The Power Is In The Climb
Blogs From the Vault! Feb 2020 What do you think when you hear the word Enlightenment? What does that actually look like? According to Wikipedia, Enlightenment is the “full comprehension of a situation”. Which basically means seeing all things as they truly are, from all aspects. This requires lots of self reflection, the ability to […]
Art as Therapy – P8 Embracing the Present Moment
Do you have a place, a hobby or a passion project that seems to make time disappear? Totally embracing the present moment can move you into this divine, expansive space. I believe, when we allow ourselves to move into a ‘flow’ state of consciousness then time becomes irrelevant. For me, each challenging experience has given […]
Art as Therapy- P7 Honoring Your Story
Have you ever heard of story fatigue? It’s when you are asked to tell the same story over and over and eventually you get sick of hearing yourself. Apart from having to revisit all the trauma repeatedly, the more times you tell it, the more you can feel detached. During my recovery, and for a […]
Art as Therapy – P6 Embracing Vulnerability and Authenticity
It was 2012, I was asked to be part of advertisement from my health insurer BUPA Australia. The film maker was genuinely interested in my story. We met up for coffee after my interview and he was discussing my art. He said “I don’t want to see whats in here” pointing to his head, “I […]
Art As Therapy – P5 Turning Pain into Purpose
Let’s rewind to wear it all began. I was only 6 years old when my father died and I remember those early weeks quite distinctly. Dad had bowel cancer and from diagnosis to his passing was about 4 months. One day he got sick and the next day he was gone. Everyone bought me gifts. […]
Art as Therapy – P4 Building Resilience, Empowerment and Self-Esteem
I asked a musician friend of mine how he feels when people request his old songs. It was a question he hadn’t been asked before. After some thought, he told me that most times, he didn’t mind, but he preferred to play his new work. Someone mentioned to me that they preferred my old abstract […]
Art as Therapy P3- A Sense of Control
When I taught pastel art classes, I would divide beginner students into two categories: bakers and quilters. Like the ‘Pastel Whisperer,’ I would know within minutes what someone’s preferred style of drawing was. It was like a magic trick! Remember the Swedish chef from the muppets? He would appear to have a plan but by […]
Art as Therapy P2- Self-Exploration & Reflection
A creative life is an interesting and challenging one. My mind has so many fleeting ideas. It takes practice to catch the right one and transform it into physical form. Being creative has taught me that completing cycles carries over into life to help me finish things that I start. Not everything mind you, I […]
Art as Therapy P1 – Transformation and Growth
I didn’t specifically mean to go down a pathway of art as therapy and a form of healing; rather, it found me. It was 2012, and I was still in recovery from my stomach cancer. My life as I knew it had been turned on its head. In a parallel universe, I’m sure I was […]
Art As Therapy – The Beginning
Hello, I thought I would reintroduce myself to those who don’t know me or would like to get reacquainted. My name is Michelle, and I am a full time Artist from Melbourne, Australia. I have been married for 20 years and have two children. I am also a step-mum to my husband’s girls since they […]
