be changed, but no one will admit that it is their turn to change it. I need to go grocery shopping, but the family would rather complain that there is nothing good in the house than make any suggestions about what they want. I am in a bad mood.

I did not look at the crayon's name - I just chose one.  There are few crayons left, but there seems to be a lot of brownish colors.  I am trying to spread those out.  Anyhow, I drew my "Bad Mood" picture and than looked at the color name.  I saw "Bronceado".  I have no idea what a "bronceado" is - it sounds like bronze to me.  I look it up on the internet, and get a lot of pictures of people laying out on the beach.  Okay, I get it, bronze makes sense, but why didn't Crayola just call it "Bronze"?  I look at the Crayola.com website, and everything comes up in Spanish.  I pick up the crayon again, and look more closely. It says "Tan", and underneath that it says "Bronceado" and just below it says "Havane" (French).

Misreading.  Misinterpretation.  Misunderstanding.  That is what makes communicating so difficult.  I misread the label.  This is something that I often do at the grocery store, because I am in a hurry or I am distracted.  I intend to buy chicken noodle soup, but when I get home I see I actually grabbed chicken rice soup.  No one likes chicken rice soup, so I eventually end up eating it because I was not really paying attention in the first place.

I am getting from this, that I just need to slow down a little bit.  Look at things differently.  If my Biggest problem is that my daughters won't pick up their dirty clothes, I am a lucky person.  So what if its rainy outside today, and I have to forfeit my 8 mile run in the canyon, at least I have a warm, dry house.
I can spend the day finishing my work 

Day 54: Wisteria

After I removed all the wrapper from this crayon, I placed it on its side and started swinging it around to make the circular shapes.  It takes quite a bit of muscle to press the crayon length-wise to make it dark enough.

Once I completed the drawing, I realized that a "wisteria" IS a flower.  I had looked at the name, but I was not consciously thinking that I should draw a flower (like on "Granny Smith Apple" day, where I specifically wanted to draw an apple).

I do an Art Therapy technique titled the "The Rosebush", where I direct my clients to visualize a rosebush.  I ask, Where does it lives? Who takes care of it? Does it have thorns? ... and many other questions.  This becomes a metaphor for the self - as all art ultimately is.  So, what does this rose drawing say about me?

It does have thorns.  I can be a little prickly at times, but most people do not know that about me unless they get close enough to see those thorns.  The rose is strongly rooted into the ground.  I feel that I am pretty stable and rooted.  We only see half the flower, though.  Am I trying to hide something?  I don't really think so.  What else could it be?  There is a lot more to my life that I have yet to see - the whole picture had yet to be revealed.  I guess we never get to see the whole picture until the very end.  And we may or may not be totally cognizant at that age/time to understand.

Day 53: Yellow Orange

Did this early this morning.  Got up at 7am on a Saturday to go cheer on my friend, Niki, in her triathlon in Pasadena, CA.  She did great and I was so proud of her!  She wants me to do the triathlon with her next year.

So, maybe these are pom-poms, as I was the "cheerleader" and not the athlete for once.  It definitely has a lot of movement and energy.

The "pom-poms" at the bottom of the page are heavy and submerged in water, and once the "pom-poms" rise above the surface they seem to pop and float way.  That's what I see, anyway.

New Lecture Series - Art and Grief

Hey Midwesterners! I will be lecturing in Ft. Wayne, IN, Toledo, OH and Detroit, MI next week. Come make a collage and get your CEUs.
http://www.hayesarttherapy.com/index.html

3/23/2011

Marriott Ft. Wayne

305 E. Washington Center Rd.

 Ft. Wayne, IN 46825

260-484-0411

3/24/2011

Park Inn Toledo

101 N. Summit St.

Toledo, OH 43604

419-241-3000

3/25/2011

Embassy Suites Hotel Detroit-Livonia

19525 Victor Pkwy.

Livonia, MI 48152

734-462-6000

Day 52: Granny Smith Green

Okay, so today is St. Patrick's Day, so I felt obligated to choose a green crayon.  But yesterday was green also, so I fought against it for awhile.  In the end I went with the last green left in the box.  I am down to just about a dozen crayons - they are dwindling quickly.  Today I am feeling a little sad about this project ending  in less than two weeks.  I AM considering the next project.  Oh yes, there WILL be another project.  And that is all I have to say about that right now.

I could not really narrow down my thoughts to one cohesive concept.  This is very disjunct. So I ended up with four shamrock clovers, three Appletinis and a Granny Smith apple (To be sung to the tune of  "12 Days of Christmas").  I did not even know that there was a Crayola crayon named Granny Smith apple yesterday when I blogged.

This is very basic, very literal - the opposite of being metaphorically deep. Am I running out of things to draw?

I'm tired today.  Had a hard time sleeping last night.  After about an hour of tossing and turning, I turned the light back on and started to read my book, Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten .  Than I got really swept up in the story, and finished the book.  By that time it was 2am.  This Daylight Savings Time has really screwed me up this year.  Time to sleep - hopefully.

(Appletini!)

Day 51: Yellow Green

Yuck! I DO NOT like this drawing.  That is my critic voice.  The chin is wrong.  In face drawings, the chin can make or break you.  It can really determine how masculine or feminine the figure looks.  Too big or too square and it becomes a man - more rounded and it is female.  However, now that I am looking at it, there needs to be more space between mouth and chin and less space between mouth and nose.  The proportions are wakey.

Usually I like this color.  I call it "Appletini Green".  Maybe Crayola would consider changing the name.  I have an LL Bean winter coat this color - which I LOVE.  I am not really a fan of the Appletini, though.  It's too sweet. I just like to say it. Appletini.  Everyone try it at home.... Appletini.  Isn't that a fun word?

I took little daughter to get her hair done today, and her stylist gave us a card with an image similar to this drawing.  So later when I sat down to draw, the card was just lying there on the table in front of me. What could I do?  I had no choice but to recreate this sensual seductress.  (Appletini)

I don't think there is too much subconscious stuff in this one.  I was really just copying.  However, she does look like she is looking back over her shoulder in a paranoid/anxious way.  Am I feeling paranoid or anxious?  I didn't think so. But maybe people are out to get me...I did not realize that one could be sensual, seducing, paranoid and anxious all at the same time. I guess anything is possible.

Appletini!