Art Therapy Card Collage Swap #2

These past few days I was able to play in my studio while participating in my first artist's trading card swap with art therapists from around the world. The theme was "Collage Unleashed" and I obsessively rampaged through magazine after magazine to decide what message did I want my cards to visually represent. I have always been an artist before I began to major in art therapy but each time I am in my studio or doodling I am pleasantly reminded of how calming art making is. It restores balance deep in my soul; I find that place between my "self" and my thoughts. Since the beginning of my studies in art therapy I have begun to communicate my developing art therapeutic philosophy through my own art work. Each card represents one of the few developing core beliefs I am finding that is integral to the art therapeutic process not only in the role of the art therapist but also what hidden undiscovered treasures lie ahead for the client.

To Be Inspired...



...by the role as an art therapist and let that inspiration carry through each intention with listening, observing, and caring for the benefit of your client or group.


Believe In...



...yourself and encourage the client or group to believe in themselves. Help them discover hidden talents and skills.


To Imagine...



...possibilities, see alternative options, and problem solve life's challenges.


Then Create...



...visually and take action!

Please feel free to visit and see all the awesome cards made during this swap, Art Therapy Alliance ATC Swap #2 hosted by Melanie Glassey!

Intuition by Visualange

We are all intuitive by nature; it is so intrinsic to who you are and how we relate to our world. It comes through our feelings and emotions. When we dream our spirit reconnects to our unconsciousness and the cosmic energy source. It can recharge us and remind us that we are spiritual beings. Art therapy can help us tap into the flow of life energy force by creating an atmosphere that is sacred and find peace while creatively making art. The Tarot have a card called, the star, that symbolizes the balancing of emotions and is called a card of hope. Most importantly it means to have trust and confidence in the future that there will be new perception of mental and spiritual things. Intuition will be heightened. I believe it is imperative for me as art therapist to be an empathetic listener, good observer of behavior, but also remain connected intuitively to the universe.

Bomb *$@! Banana Bread

Bomb *@#! Banana Bread

Baking Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Serves 16

Ingredients
5 tablespoons room tempeture butter
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ cups mashed, very ripe bananas
*use old bananas that get a darkish brown in color to guarantee delicious and moist bread*
1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
½ cup heavy cream
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions
1)Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 9x5x3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2)Beat butter in large bowl with an electric mixer set at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar: beat well. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla: beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed for 30 seconds.
3)Combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts or chocolate chips to batter then mix well.
4)Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
5)Cool bread in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter and or jam.

Visual Sanctum

This is my sanctuary, my Zen. Nature and human interaction inspires me but I find that I only truly experience peace when I am working creatively in my studio.

Gender Unequality

Who I am is defined by who I am not, not by who I am.
Many men still see me as a sex object, not as peer or equal.
Many women I know are uncomfortable when I raise questions about gender equality.
When they come to me and complain that they are exhausted, unhappy, and I speak of words of empowerment they treat it as wishful thinking. Why do women treat me as if something is wrong with me because I don't choose getting married as my first priority? I am the strange and stuck between genders in a world that consists of a few? Subvert the dominate paradigm.

Blue Fluff

4 probability given by random forces.
Exquisite soul to soul glances
into our eternal sources.
Blissful pleasures received through somatic touch.
Energy exchanged with you is desired so much.
Special virtues perceived only with open eyes.
Connecting with me, you will have bonding
of my e-motions with no disguise.
Let us now submerge ourselves with in this
conscious flow of sensual delight.
Counterpart romances reoccur
from the past nights.
Tune out to tune in to turn on in
our own frequency creations
of divine moments as one.