Day 2: Journaling the Uncounscious

This is the inside cover of the book.  It was blank, so that made it easy.  I came across this castle/mountain image in a magazine, and I really like it Not sure why.  Maybe it's opposites coming together in an unusual way. More likely, it reminds me of the iconic image that explains the conscious mind versus the unconscious mind. Wow, I just found this other image online, and even the colors I used are similar.  Brilliant!

Journaling - My New Project

Yesterday I went to The Goodwill used bookstore and bought several hard cover books - novels and non-fiction.

You can follow this metamorphosis as I cover over the words of this book with drawings, collages and paints to reform a book of my own.

I have chosen one, originally titled, The Book of Eleven, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and I am going to transform it into my own personal journal. The only reason that I chose this book was because I liked the size (5"x 5") and when I randomly opened the book, I read:

"I WANT TO THANK Dr. Seuss and his classic My Book About Me for introducing me to the process of putting thoughts down on paper, resulting in self-examination and unwarrented self-importance."

I LOVE Dr. Seuss!!!! His work has influenced me throughout my life.

Day 1:
I removed the dust cover and collaged a picture of myself and I have retitled it, The Book of Power, Goodwill, Hope: Understanding, Treatment and Resources.

Library of Dust

Photographs by David Maisel

These photographs, by David Maisel, are of canisters holding the human remains of mentally ill patients, left in a storage room which was flooded multiple times over many decades. From Oregon State Hospital - as depicted in the movie "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest".

 The colors are created from a mixture of the copper on the containers and phosphates, calcium (from the bones) and sulfates, with smaller percentages of potassium, sodium and chloride (the ashes) combined with the corroding acid in the groundwater from the flooding.

David Maisel states, " I am seeking to give those who lived with mental illness a presence that encourages their existence in ways that were impossible in their lifetimes.”

Here is what amazes me! 

These look as if they could be photographs taken from the Hubble Space Telescope. The colors create a swirling that is very similar to photographs of galaxies. We are all made up of the same materials, and we all revert back to our origins, but each of us also carries our own specific affect on the world.

http://www.davidmaisel.com/works/lod.asp
http://jessiesimmondsfinalyear.blogspot.com/2010/11/library-of-dust.html

Video Podcast - Episode 10

Experiment with New Materials

Pamela uses rubbing alcohol and acrylic paints to try out some resist painting, but she is ultimately unsatisfied.

New eBook at Amazon

Hey Friends!
I wanted you to be the first to know,
I have a new workbook out:

BLENDING ART THERAPY WITH THE 12 STEPS OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
An Integrative Approach to Addiction Treatment
THE WORKBOOK

Available on Amazon for Kindle, Kindle Fire and iPad
http://www.amazon.com/Blending-Therapy-Alcoholics-Anonymous-ebook/dp/B0096WCZ92/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347076436&sr=8-1&keywords=blending+art+therapy+and+the+twelve

The print version will be available in a few weeks.  Look for that on my website:
www.HayesArtTherapy.com 

Day 48: Riveted Sun

Drew this while listening to a webinar this morning.  Makes me wonder what my attendees do while I am talking during a webinar.

The sun images is always a go-to easy doodle for me.  Really have not done one yet, so I thought I should include a sun.  it looks like it has been riveted like it's made of metal. Or like Levis

Day 47: Canopic Jar

Canopic jars were used by the Ancient Egyptians during the mummification process to store and preserve the viscera of their owner for the afterlife. They were commonly either carved from limestone or were made of pottery.^[1] 
-Wikipedia

I copied this from a ceramics assignment my daughter did recently.  Cool and spooky.

Day 46: Dude

I was in the mood to create a cartoon.  This looks a lot like my hubby when he was younger.  He was sitting right next while I was drawing.  I just have four more days left of this challenge.  Endings are always a little hard.  What will follow?

Seminars in Washington state

Hey North Western friends,
I will be lecturing in Seattle, Spokane and Portland next week. Here is a link in you are interested.
Art Therapy and Grief Seminar

Day 45: Cranky

Ever have one of these day?

Day 44: Dolphin

The last few days I have have been shooting and editing my podcast, "3 Minute Art Therapy".  So, although I have been keeping up with my drawings, I was not able to post them because the computer was occupied. (I can't upload to my blog from the iPad).

While waiting at the Apple store to have a diagnostic run on my iPad, I was sitting at the little kids tables.  I was checking out the drawing apps they had on the iPads, and there was a coloring book with this dolphin.  So I copied it!  It was so cute.  I think my dolphin is a little chubbier, but it just makes it more adorable.

Coming soon: 3 Minute Art Therapy - Episode 009, Identify Your Best Self!

Day 43: Martian Sunset

I am reading a book by Brendon Burchard, THE CHARGE, Activating the 10 Human Drives that Make You Feel Alive, and he was talking about how our brain becomes more activated when we engage in something novel or challenging.  He than states that "an engaged brain in a happy brain."  So, it made me think...
If I ask someone to draw a sunset, we all have a set idea of what a sunset looks like, and our brains don't have to work too hard because we have seen this a thousand times. However, if I ask someone to draw a sunset on Mars (or any other planet) we now are faced with a whole new concept that we have never seen and/or given much thought to.

An engaged brain in a happy brain!

Day 42: Negative Spaces

This was actually inspired by my client's painting today. She painted a made up planet.  It's called 'Negative Spaces' because I painted and then erased the white lines.  Not a great day - got some bad news today, but I am looking for the positive lesson within.

Day 41: Sunset and Ice Cream

 These were made on another iPad app "Zoodle Pad".  I know I said I was only using one app. So, I lied. I just discovered this app - it's fun because it is rainbow-y, but it is not really very versatile.

Day 40: Ski Slope

I was thinking about hierarchies.  The idea of different levels - bunny slope to black diamond. I also saw a great  Groupon deal on a trip to Tahoe - didn't buy it but I would have liked to.  I haven't skied in two years - really miss it.

Day 39: Sunglasses

This is super ugly, but that's okay - I can not make pretty art every day.  Today I feel lazy, and don't want to do anything.  Went for a run, read Brendon Burchard's book "The Charge", watch the end of a bad Ben Stiller/Jack Black movie, ate leftover hamburger from last night's BBQ and went with daughter to see "Men in Black 3".  That's my lazy day.

Is this person missing a nose?

3 Minute Art Therapy

Have you watched the most recent podcast?
"Breaking Through The Resistance" (Episode 008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW9L3ynhTJE
A new podcast is coming soon!

Day 38: Car Wash

Yay! I got my car washed yesterday - inside and out.  That feels so good.
Boo!  Today the car window is covered in bird poop.  That does not feel great.

Day 37: Sisyphus

This is my challenge to you....
Find yourself a challenge, and approach that task with excitement and enthusiasm.

Day 36: Miro

This drawing was inspired by my tattoo, which is a detail from a Miro painting.  FYI this tattoo is on my right shoulder.  This was my second tattoo - Free coloring book for the first person who guesses where on my body my other tattoo is located!

Day 35: Batty

I was trying to come up with a way to remember the different levels of brain waves:
Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta. I decided that the acronym is BATD (batty). This is my visual image for recall.

Day 34: Negative Space Tree

Most people draw a knot whole inside the tree, I decided to go in another direction.... The hole is outside/ behind the tree.

Day 33: Jumping Female Figure

I haven't drawn a naked female figure in a long time (that used to be my go-to doodle).  I wanted to illustrate freedom and joy!

Day 32: Neurons

This is my brain firing all types of new and excited neurons.  

Day 31: Frog

I had a need to draw a frog.  About 5 years ago, I created a 60 foot mural for my neighborhood elementary school.  It has lots of cute frogs, bugs, butterflies and even a snake.  I walked by the mural a few days ago, and i was excited to see it still there, even though my kids are in high school.

Day 30: Flower

This was a quickie.  Had to pack and leave for Wisconsin.  

Day 29: Cherry Blossom

This reminds me of a flowering tree in spring.  There seems to be a random door in the background, but I have no desire to go inside because it is so delicious outside under this tree.

Day 28: Links

Just thinking about all the ways we are connected.

Day 27: Mother and Daughters

iPad Drawing Challenge - Day 27: Mother and Daughters
I copied this off a watercolor painting I did many years ago (when my daughters were young and more enmeshed with me). No matter how old they get, they will always be a part of me.

Day 26: Mask

This started out as a Mardi Gras mask, but now it looks more like and owl.  A huge owl swooped into our backyard this evening.  (I drew this picture before that event) I know there are owls in my back yard, because they are so loud at night.  As if they are mocking me.  But I have seldom seen them.

Day 25: Vino

Today, May 16th, is my 19 year anniversary.  Wholly Crap!!  Hubby and I have been together for 22 years.  That is INSANE.  In some ways it seems like no time at all, and in other ways it seems like forever.  I love him, I hate him - the cycle of marriage.

We went out to dinner, didn't have a glass of wine, but I wanted one (I don't like drinking more than a few times a week - too many empty calories).  Should have.  As we were finishing dessert (carrot cake - because that is what our wedding cake was) he took a phone call, and went outside for the remainder of the meal.  The odd thing is, I really wasn't mad.  I should have been.  Maybe after all this time, I just don't put too much emphasis on one part of one meal - it's the entire life that counts.

Mazel Tov !!

Day 24: Dr. Seuss House

I love the architecture of Dr. Seuss.  I want to live in Whoville!! This drawing is whimsical and structured at the same time.  That is what I want to be.

I've been thinking lately, "What three words would I want to describe the person I am and strive to be?" (this is inspired by a challenge from Brendon Burchard of "Experts Academy" - check him out!!!).  I decided that my three words are,
Healthy
Creative
Curious
Maybe I am not all those things every moment of every day, but that is the person I seek to be.  That is the role model for my daughters that I want to portray.  Everyday, in each situation, I ask myself "Am I being/presenting Healthy, Creative and Curious?" This one simple question challenges me to be better...

Day 23: Spiral and Target

Full disclosure:  I did this last night, but got too sleepy to post it on the blog.  So, this is yesterday's drawing.
I don't love this one, but as I tell my patients, "Not everything we make HAS to be a masterpiece."

I will say, that this drawing has a lot of energy, but the energy seems to be self contained and not really going anywhere.  It needs to break free of its limitations (metaphor for my life OR I am tired of working on the small iPad screen).

3 Minute Art Therapy: Episode 008

Now available!

"Breaking Through Resistance"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW9L3ynhTJE

Pamela answers a frequently asked questions...
How do I deal with a client who is really resistant to drawing?
This episode gives five techniques to help clients break through their own resistance and reduce their perfectionistic tendencies. 

Day 22: Mother's Day Flowers

These flowers go out to my four wonderful and amazing mothers, Mom (Barbara), Step-Mom (Sue), Mother-In-Law (Alice) and Step-Mother-In-Law (Lori).  I am so blessed.

Its a hard job, but today I am pampered.  I went for a beautiful run, stopped in the Coffee Bean to see my oldest daughter, and she made me a coffee.  Now I am home getting yummy smells wafting upstairs while my hubby and younger daughter are busy creating a fabulous breakfast.  Later we all will meet my brother at Runyon Canyon for a hike in the Hollywood Hills.  Perfect day.

Love honestly.

Day 21: TV and Computer

I was thinking about the way we use computers as compared to television in terms of creativity and learning... What is "Edutainment"?
TV is passive because information is being delivered to us. However a computer can be passive or interactive. I believe we need to use computers differently than TV.






"Computers will not live up to their potential until we start to think of them less like televisions and more like paintbrushes. That is, we need to start seeing computers not simply as information machines, but also as a new medium for creative design and expression."
     -Mitchel Resnick, MIT Media Labs

Day 20: Paintbrush

I drew this for my new seminar on Positive Psychology. Lots of layering with all the possible drawing techniques on "Paper by 53". 

Day 19: Money

This is my "Mind Map". Problem solving through creativity.


I am learning about, and having my clients make "Mind Maps" to solve problems and explore options in new ways. So, the problem I was thinking about was "Money".  I drew this image, but I really have not done the problems solving yet.


Many people on Facebook really responded to this drawing.  They said they liked it best so far, and could feel the energy.  Personally, its not one of my favorites.  I hated it at first and had to rework it several times.  

Day 18: Leaf

It was a really beautiful day here in Southern California, but I do miss the New England autumns.


It take SOOOOO long to color in large solid areas with this app.  It really needs a "fill in" option.  But it is more like real drawing, because you do have to just color in areas with a pen if you want them fully colored in. 


Hmmmm.

Day 17: Dragon

I believe that in order to be productive, healthy and happy we must constantly challenge ourselves and learn new skills.  I have always wanted to know how to draw a dragon, so today I Googled "How to draw a dragon" and I found a really cool site called Drawing Now Videos
http://www.drawingnow.com/videos/id_1370-title_How-to-Draw-a-Dragon/
Step by step instructions, that make it easy and satisfying.  Try it!

Day 16: Pirate

Feeling bad-ass today.  Needed some Pirate Booty in my life.  And that's all I have to say about that.

Day 15: Target

I've been thinking about how important it is to set goals for myself.  Without goals it is impossible to know if we are moving forward.

Day 14: Lunch

Today I was working on creating a new seminar/workshop titled "Art Therapy to Increase Happiness, Health and Productivity", and I was making a slide for 'Lunch Break'. I wanted an image to put on the slide, and I could not find one in Google images that I liked (probably not supposed to use those images anyway).  So, I decided to kill two birds with one stone: Do my daily iPad drawing AND get my image for Keynote.

The irony was that I realized I was hungry as I was looking for the image, so I stopped and made some food.  I was actually eating lunch as I was drawing Lunch. Although I had soup and salad, not peanut butter and jelly and an apple.

Day 13: Branches

Ooooooo!  This one is fun.  Just playing with the colors and different applications.

My day:  Lifted weights, kick boxing, shopping at art store, provided supervision to my intern, facilitated an eating disorder group, ran 4 miles and went to the mall. I'm tired.

Day 12: Butterfly

There is a lot of change in the air for me and my career right now - I can taste, smell, hear, feel and hear it coming.  I will begin teaching as an adjunct professor, I have been asked to be a Keynote speaker at an upcoming conference, and other things that are so "Top Secret" that I can't even mention them yet.  But I am excited, and I imagine that it why I have created the butterfly.  Change.  Beauty.

I had a client once tell me "Nobody hates a butterfly".  So true.

This is my time to spread my wings and fly.  I have never felt happier, healthier or more in control of my own destiny, and I want to share that feeling with as many people as I can.

Day 11: Stars

Not really feeling this one.  It is ugly, and I felt that it was not getting better as I worked on it.

I forgot my drawing stylus in Chicago, and I could not make crisp, sharp lines, and that was bothering me. Also, I was really tired when I was drawing this (jet lag), and when I am tired, cranky or sick I notice that my drawings reflect that and they are ugly.

 That's why we always have another chance tomorrow. Self Reminder: Not everything I make has to me a masterpiece.