Meeting with Jenn Kristel, 10/28/14 notes

     This is in response to what I learned from my October 28 meeting with Jennie.  I took notes, and am typing them up to help me remember what was taught and discussed regarding the subject of art therapy.
I was asked what I wanted to learn next and I told her I wanted to learn to use pastel, to which she asked me, water or oil based?  I told her I had some at home that I was afraid to use, because they are new to me and I don't know what to do with them.  (Turns out they are oil based.) She proceeded to give me a lovely lesson on the use of both the chalk and the oil based pastels.  First, she told me I needed to get over my fear of trying the new medium, so that I will be able to help someone else do the same.  We both agreed that I should go home, try out the new medium, and write down how I felt about trying out the different approach to expressive art.  The getting over the fear piece can be a powerful tool, so I will use the pastels for my next directive and write about the result.  The term resist was taught to me as being firm in it's nature to stay put on the paper, so when another medium is placed over it, it won't move or change shape.  We experimented with the pastel chalks and the oil based pastels with the resisting principles at play.  Jenn used the phrase "I don't know" in respect to how certain pastels would relate to each other, and said "I live in an I don't know world".  I love the humility that comes with this statement, and the impression that it gives me as the student is, that we are exploring and learning together.  I'm sure she must use this with her clients to help break down any barriers that might be keeping the client from letting down their inhibitions, which may be keeping them from receiving what they need to learn.
     Learn your client and learn the mood they are in.   By doing so, you will learn which medium will be the best to use in the therapy session. I will need more information on this subject.  Dry medium are: pencils, pens, pastels, chalks.  Pencils offer the most control.  Chalk use is a way to express feelings.  Oils are used to help work through things.  Making lists, and getting organized can be a way of helping the client.  Collage use is good for visioning things.  Use of non-dominant hand and watercolors can force access to parts of self needed for problem solving.  Wet materials would be:  watercolors, clay, acrylics, paper mache', clay.  For some, she may have client explore a different medium every ten minutes.  I have a note on my paper that says soap note.  I must ask Jenn what that means.
     The next few minutes were spent skyping with the other Master's student taking a class with Jenn.      Jenn suggested showing safe ways to cathart:  Use a pillow and throw it on the floor (visiting someone's past) or to paper shred, by turning a negative into a positive by making an art piece with the shredded paper.  Four ethics pieces we are to be secure in our understanding of, are:  confidentiality, no harm, no judgement position, (we must have waivers signed including subjects of injuries and confidentiality) and voluntary participation (no one is forced, but address fear and anger).  If using psychodrama to work through a rape issue, the one chosen to be the rapist or the raped (figuratively), must be able to emotionally handle the role.  If no one is available,use an empty chair.  Peter Rowan is a well known psycho dramatist who works well with children. Our goal is to help the victim identify the role of survivor.  Don't do role reversal with the protagonist.
     Jenn makes it a rule to not work with people who are high or not willing to work on addictions.  She will try to get them to substitute with another cup of coffee for example.  She may ask them to look at what it's doing to your family. She says she is not qualified to work with addicts and refers them to Act 1, a place to detox in Burlington, on Pearl Street.
   

Final Paper proposal

In conclusion to the class Introduction to Art Therapy, I would like to combine things I have learned along with things not yet learned for the final paper.   The main topics I hope to cover in my final paper will be:  Benefits of Art Therapy, including scientific findings on how the brain works to problem solve; terminology related to the field of art therapy, and the importance of being a skilled artist. My goal is to read Malchiodi's handbook of Art Therapy as well as well as Moon's Introductory to Art Therapy to help with the findings for the final paper.  I will also do a brief synopsis of the role of spirituality in the therapy room using the chapter on Art Therapy from a Jewish perspective from the book Spirituality and Art Therapy, and Francis Schaeffer's book Art and the Bible.

I closed my eyes yesterday, and this vision came to my mind. I decided to sketch it and make a brief statement of what it expresses and means to me.  An old man is sitting on his front porch steps holding a walking stick and looking down at the ground.  He is contemplating how he has spent his life, what challenges and struggles he has overcome and had to deal with, successes as well as failures.  He appears lonely, as if his life was spent without purpose and without quality relationships.  Sad.

My goal is to be able to draw better, especially joints like arms, hands and feet.  I intend to redraw this man with more focus on this type of skill.  Pulling stuff out of my head is a stretch for me.  This whole idea of the picture in my head making it down to the paper was a new concept for me as well as my written words to accompany it.  But I really enjoyed doing it, and what it could perhaps mean to someone who actually puts themselves in the old man's shoes, either already aged, or someone in their youth with a whole lifetime ahead of them.  Contemplative picture, hoping to speak to someone regarding their own life's journey.

Reflection of wooden plaque project

October 9, 2014

     I asked my daughter to pick up a piece of wood at the local craft store knowing that I needed to make a wedding gift for my nephew who is getting married this month.  She came home with a beautifully sanded and shaped piece that I knew would be perfect.  I have never painted on wood of this nature, so I felt that since I am striving to try as many different mediums as possible, I would give it a try.  I first had to sand it, but when I did, I found that some of the wood left cracks and crevices that needed to be filled with putty.  I happen to have the kind you mix with water, so I did that once or twice, until I got it right and had to sand in between applications.  After that, I gessoed the wood to prepare it for paint, and painted the whole top the color beige.  Then using a pencil, I drew on the pattern, before attempting to paint.  I free handed with the help of a curved C piece all along the edge of the board.  I used the computer to help make letter stencils which I had to cut out, because my free hand lettering skills would not have looked near as nice.  I painted with two of the colors I knew were two colors the bride liked, turquoise and purple, in interesting combination.  So their last name, Royalty, was done with one color being stronger than the other, and I did the opposite for Home Est. 2016.  It was fun doing the textured look, much less boring than one color.

     I used a pair of scissors that had been handed down to me from my Grandmother, that were specifically made to do the paper craft called Scherenschnitte.  I’d done our family portraits and framed them, and will always treasure what they represent.  So, the thought occurred to me that the couple might enjoy having their silhouettes on the plaque for a keep-sake.  This was the hardest part of the whole project.  The details of their profiles were tiny once I’d shrunk their pictures to fit the plaque, and I had difficulty putting it on the wood.  If I painted all the way to the line I’d drawn, they wouldn’t look right, because it would make their faces larger.  So I painted, then removed the lines I’d put down.  I used a paint called guache which I’d never used before.  It covered nicely, but also came up rather easily when I needed to remove some, which was good, but also challenging.  Finally, I spray lacquered the finished piece several times to protect it.

The portrait, being the most challenging, took the most time, and the most attention to detail.  In one of the art therapy books I’ve been reading, I was reminded, that learning to slow down in order to do a good job, is something I need to work on.  So this was my opportunity.  Not having a great paintbrush to do detail work, I ended up trying about five different brushes before I found one that did a good enough job. I began from the outside and worked my way toward the nose and chins, all the while talking to God and to myself.  I was asking Him to help me, and telling myself “I can do this”.  I had the faith that He would help me, and He did, so I’m happy and grateful. 

     I’m hoping that this plaque is enjoyed by my nephew and his new bride, but it means so much more than paint on a piece of wood.  I’m showing them that I love and support them in this new journey they are embarking on by giving them this labor of love.  The silhouette of them will always be a treasure, reminding them of their love and devotion to each other.  Strong healthy marriages take work, and they are not easy to come by these days. 

As far as using this art piece as an art therapy directive, my explanation of why is because of what it represents.  It’s a family treasure now.  I used my creativity to design the board, and picked something of meaning to place on the board, the family name, and the profiles of the couple getting married.  I allowed myself to spend hours completing this piece and showed my willingness to invest myself in their lives in this way.  I could have gone out and purchased a gift card, but that is impersonal, and this is not.  Allowing myself the privilege to be creative with the design to me was therapeutic.  I loved: creating the pattern; the actual application of the paint; using a new surface (wood) and new paint (guache), standing back to admire the work; and I look forward to the unwrapping of the gift knowing the many years of enjoyment and feelings of love it will express, love from me, and love toward each other.

I am attaching my family's silhouettes I completed about 12 years ago.

When you see the plaque of the couple, their picture is just there to show them but it’s not attached on the front.  I put it on the back.