HUM6365 – Collaborating Across Disciplines

Week 3 – Art Therapy

After several weeks of stress from getting ready for an art show, planning for a new program at work, designing a cookbook on an extremely short deadline, and holding a baby shower for my daughter-in-law, I needed something to calm me down. 

The Expressive Art Inspirations blog (“100 Art Therapy Exercises - The Updated and Improved List - Expressive Art Inspirations,” n.d.) that Karla posted in our Arts Therapies Tools and Directives Resources List had a good list of activities for relaxation, as well as many activities for expressing gratitude, dealing with trauma or loss, examining your feelings and more

As I scanned this list of activities for relaxation, all of which sounded like something I would enjoy doing, I realized that I had another creative practice due tonight as well as an interview that I would have to write a reflection as well as transcribe our conversation. So when I saw coloring in a design, I was greatly relieved and selected this as my creative practice this week.  
It was wonderful to use my personal set of Prismacolor colored pencils along with my Faber-Castell watercolor pencils. The pigment is so much richer than the Crayola ones we use for our workshops at work. While I thought coloring would take less time, I actually spent two-hours in concentrated bliss coloring the page I selected. I have been collecting coloring pages for over two years now and have many to choose from. This wise owl seemed appropriate for this week in that he is a symbol for gaining knowledge and wisdom and I noticed in the image that one of the books was open to a page entitled dreamers. 

As artists we are dreamers and imaginers, always asking questions and searching for answers. As students we are working hard to gain the wisdom necessary to work with others in a way that allows them to become dreamers and imaginers, too.

100 Art Therapy Exercises - The Updated and Improved List - Expressive Art Inspirations. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://intuitivecreativity.typepad.com/expressiveartinspirations/100-art-therapy-exercises.html