Can't wait for another art&healing session.  Last class was a three hour workshop focused on dealing with stress. We met at the charming Bird Rock Art Gallery and Studio in La Jolla.  It's a perfect location for these smaller, more intimate workshops. 

Each participant is introduced to the benefits of expressive art. During our class time participants have an opportunity to respond to a series of reflective questions.  

Each person has their individual style of communicating their personal stories.  I'm always impressed with the level of honesty and insights.  It's powerful to see them working through the process!  Each one is so unique. Such an amazing group of women. We had so much fun and they did a fantastic job! 

Although they are all guided through exactly the same expressive process- their work looks completely different! No painting are EVER the same. It's FASCINATING.  

Perfectly, perfect!

"Willing to Take Risks?"

In an art&healing session participants are encouraged to express their feelings through the use of colors and abstract strokes. It is a unique and fascinating "step-by-step" processes that can be very enlightening!  This pictures was the result of a student reflecting on how they felt when asked to step out of their comfort zone. The idea of trying something new (unfamiliar) causes some people to feel uncomfortable and vulnerable at first. The goal is to help them feel safe enough, valued enough, to begin processing some of those feelings.    

What would you try, if you knew you didn't have to do it PERFECTLY?  Would you sign up for a  painting class, learn to Tango, sing with a choir, ride a motorcycle? 

In order to do something well, we must FIRST be willing to do it poorly.  We have to be willing to jump in and give it a try.... knowing that we will most likely make many mistakes at first!  If we are not willing to TAKE RISKS then we must settle for staking our boundaries carefully around a much smaller and safer perimeter.  Although safe, and predictable, such an existence can also become stifling, stale, uninspiring....or worse,  boring! 

"Once we are willing to accept that anything worth doing..... might even be worth doing badly...our options widen" Julia Cameron's book,  The  Complete Artist's Way. 

Control and Manipulation

Control and manipulation are sub-conscious defense mechanisms.  Sometimes these protective characteristics show themselves in subtle, less obvious ways. The challenge for any of us is trying to understand why and what are the underlying causes behind the need to defend, or protect ourselves.  

In art&healing sessions participants are invited to explore how they respond to situations that they can not easily control.  It’s not easy to control a Q-tips or small sponge loaded with paint,  they’re not precise instruments! It can be a messy process. Our hand can go one direction while the paint goes the other, the end results is not what we planned. This can be a very uncomfortable experience for some and down right aggravating for others at first.  

Although uncomfortable, these feelings can be the keys  towards understanding what cause us to become stressed, anxious, or push us out of our protective comfort zones. This is why it’s so important to continually reminded those in my classes, that the “goal” of an expressive art sessions is not about having a perfect “end result”... but learning to see value the “process”.  

• How did they feel after completing each step of the process?  

• Were they willing to relinquish control? 

• Did they get stressed, angry, frustrated, or just quit when things didn’t go our way?  

• Did working through the process give them a new sense of freedom?

• Was it relaxing and enjoyable? 

• Did they gain any new insights? 

My job as facilitator is NOT to analyze anyone! This is their private process.  My job is to create a safe environment for them to explore some of these feelings. 

Permission to Pause!

"Remember to PAUSE 
or the good things in life will never catch up with you!"

That is a great quote, especially since people are busy, busy, busy! Friday evening a small group of us gave ourselves permission to PAUSE.....after a long and hectic week! I love  facilitating art&healing workshops at the Bird Rock Art Gallery/Studio...especially when working with such an amazing group of women!  

                   

             
                                        

The dreaded "V" word!

It's almost Halloween. For many years the SCARIEST word I knew was the dreaded "V" word! No, I don't mean VAMPIRE... I'm talking about the word VULNERABLE!

Vulnerable: Capable of being emotionally or physically wounded, open to attack, or damage, unsafe.

We all have weaknesses that cause us to feel vulnerable, but when those weaknesses are regularly and cruelly exploited, mock or ridiculed...then fear and shame can take root.

If there's no SAFE place, or safe people to help us address our fears and imperfections, we are more likely to ignore or,  camouflage our feeling. Art&healing classes provide a safe environment for participants to work through some of these issues. 

I don't "DO ART"

So, you're not an "artsy" guy? You're not the slightest bit interested in getting "in touch" with your feelings. Okay...I get it. That wouldn't appeal to me either if I were you! So here are a few OTHER reasons why guys show up and mess around with paint for a few hours a week!

It's a great way to solve problems, deal with conflict, stress and anger.  Besides health benefits (posted on Oct 21, 2012) these techniques can also increase your productivity......best of all you're ALLOWED TO BE MESSY!  

So although I'm not serve'n up brats and beer....you might actually enjoy yourself!

Yipppeee! Artistic Skills Not Required

An art&healing workshops are not about producing perfect works of art, or trying to master the formal techniques of "fine art".  

Those pressures are purposely set aside so everyone, including the "less artistically inclined" can enjoy the therapeutic 

benefits of creating art!

Call or email to find out how to register for our  the next workshop

klb@pacific.net

Wellness and Healing

QUESTION: Can participating in an art&healing workshop improve my physical well being? 

ANSWER: Yes. There's plenty of clinical research to support the positive health benefits of participating in expressive art activities (painting, sculpting, drawing, music etc) In addition to impacting the physical body, the process can enhance emotional and spiritual wellness.

Here are a few of the positive and amazing physical health benefits your body can experience as you participating in expressive art:

• Increases serotonin levels (which help alleviate depressions)
• Improves memory
• Boosts immune system
• Lowers blood pressure
• Improves heart rate and respiration
• Relieves stress
• Helps eliminate sleep disorders
• Stimulates connectivity between right/left brain

PERMISSION TO RELAX

Last night was our art&healing class at the Bird Rock Art Studio/Gallery. What an amazing group! The women (and the art pieces they created!) were absolutely powerful and beautiful. They did an outstanding job of sharing their stories - so insightful and authentic in their processing. I was so proud of them! 

My next 3 week art&healing session begins this Friday evening October 26th.  There's still time to register! Check the side bar for details.

Click on Flyer to enlarge or copy!

Stay Optimistic!

"Optimism is critical to our spiritual health. 

It's hard to kill an artist, 

but it's very easy to discourage one..."

Never say.... NEVER

This is a picture of a dear friend of our family. She knew all about difficulties, frustrations and challenges, but she NEVER GAVE UP. When Lynda set her mind and heart to something, she accomplished it. She drove her own vehicle around town (with her feet). She went horse back ridding, went snorkeling, played around in her garden and was an accomplished artist!

So what's holding you back from accomplishing your dreams? Today is a NEW day!!! No more excuses, get up and get to it! YOU CAN DO IT....I believe in you, and so do all your friends!