Pre Challenge - Calla Lilies

I drew these last week, so they do not really count as my "Challenge", but I wanted to share anyway.

The Calla Lily is my favorite flower! My wedding bouquet was made of Calla Lilies. They remind me of 18 years ago, when I lived in the Sunset District of San Francisco (Judah and 19th Ave). Every day I would go for a run through Golden Gate Park, and there are sections along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive where the Calla Lilies grow wild.

This is not a delicate flower - it is strong and hard core. Calla Lily is blatantly sexual in the way it combines male and female perfectly. Enough said.

New Art Therapy Challenge!!

I like to always challenge myself.

Each month I go to http://nikerunning.nike.com and create a challenge to run a fixed number or miles in a certain amount of weeks. Currently I am running 30 miles by 5-2-2012.

Over a year ago I bought a brand new box of "64 Crayola Crayons", and I gave myself a challenge to do a drawing every day for 64 consecutive days. See older blog posts. In retrospect, it was a lot of fun, but in reality, some days it was frustrating and annoying.  But just because something is frustrating and annoying does mean we should not accept the challenge.

When we tell people about our personal goals and challenges, we are more likely to follow through. This is me telling you.

So, here is my new challenge...

I have discovered a new iPad drawing app called "Paper", and I love it!  I will create and post one drawing per day until the end of my daughters' high school school year - June 12, 2012.  That is exactly 54 days from today.

 Follow me on this journey....

Here is my first drawing done on my iPad with the "Paper" app.

Can Art Re-Traumatize?

Podcast  

"3 Minute Art Therapy"

new episode now available 

Can Art Re-Traumatize? (Episode 005)


For those who have experienced a traumatic event, Pamela shows how the art process can re-program our memories to deactivate the emotional response. The art process can pair the traumatic memory with a feeling of deep relaxation.
                                

New Podcast Available

View the new Podcast here: 3 Minute Art Therapy - Episode 004

3 Minute Art Therapy - Episode 004: Focus

With her upcoming Blackbelt test drawing close, Pamela uses painting and 

visualization to prepare.

New Podcast Available

View the new Podcast here:

3 Minute Art Therapy - Episode 003: Indomitable Spirit

I am preparing for her 2nd Dan Black Belt test in MMA. 

Through a frustrating series of unsatisfying art techniques, 

I find the meaning of Indomitable Spirit.

Don't miss an episode:

Subscribe for free on iTunes ("3 Minute Art Therapy")

Guided Visualization

Guided Visualizations

“Abstract Feeling Drawing"

Make yourself comfortable in the chair.  Place both feet flat on the ground and rest your hands in your lap.

If you feel comfortable, you can close your eyes - this may help you to focus easier.

Take a slow, deep, cleansing breath in through your nose.

Completely exhale slowly through your mouth.

(repeat the inhale and exhale three times)

Pay attention to your body.  Notice any emotions that may be most prominent.  Is there any one feeling that is louder than the other feelings you are experiencing right now? Give that feeling your full attention.

Take a slow, deep, cleansing breath in through your nose.

Completely exhale slowly through your mouth.

What color is that feeling? Is it a light or dark color? (pause) I is a bright color or a muted color?

 Is your feeling a solid color is it patterned? (pause)

Allow that feeling-color to fill your torso. (pause) 

Allow that color now to fill up you arms (pause) your legs (pause) and even your head. Even if this is a scary or uncomfortable emotion – feel it.

Know you are safe here.  Feel the full intensity of this emotion.

Take a slow, deep, cleansing breath in through your nose.

Completely exhale slowly through your mouth.

Now, gather your feeling color back into your center, and allow it to take on a shape.  What shape is it? (pause) Does this shape have smooth or sharp edges? (pause)  Is this feeling-shape sationary or is it moving? (pause)

Take a slow, deep, cleansing breath in through your nose.

Completely exhale slowly through your mouth.

You are going to come back to this room now.  When you are ready, and in your own time, open your eyes.

Look at the colors laid out on the table.  Find the color that represents your emotion, and use it to draw the shape that you saw.

Using lines, shapes and colors, draw the color and the shape that you saw during your visualization.”

A Potential Art Therapist

So many people are interested in the field of Art Therapy. I know this because I get emails on a daily basis from very enthusiastic people explaining how they love the worlds of psychology and the arts, and they are so excited to know there exists a real career that combines both. This is an article written by one of those potential converts. Please read and enjoy... http://www.dorleem.com/2012/02/art-therapy-and-social-work.html Also, keep watching for the next "3 Minute Art Therapy" video podcast coming soon... You can find us on iTunes at "3 Minute Art Therapy".