Artists – Page 8 – © KATARINA THORSEN

Part 28 daily journal workshop. ANGELS AMONG US. #arttherapy

I dedicate this post to my best friend, Maud. — Angels shine from without because their spirits are lit from within. Take a moment to think about what “an angel” means to you. Draw or write it out. Guest speaker, Liz, truly an angel on earth, bravely faced her abuser this year and is now moving forward…

Part 27 daily journal workshop. SHUT YOUR EYES AND SEE. #arttherapy

Shut your eyes and see. – James Joyce What does this quote mean to you? What does this quote mean to me? Stop trying. Let it happen. By letting it go it all gets done. Surrender. Give up control. Close your eyes and draw a self-portrait- imagining your pen running along your facial lines. Growth…

Part 26 daily journal workshop. PERFECTIONISM. #arttherapy

Understanding the difference between healthy striving and perfectionism is critical to laying down the shield and picking up your life. Research shows that perfectionism hampers success. In fact, it’s often the path to depression, anxiety, addiction, and life paralysis. – Brené Brown Struggling with the need to be perfect = my life. How about you?…

Part 25 daily journal workshop. TAKE YOUR JOURNAL OUT. #arttherapy

Now that we are pretty far into this journal [notice how I’m taking you all the way to the end of mine, and we’re half way there], shove your journal in your bag, or thrust it under your arm, grab some pens and get the hell out of the house. Make your journal your best…

Part 24 daily journal workshop. BODY IMAGE. #arttherapy

Write about your thoughts on body image. Just stream of consciousness. Any negative events that affected your views? Positive events? Where are you now? … you should get sick more often, he said. Found this online: Glue an image of a favorite person onto a page (just glue three sides), write a positive message to…

Part 22 daily journal workshop. EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE #arttherapy

Extraordinary circumstance. What does that mean to you? For me, major life-changing markers come to mind. Events you have to survive in order to move forward. Painful events. Positive chapter changes as well. Write or draw to celebrate how you have come through these life events. How you have grown. Think about it. Then stop…

Part 21 daily journal workshop. SELF-HARM #arttherapy

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and these pages are not a substitute for professional help. If you are triggered negatively by any of the journal work here, seek support. Self-Harm: There are so many forms of self-harm. I have seen the whole gamut in my work with at-risk youth. I have seen it in…

Part 20 daily journal workshop. WORTH #arttherapy

Let’s take a look at the concept of worth. Write about it. Then draw “ME” over your words. Pull out the words covered by “ME.” Draw an eye. Recall tutorial. Draw tears coming out. Large, bloated tears. Write the ME words in the tears. Find a quote you like about worth, self-worth, self-esteem etc. I…

Part 19 daily journal workshop. CANCER #arttherapy

Today simply draw about your relationship with cancer. Literally, metaphorically, personally, generally. Be quick and simple. It’s been on my mind a lot lately for SO MANY REASONS. In memoriam: Unspoken Truths, Christopher Hitchens Daily Journal Workshop: Part 1 JUST WRITE Part 2 DRAW OUT THE WORDS Part 3 HEART Part 4 SPILL OUT COLLAGE…

Part 18 daily journal workshop. SURVIVOR #arttherapy @Kris_Carr

A survivor is a triumphant person who lives with, after, or in spite of a diagnosis or traumatic event. Survivors refuse to assume the identity of their adversity. They are not imprisoned by the constructs of a label. Instead, survivors use their brush with mortality as a catalyst for creating a better self. We transform…

Part 17 daily journal workshop. ALTER: to make different without changing into something else #arttherapy

Daily Journal Workshop: Part 1 JUST WRITE Part 2 DRAW OUT THE WORDS Part 3 HEART Part 4 SPILL OUT COLLAGE Part 5 NAKED SCREAM Part 6 INVITE ALTER STRETCH EXTEND Part 7 ARISE AROSE IN 3’S Part 8 SELF-PORTRAIT. HUMAN Part 9 WORD CRAZY QUILT Part 10 VINTAGE WORKOUT Part 11 GESTURE DRAWING Part…

Part 16 daily journal workshop. COMICS! Shameless copying. #artschool #arttherapy #LyndaBarry

Part 15 daily journal workshop. GUEST SPEAKER. #arttherapy

An amazing evening participating in @publicdreams interactive art at @VanAFL 18th annual auction!

A huge thank you to Azfir, the fabulous creative director of Public Dreams, for a wonderful interactive experience painting live on a canvas dress with the audience at Vancouver Art For Life 18th annual art auction last night! Public Dreams promotes community participation in the arts by providing interactive and accessible public art programming. They…

The letters of Frida Kahlo and how my daughter @AnnaTFabulous blurred art and reality.

My friend, Desmond Reid, surprised me with a DELICIOUS Frida Kahlo book the other day: My child, I really should not complain about anything that happens to me in life, so long as you love me… “Her writings reveal her precociousness, the intensity of her feelings, and her enduring physical distress: they unveil her personality…

Evolution of a drawing by Roar Thorsen. The old man knows what he’s doing! #arttherapy

My father amazes me. Despite being wheelchair bound and dependent on care aides for daily needs, he is empowered by art. Today he even called to say he didn’t have time for a visit as he had to finish a sketch! Amazing! His process is fascinating. I have learned to trust he has a vision…

Love letter to Henrik, by Roar Thorsen

My dad has a new grandson (who also happens to be my nephew), Henrik Roar Thorsen. I visited Dad today and found this drawing and post-it note in his sketchbook. I love that Dad, who is confined to a wheelchair, draws himself as walking.

Jason Matlo. Pure inspiration.

Jason Matlo is a Vancouver fashion designer who aspires to bring his art form to an international audience. His goal is to set a benchmark for Canadian made ready-to-wear women’s fashion, and to bring international acclaim and recognition to his brand as the most luxurious and sophisticated women’s line that is designed and manufactured…

Possessing the secret of joy: Roar Thorsen #strokerecovery #arttherapy

On September 21 it will be SIX YEARS since my dad’s devastating stroke. We have gone through SO MUCH since then. Ups and downs of life. The blood and guts that makes it all so spectacular. I continue to be amazed at the vibrancy and assertiveness and joy that my dad is experiencing…

SLEUTH!!!

I love these kids. Yes, one of them happens to be my son, Julian, so duh, but seriously, I absolutely love watching SLEUTH, the band, develop. Self-described as two nerds, one charismatic, one giant–and all four are looking about for clues with delicate resistance to art school etiquette without being artless or heartless, Sleuth’s members…

Pages 15-19 The Sketchbook Project 2012! @arthouse Theme: #HOPE

I chose the theme: HOPE. Besides my own journal entries and drawings, I am including drawings by my art therapy students. The Sketchbook Project 2012 To see pages 1-8 go to LINK To see pages 9-14 go to LINK [click on images for larger view] August 25-26, 2011 That was all a man needed: hope. It was…

Pages 9-14 The Sketchbook Project 2012! @arthouse Theme: #HOPE

I chose the theme: HOPE. Besides my own journal entries and drawings, I am including drawings by my art therapy students. The Sketchbook Project 2012 To see pages 1-8 go to LINK [click on images for larger view] Pages 9-10 August 17, 2011 (includes Alicia and Miko) Pages 11-12 August 18 and 20 , 2011 (features Roar)…

Pages 1-8 The Sketchbook Project 2012! @arthouse Theme: #HOPE

I chose the theme: HOPE. Besides my own journal entries and drawings, I am including drawings by my art therapy students. Recall I participated in The Sketchbook Project 2011 and chose the theme And Then There Was None. You can view that sketchbook online. The Sketchbook Project 2012 [click on image for larger view] Pages 1-2 August 6, 2011 …

Bibliophile: #GRAFFITI. #streetart

Cooper, M., Chalfant, H. (2009) Subway Art- 25th Anniversary Edition, San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books Almqvist, B., Lindblad, T.B., Jacobsen, M., Sjöstrand, T. (2007) Gates of Graffiti, Åstra, Sweden: Dokument Förlag (now Dokument Press) Stewart, J. (2009) Graffiti Kings- New York City Mass Transit Art of the 1970s, New York, NY: Melcher Media Emmerling, L….

Maryellen.

I am so blessed to call this young woman a student and a friend. EXTRAORDINARY talent. Keep an eye on her career. I am so excited to see where she goes next! Portrait in Pencil of Maryellen Groundwater.

Happy 81st birthday, Pappa! His WWII 1942 birthday card and his latest VIKING drawing

I have posted this incredible card before, but appropriate to re-post it today as my Dad turns 81! It’s AMAZING!

The Frida Kahlo room at Galerias, Seattle #paradise

You all know, by this time, my obsession with Frida Kahlo. We ate an amazing birthday dinner at Galerias in the Frida Kahlo room… I would like to spend some more time, please. OMG. Here are some tidbits. Recommended reading: Frida’s Fiestas- recipes and reminiscences of life with Frida Kahlo

Woman, I. Brad Fashion as a de Kooning

Even an abstract form has to have a likeness. – Willem de Kooning Recommended: Brad Fashion’s site: SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE Stevens, M., Swan, A. (2006) de Kooning- An American Master, Alfred A. Knopf: New York, NY

Happy Birthday, Pierre Berton! See my letter from Mr. Berton, 1973! #myhero

Pierre Francis de Marigny Berton (July 12, 1920 – November 30, 2004) Of his forty-seven books, this was Berton’s personal favourite, partly because the characters were inspired by his own children. The Secret World of Og brought the author more fan mail than anything else he wrote – at least a dozen letters a week from children across…

When your art is the way you live your life… the sacred Tracey Bell @traceybelldivas

I am un-peeling layers of masks in my life at present and ready to take a new look at the way I live in the world, and to start being more present in how I care for myself and for others. I am always aware that people come into my life as teachers. And I…