change is good

"Change is Good" - mixed media on canvas

At least that's what I keep telling myself. Next Thursday is my last day at my art therapy job after 9 years. I'm having such mixed emotions. I made this canvas as a "going away" gift for the program. That is a tradition when a clinician leaves. It was therapeutic for me to paint. I started with layering patterned paper on the canvas and then covering a lot of it with white gesso and then some dark brown acrylic. I painted the tree with acrylics. I did a similar tree a few years ago after watching the movie Avatar. I loved the colorful, odd, trees and flowers. I punched out several butterflies out of patterned paper and layered them so they appear 3-D. I also added a few rhinestones and calender washi tape to represent the years I spent there. The letters are basic black vinyl letters. I wanted them bold. The painting is purposely darker in the upper left and gradually gets lighter in the upper left. It represents my mixed feelings. I have been feeling very burnt out for a long time and this is a needed change though I wish it could have been under my terms. I feel a bit cheated and angry. I'm trying to let go of that and face this as an opportunity. I'm just really scared. Here are a few close ups...

closeup of butterflies and the brightness

tree and calendar that represents myself and my time

Thanks for looking. Happy Saturday!

art therapy atc swap

"Someone to tell it to is one of the fundamental needs of human beings." - Miles Franklin

I am participating in an Artist Trading Card Swap with approximately 50 art therapists across the country. These are my contributions! It has been organzied by a Linked In subgroup for The Art Therapy Alliance. I can't wait to see the three cards I get back. The topic was "how art therapy helps others, our community, world."

monday gratitudes

Presque Isle, ME ~ Memorial Day Weekend 2009

Today I am grateful for...

• a beautiful day off from work.
• money in the bank to pay the unexpected amt of taxes I owe.
• extra days off this week.
• my education.
• time to make cards yesterday.
• my stamp & paper collection.
• my board certification as an art therapist.
• knitting to relax my busy, over-thinking mind.
• yellow. a color I never appreciated before.
• spring being on its way in New England.
• an apartment with nice morning sun.
• lavendar.
• scented candles...current favorite is "Dune Grass" from Yankee Candles.
• country.
• use of my arms and legs.
• feeling better.
• future milestones to look forward to.
• upbeat music.
• Netflix DVD's to look forward to (thanks to my sister!)

Decided to post an old picture to remind me that (a) Spring will get here, and (b) I need to focus on simple pleasures.Yesterday I tried to relax and eventually did...but in the a.m. did my taxes and had an unfortunate suprise...doesn't pay in many ways to have to work two part-time jobs. I need to make some quick adjustments before too much more of 2010 goes by so I'm not in this position next year. But I was able to calm my thoughts with a little knitting and then sat and played with my new scrapping supplies and made a few cards. I'll post them later. More collage-y in style I think. Fun. Needed some of my own art therapy. Today I need to take my car to the dealer to have them look at my windshield. The rubber liner that holds it down at the roof line is very loose! Yikes. Then a quick trip to Trader Joes. I want to pick up a few things for dinner and some tulips. Maybe I'll splurge on 2 bunches this week.

Happy Monday!

lucky week

So far this has been a lucky week for me!

Yesterday I had lunch with an old student and it was wonderful! So nice to have a great conversation with a girl who I know will be an awesome art therapist someday. She is currently applying to grad school and I am positive she will do great. I'm proud to be a part of her training.

Also, yesterday I got word that Cary and I won the "early bird" raffle at our apartment complex...every month if you pay your rent early you can enter. That means $100 off our rent next month! I feel like I won the lottery.

Then today, randomly while cooking dinner I got a call from a job contact I made almost a year ago. Originally I had applied for a part-time Activities Asst at a local nursing home. I did so knowing I was very overqualified for that position but I wanted to see what opportunities might be available. Obviously, I couldn't take that job at the pay rate, etc. they offered. However, at the time the Director was very interested in seeing how he might be able to incorporate my art therapy skills and experience if he could get budget approval.

Well...fast forward almost a year and he called today.

The person in that original position left for a full-time position. There is new upper mgmt and he said he is very possibily going to be able to advocate to pay for my services! And...he said if that isn't possible there is another home in the same system nearby that may be able too if he can't. Awesome! The elderly is a population I did internships with and really always saw myself working with eventually. Cross your fingers! The hours would be a few less than I have currently but if they could at least match my current pay I think the change would be well worth it.

I have been working on building up my endurance running on the treadmill. I'm following a run/walk training schedule. This week I'm up to: walk 2 min, run 9 min, repeat 3 times. It is getting easier! I'm so excited. This has been a very long term goal of mine.

Well...we will see what else the week brings!

I'm looking forward to getting the summer pictures I ordered through scrapbookpictures.com. I got a few enlargements to frame. I also got some photos developed for a small mini-album that will be "the summer in review." I'm excited...full of ideas from Ali's new book that I got this weekend.

Off to read some blogs and download some running music for my ipod...

independence day

Happy 4th of July! Instead of seeing a parade and fireworks last night I did a little self-art therapy. Here are the ATC's I made last night. The colors aren't translating as well through the scanner. These little suckers are addicting! What I'm liking about them is that I feel more free to experiment and try stuff out that I wouldn't if I was making a card. I played around with my Perfect Pearls, doodling, stamps I haven't used in ages, watercolor pencils, ....and on and on! Originally I thought "oh...I can add them to cards" and maybe I will...but I like that I felt free to make them without worrying! (See my post from 2 days ago!) I'm also intriqued by the new thing "inchies." Interestingly I have been doing that for years on cards. Some of the first cards I made used my square hole punch and a few punched flowers, etc. as the main accent on the center of a card. Sometimes I would do a mosaic. But...seeing all the inspiration with inchies I have lots of ideas in my head for some cool mosaic cards....think the Flickr mosaics but in paper...being excited about creative ideas is definately helping me get out of my mood. So this is why I decided to be an art therapist?! This stuff really does work! lol

red and other things

1. Head Sox - Boston Red Sox fan limited edition print, 2. Uk desi bride, 3. The Red Hiney, Presenting, 4. The little red barn, 5. Red One, 6. Beyond the Red Door, 7. My red passion again - La mia passione ROSSA, 8. Mexico's wonderful color and dance rhythm, 9. Yes! Strawberry is the Princess of the spring fruits!

Red has been inspiring me lately. It is never a color I choose first for most things. But I've been really liking it lately. Maybe it's because of the strawberries I've been eating every day for months! Or the fact that I grew up in a house where my mom had a red kitchen sink. She still has it. It's gorgeous. It makes me think I should photograph it someday because it is so unique and has always been there and a source of pride for my mom who loves to cook. Red is one of her colors.

Anyhow...

The art therapy project was awesome! It was so much fun (a lot of work) but SO fun! I think everyone is really proud of their work so far and it involved lots of problem solving and required persistance and patience. They were determined to finish them and stayed late to do it! It felt so good and energizing to run the group today...it brought me back to remembering why I do what I do.

Tonight I get to take a break. Supper is in the oven. I just went to the gym and I feel good. I'm looking forward to reading some of my book and maybe just watching TV which I haven't really done lately. Hope everyone has a nice night!

an idea

Just wanted to quickly share something before I go to class (2 more weeks - Yeah!). Reading Ali's blog today I was inspired by a woman's blog she linked - Erin Zamrzla. Using recycled paper, she makes little books and things. I decided that this was something I wanted to try with my Art Therapy group tomorrow at work. I've been struggling with new topics and ideas that will help them focus on thier goals and issues in a new and interesting way. So I did a sample today so they could get the idea and gathered up some index cards, envelopes, cardboard, manila file folders, string, hole punches,..you get the idea. I hope that in the coming weeks the group can work on some art therapy group topics in their little books...(i.e. we've focused on coping skills, goals, successes, stressors, etc.). Usually we just work on these topics in drawings or collages but this way they'll have a place to "hold" all of these group experiences. We'll see how it goes....it's pretty plain right now but maybe I'll show mine when things get added to it.