So what is Art Therapy?

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(If you click on the photos they we get BIGGER)


Hi all! Say I paint and draw a lot. Some of you have seen my work. I recently painted a BEAUTIFUL watercolor painting for a couple of dear friends of mine. I will tell you about it..it is on a 11" x 16" watercolor canvas (which was something new for me). When I first painted it, the background was the colors of the rainbow but pastel like. I didn't like it so well with the Monarch butterflies so after I got all the Monarch's on it I painted carefully the blueish green color for the background. My Friends are coming up here in May to pick it up. Yes they paid me for it. :-)


I draw and paint to relax me. The most time I get creative is when I turn up music. I listen to Ambient and trance music. I have a lot of chronic pain and so painting & drawing sometimes relax me a lot. There is days that I am not able to do any of these things due to my hand tremors and hand pains. But I do what I can and when I can. I am a "Artist Inside" I even have a vinyl decal sticker on the back of my window on my truck that says that too. :-) 


I have many different painting to share and some of my drawing as well...you will see through out my blogs from time to time more of my artwork. SO ENJOY what you see. (Please leave comments in comments box).


So What is art Therapy? (see below paintings)

Definition: Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the creative process of making art to improve a person’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.



The creative process involved in expressing one’s self artistically can help people to resolve issues as well as develop and manage their behaviors and feelings, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem and awareness.


Anyone can use it, you don’t need to be talented or an artist, and there are professionals that can work with you and delve into the underlying messages communicated through art.


Art therapy can achieve different things for different people. It can be used for counseling by therapists, healing, treatment, rehabilitation, psychotherapy, and in the broad sense of the term, art therapy can be used to massage one’s inner-self in a way that may provide the individual with a deeper understanding of him or herself.

My Bobcat drawing that I sold for $65.00 to a friend in AZ.

for her grandson. (SOLD)

Who can use Art Therapy?




For the most part, anyone can use art therapy. In a world where there is a multitude of ways to communicate and express one’s self, expressive arts therapy is yet another. One of the major differences between art therapy and other forms of communication is that most other forms of communication elicit the use of words or language as a means of communication. Often times, humans are incapable of expressing themselves within this limited range.


One of the beauties of art as therapy is the ability for a person to express his/her feelings through any form of art. Though there are other types of expressive therapies (such as the performing arts), expressive art therapy as discussed here typically utilizes more traditional forms of art…such as painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, or a variety of other types of visual art expression.

This has been colored with markers.

This is called a Mandala.

Mandala's can be found on the internet to print off.

Do you need to be talented? 


Absolutely not. And you need not be “afraid” of expressing yourself through art. Though it may seem different and unnatural at first, it is typically because the individual is not used to communicating via the arts. The creative process can be one of the most rewarding aspects. Coupled with an art therapist, you should gradually, if not immediately, feel comfortable with this newfound form of expression. After all, the goal is not necessarily to create an art masterpiece.

Another watercolor painting of mine.

This one is on my parents wall in AZ.

Why would I use art therapy?


As with most any therapy, art as therapy is generally used as a treatment for something – usually as a way to improve one’s emotional state or mental well-being. Expressive arts therapy doesn’t have to be used only as a treatment though. It can be used to relieve stress or tension, or it can be used as a mode of self-discovery. Many people can stand to use some sort of creative outlet.

This is a pencil drawing with a number 2 pencil.

This was a gift to my parents for Christmas.

A Prickly Pear cactus Drawing.

Why Invest in Art Therapy?

As an individual, on a personal level it could be used as a means of exploring inner issues.

 It is a safe way to express strong and sometimes sensitive or destructive feelings. It can be used for stress and anxiety management. 

To enhance communication between individuals, groups or professional teams.

 It is used to explore change. 

It is of particular benefit to people experiencing difficulties with written and verbal communication.

As a professional manager of vulnerable people in the community, Art Therapy could be used to instil confidence and promote life enhancing change in the people for which you have responsibility.

This was done with a gel pen and colored pencils.

Postcard Size and can be framed.

For Sale for one $20.00

Original drawing (No reprints)