Another layer… watercolor requires patience and time. Added a blue mix background to kitty. What color background for dog?

Start with pencil sketch

Lay in some shapes and shadows

Slow and steady work.

Art Prescription: I started these two pet portrait commissions last night. Today I blocked in some color.

I have a long ways to go and need to select a background color.

It’s really good for me to take my time and let each layer dry.

Xpint and Flint stage 1:

Hi Friends,

I think you will find this article by Robert Johnson of Sawinery interesting. It reminds us that there are many ways to be creative! https://www.sawinery.net

Enjoy and please give Robert a thumbs up by “liking” this post!

How can we use art for therapeutic purposes?

Feeling annoyed or depressed without any possibility to talk about it or need to do so, is an example where art can actually help you express your feelings. It has been known from ancient times that people used art to show how they feel about something and to explain situations that they have been experiencing during the day. 

However, not so long ago art has become a topic of study in psychotherapy as an effective tool in mental health treatment. That is how art psychotherapy was developed and formalized in the middle of the 20th century.

In the following lines, we will make sure to distinguish art psychotherapy and art as a therapy and focus more on art as a therapy, since that is something you can do at home. Also, we will make sure to mention some types of art that you can benefit from and that will help you feel better and relieved.  

Wait! Art psychotherapy and art as a therapy? What is the difference?

According to American Art Therapy Association,  ̎Art therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the art therapist, use art media, the creative process to enhance their physical, mental, and emotional well-being ̎. Reading this, it is clear that art therapy is a type of psychotherapy and should be guided by a professional. However, art as a therapy is something that you can do at your home. Making some type of art as your hobby can help you release stress, feel better and find a new purpose. So, get ready and choose the art type that suits you and will help you improve your personal well-being. 

Choose a type of art for you

Think about your childhood and remember what the things you preferred doing were. Were you painting, drawing or making things? In order to make it easier, here are some of the arts we marked off.

Painting

The very first association will be that you need to be talented in order to paint. But, that is not true. Knowing that there are many painting techniques, you can choose the one that is best for you and make paintings that you like, like nature in your yard, a nearby park, the sun, and the sky etc. Feel free to experiment and be open to new dimensions. 

Woodworking

 The smell of wood and a very nice piece after processing is something that will definitely improve your self-esteem. Although it seems challenging, it has been proven that woodworking can develop several brain functions and help us improve in many fields, and one of them is for sure feeling more confident and appreciating ourselves more. 

Writing

It is advisable for every person to have a journal where daily happenings, troubles or situations can be written in short stories. That helps in many ways, and one of them is expressing your emotions on paper and helping to overcome the feelings and situations. Sometimes people also use journals to make a sketch next to the stories to be easily described and more authentic. 

If the text inspired you, think about the type of art you can choose to start this artistic journey. Not all people can be artists, but we can all use art anyway, in any shape, and whenever we feel to do so. 

Robert Johnson
Founder | Sawinery
	M: + 972 544 600 745 Robert@sawinery.net

Rainy day, gray sky

Trees appear ebony black

Late fall color pops.

Art Prescription: Hope you all have had a nice holiday. Cloudy days seem to create nice contrast in the woods.

Watercolor and acrylic:

This being brings me joy!

Happy Thanksgiving to you my blog followers! I’m snuggled in bed with my cats, going to be in the 20’s here in NC tonight. I hope Finn, my horse, has lots of hay to eat to keep him warm.

I have so much to be thankful for! My life is happy and blessed.

Here’s to creativity and encouraging you to pick up a brush and paint and find your muse.

You leave me apples

I find a warm and dry spot

It’s a mouse hotel.

Art Prescription: If you are reading this thinking eweeeeeee, well you have to remember I spend lots of time on a farm. Things like this are bound to happen.

Happily I caught the little rascal and set him free in a big open field. It did inspire me to draw.

Colored pencil on a yellow index card:

This is kind-of funny and not. I have a mouse in my van!

I think he probably rode in via my horse bag that I carry to the barn. I do have apples for the horses.

• So I’ve tried to catch the mouse in a shoe box. He jumped right out!
• Now I have a bucket with an Apple and hope this works so I can return him to the farm.
• 

I’m a living, breathing sculpture

Your job is to chisel away the

Sand of self-doubt.

It’s in the bend of my neck

The span of my back

The stride of my step

The soft of my eye

You ask me for truth

And I don’t lie

It’s in the drop of my chin

The slant of my ears.

I carry you on my back

And meet you at the fence

It’s the nicker of hello

The invitation to join me.

Now you understand I’m finished work

Giving you permission

To explore and uncover

What ought to make you proud.

It’s the bounce of my trot

My head by your shoulder

This open gate

For you to find a gift.

Art Prescription: My final Women’s Intuitive Riding luncheon was today. Four groups of women from four mornings come together to share their experience with horses.

While in yoga this morning the words to my thoughts started taking shape.

Watercolor sketch in my journal: