Session 5 - I'd Rather Die Than Cry

Dr Ethans called me an artist.  She said it like she really meant it even though I know she says that to all her clients.  Grandma Kay was the real artist.  She taught me everything.  Dr E asked me about her again today.  I got that vibratey panic feeling and couldn't talk.  She asked me to draw what I wanted to say.  I drew myself in a tomb.

Dr E looked at my drawing for a long time.  Then she asked me, "If this were the cover of a book, what would the title be?"  It just came out of me.  I'd rather die than cry.  I wrote it at the bottom.

Session 4 - Grandma Kay

Dr. Ethan has an ivy plant in her office just like Grandma Kay's.  It needed water, so I gave it some out of my water bottle.  Dr. E said that she really liked that I noticed things. I told her I have a slip of Grandma's ivy growing in a bottle on my windowsill in my bedroom.  When no one was looking, I had cut it from the back of her plant at the garage sale they had after she died.  Dr. E asked me to draw Grandma Kay.

Instead of a pen, there was a container of sticks and a bottle of India Ink.  I picked out one and drew Grandma and her ivy.  Dr. E put out some coloured Posca markers and paints and said go for it.  I didn't want to, but I also wanted to.  I just coloured Grandma's heart and then made her hair into hearts.  Then I kept adding colour.

While I was drawing I started feeling dizzy.  I had a huge lump in my throat and my eyes burned. I wanted to pour that India ink all over everything.  But I didn't.  Dr. E asked how I felt, but I couldn't talk.

Session 3 - Word Bullets

I punched a wall in the bathroom. I wanted to punch the mirror.  I told Dr. Ethans that I fell. I didn't want to draw because my hand hurt.  Dr. E said that was okay. She still put the art stuff out.  I didn't want to talk.  She asked me why.  I told her because words are bullets. I hate words.  She said she'd like to see the word bullets.  

Session 2 - The Weather Inside

April 2

Dr. Ethans said that feelings were like the weather.  She asked me to draw the weather inside me.

First session.

April 1.
Dr. Ethans gave me a journal and a basket of art supplies.

2019 Fake Journal

It's that time of the year.  I'm crazy busy, and distracted and stressed... BUT I can't NOT join in with a Fake Journal.   Make up an alter ego and go with it.

We have a Facebook group called Up for a Challenge where several of us drawing daily and are posting our fake journals.

This year, I've chosen to be quick and dirty.  I made an accordion book out of 140 lb Canson watercolour paper and covered it with a piece of a torn hand-dyed sarong.

This year, I'm setting these intentions:

make a mess
work quickly
be spontaneous
use a bamboo dip pen (first time) or ink with brush
use markers, gouache, media I'm uncomfortable with.

My character is 17 yr-old Noreen.  She is visiting an art therapist for the first time.

Here's my book.

April 30 My Return

Day 30

9:00 a.m.  Gimli Hospital and cast comes OFF!

9:45  I am back at work.  The staff decorated the office and there was a "welcome back" cake!  How fun!

6:00  Phil took me for dinner to celebrate.

9:00  I sit at my sketchbook and use my left hand, which has become my close friend this past month.  I will not forget you and visit with you often.