The artist behind the arts therapist (one hand washes the other)

The Artist Behind the Arts Therapist

I make stuff, it feels good!
I am productive, it never really stops, and when it does stop I quickly become unhinged.
Other people's needs and life's demands are a convenient excuse - in reality, the demands of my life feed my art work, my confidence, my joy, my sense of playfulness and my determination to create.  This insight came to me as I drew the image above.
If I had more time I'd have to deal with fear, fear of being shit.  I play with fear always, in my art making, but not for long.  I just get on with the doing usually.  With more time I'd have to sit through more challenging processes, more confronting feelings, survive my own negative feedback and my extreme shyness as an artist.  I now have a space and a new industrial sewing machine - I kissed it when I unloaded it.  My studio isn't set up, but I used it today.  I wonder, does it mean that what I make has to be 'good' now?
These words were hard to write - Artist, Studio.
The biggest gift of my Arts Therapy training was realising that the creative process can be horrifying but absolutely worth it - that meeting of self through art.  I learnt to expect to meet fear and shit along the way, to welcome them and be as kind to them as I am to joy and play and wonder.  This makes me a much better Arts Therapist.
The Artist isn't behind the Arts Therapist, they are walking hand in hand.

The Artist behind the Arts Therapist

Fragments of self...there's the inner critic...there's the artist I promised myself I would become, young, naive, making handmade paper in Japan, stirring pulp of Kozo ready to pull a sheet that would later blow across the paddock that I would have to run after to retrieve.

Fragments of my art works in progress or "states" (the first print you make before creating an edition); bits of handmade paper from my university days studying Visual Arts, bits of drawings I've made after my many walks in the bush...collecting data...inquiring into nature...searching for self.

I begin...the frustrated artist, in a box, confined by my limitations, work, parenting and poor health. Wanting, needing knowing I need this. Why has it been so long? Frustrated because my inner critic is well and truly present. This is no good. Why have you kept all these bits and pieces? Shut up and just make, I say.

Trust the process and let go.

The materials guide me. It feels renewing to deconstruct and reconstruct pieces of works in progress I have hoarded - some for over 13 years.

Not finished, but happy where I have arrived. Works in progress.

Space to be the "artist me" for this moment. Finding ways to adapt my practice into my present life...

First artworks made by myself in my studio!

"Engaging in disciplined art making has to do with commitment of time, energy, and attention. The first step to look at how to integrate disciplined art making into a busy and committed life is to try and put aside preconceived notions about what it means to be a disciplined, committed artist". (Hyland Moon, 2002, Studio Art Therapy, p. 62

Fragmented Self, (2017) collage & mixed media: 

watercolour, binder medium, handmade banana paper, recycled paper, 

tissue paper, graphite pencil, silkscreen print, thread

Bindi dog: Willow bank Studio, (2005 - 2017)

drypoint etching, multi plate etching with aquatint, 

handmade banana paper, watercolour, binder medium

Etchings printed at Willow bank Studio, NSW & Australia Print Workshop VIC

Paper made at Southern Cross University NSW

A Moment in my Day

Sometimes there is moment, where just for a very short time, everything is still. A bird sings a beautiful note and you stop and catch it. Trees, plants and flowers seem to breath with you. It is just a moment but oh so so sweet. That evening when your son stresses over homework, the dog is neglected and we forget his meal, you don't have time to wash the school uniform, you didn't buy lunch, you cook a fairly untasty meal and your body aches that you want to go to bed at 5.30pm.....that's when you recall the moment!

Prompt Thirteen

The artist behind the arts therapist

A moment in my day

ISR for Cath: A moment in my day, prompt 12

A moment in my day by Cath

This is a quick sketch of my favourite moment in my working week and my favourite moment in my yesterday.  I have loved this prompt, it has encouraged me to really engage with the moments in my days, this is the first one that I felt moved to capture:
I send a reminder
Mum calls to cancel
It's the last session
the child is on a school excursion
Thats ok - life is chaotic
(phew! some much needed space has opened up in my day)
there are other ways to do the ending bit
I prepare a good bye package
I reflect on what we have shared and what I admire
I write a letter
I leave it at the front desk to be picked up at their convenience.
Later that day I walk towards the reception area
there they are! knocking at the impenetrable barrier, calling me
I collect the package and step into the waiting room
I give the package
such pure joy
I read the letter
mums tears of appreciation
a beautiful pause
And then
And this is the moment:
the child's eyes triple in size
A sharp intake of breath
"The chips
they are hot
in the car
I have to go
seeya"
A beautiful reminder that all things are in their place
no bigger or smaller than they need to be
one moment it's relationship
another moment it's the chips
It feels very very right
and I am grateful for the joy it brings to my entire day....

Prompt Twelve

A moment in my day

Creative Block

 
    Creative Block....it's all the fears, excuses and distractions. It's about believing in myself and being clear about my intentions, my goals and addressing insecurities. How many things can one juggle?
What can you do to gain more support and what can you let go of, in order to achieve a space of flow.                    

Creative Block(s)

ISR for Kay: prompt 11

Prompt 11 - Creative Block

I have been carrying a vision of a large dark object squashing out the creativity out of my soul...sounds very dark but as I drew the image it is not so dark as informing me as to what is the basis of the ossification of creativity.  Here are a series of images and then the complete image for you to explore

 too much weight

 confusion and distraction

 fear

 lost for words

Creative Block ISR for Katie by Cath

Creative block

Prompt Eleven

Creative Block

GRAT/MIECAT - Group Workshop Three

Hi all and thanks again for another wonderful workshop. It was lovely to see everyone and especially nice to meet Katie's new daughter Lily. Thanks to Rohan for coming along so that you could come to the workshop.

It was great to see you all experience the I.S.R. process to the prompt "Looking backward, Looking Forward" and share your thoughts about the process with the group afterwards. I am looking forward to you all posting them to the blog. If you can post your art and the ISR at the same time, that would be great. Please state who did the ISR also. Thanks.

The below photos are of the collaborative artwork, where we inquired into the three questions regarding the blog:

• What has been of value?

• What has been challenging?

• What are you curious about?

Denise collected keywords and phrases as you were talking and creating the artwork, but I would love to hear more of your thoughts. I wish I had spent more time on this on Saturday, but as always time was tight. Please, if you feel you have anything to add, record your reflections in the comment section below.

Warm regards, Jacinta

ISR from Katie for Janice

Looking Backward, Looking Forward

looking backward looking forward - Janice's ISR for Cath

looking backward looking forward - Cath's post