Art therapy

transmitting our emotions...

Nov 26, 2023

“Creating artwork allows your mind to be in a safe place while it contemplates the tougher issues you are dealing with. One can use the tools of brush, paint, pastels, crayons, etc. to expose and even for a short time color those issues in a different light.” ~ George E. Miller

blue and purple click pen on white paper — Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash

Ever since I can remember I have enjoyed art and the creation process. Whether it was drawing pictures, painting, or working with pastels, I have loved creating with my hands.

Many family members share this love with me. My Grandpa Fanning enjoyed drawing sketches of cowboys and horses on walls before he wallpapered over them. My mother loved to work with my father, carving and painting wooden Christmas tree ornaments during their retirement years. My brother and sister-in-law carved and painted beautiful Santa statues out of wood and I have several nephews and nieces on both sides of my family who are blessed with the gift of creating beautiful artwork in the form of pottery, paintings, photography, quilting and sketches.

When I create with my hands it provides a healthy outlet for my emotions. It lets me focus on something totally different from my everyday routines. Sometimes it allows me to express how I am feeling at the moment, while at other times it helps me deal with feelings from the past.

I have not specifically had “art therapy” but I feel like it would be a worthwhile experience.

What is art therapy? According to psychology.org, “Art therapy is a tool therapists use to help patients interpret, express, and resolve their emotions and thoughts. Patients work with an art therapist to explore their emotions, understand conflicts or feelings that are causing them distress, and use art to help them find resolutions to those issues.

Art therapy as a discipline began in the 1940s and became more widespread in the 1970s. Like other expressive arts therapy, such as dance therapy or music therapy, it draws on creativity.”

There is also a feeling of accomplishment that I love when I finish working on a project. Last winter I started working on “paint by numbers” paintings and it was a relaxing and fun experience that I could do during the cold winter days.

This year I have also enjoyed getting together once a month with parishioners from the church where I work, for “Coloring Club”, where we color and share in fellowship…just another example of how art can bring people together...

It is said that art speaks where words are unable to explain…I hope this week you find yourself exploring how art, in its many forms, can be exhilarating to both view and create…

What do you think?

My support comes from my subscribers and I really appreciate it. If you enjoy what the Kindness Boomerang newsletter provides, please feel free to share this link on your social media. Subscriptions can be either free or paid. It’s a simple process of sharing your email address. Thanks for your support!

For information about why I started this newsletter, please go to the about section.

Tranquil Moments…

I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:

What I am reading…

This week I return to an inspirational biography entitled Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit by Chris Matthews. As I read it, I am reminded of the many times my late father and I discussed what a great president Bobby Kennedy would have made and how an assassin's bullet took not only the life of a wonderful person but also how it ended a dream....

If you enjoy biographies and/or history, I think you would love this book!

This week’s Smile Video

Steve Hartman and his kids are sharing stories built around themes of kindness and character and the people who have mastered both. His latest lesson is thankfulness.