healing through art

"Art Therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the Art Therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem."

The Expressive Arts Therapy Program at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin helps patients and their families express their emotions through art. The program goes beyond arts and crafts and into the imagination for creative stimulation, communication and coping. 

To learn more about art therapy, visit http://www.arttherapy.org/

"When words fail us, art speaks."

the sistine chapel

If I could see any piece of famous artwork in person, it would be the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

Photo: wikipedia.org

The Sistine Chapel is a papal chapel built within Vatican City. Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling-it took him 4 years to complete the work, from 1508 to 1512. 

"The Creation of Adam"
Photo: wikipedia.org

"The Creation of Adam" is probably the most well known piece on the ceiling, but Michelangelo actually created multiple artworks that were part of the grand design of the chapel.

Photo: wikipedia.org

Photo: wikipedia.org

These photos can only begin to show the time and detailed work that went into the Sistine Chapel ceiling. It is by far one of my favorite works of art and one that I would absolutely love to see in person!

"the joy of painting" with bob ross

Bob Ross was an American painter who was able to create these pretty amazing paintings within a half hour TV show, and he did it effortlessly.

I used to watch his show ALL the time.

It came on every Sunday morning, and was the best way to start the day.
At least for me it was.
I wasn't like most children.

Anyway, if you have a few minutes, I encourage you to check out a little bit of what he does, it's quite impressive.