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This week’s Art Therapy Group Session consisted of a well attended group of 5, plus the Art Therapist and the assisting facilitator. We commenced our session with a light physical stretching set of exercises for approximately 10 minutes. Just to get us loosened up. We were then asked to sit down and close our eyes and concentrate on our breathing, clearing our minds of other thoughts, relaxing our body and bringing ourselves right into the present. From here we were asked to think of a space we felt safe in; it could be a real space or it could be an imaginary space. We were asked to image ourselves walking through this ‘safe space’ and to think about what it was that made us feel safe. It was a very relaxing process where I could feel my mind and body totally washing away other thoughts and emotions and truly being in the moment.
From here we were asked to open our eyes, take up our desired art materials and commence an art work that represents our ‘safe space’. I gathered up a sheet of butcher paper, paint brushes of varying sizes, some acrylic paint, soft oil pastels and some ink paint and got started…
After completing our paintings, we were asked to place them in a line across the floor. Each of us in turn talked about what our painting said in relation to painting about our ‘safe space’. It was interesting to see and hear what others had painted and said about their ‘safe space’. A number of the group had ‘imagery safe spaces’ and others had ‘real safe spaces’.
My painting was based on a ‘real safe space’. It was my home garden which my husband has worked on for over 13 years to create from bare soil. Every room in our home has a view of our garden. The garden its self is full of well established bushes and trees where wild life flock to rest, feed, drink water and go about the daily lives. Over the seasons, the leaves on the trees go golden brown, yellow, orange and drop; in spring they flower and in summer they provide us with must needed shade to protect us from the strong Australian sun. In my painting about my ‘safe space’ the golden-yellow represents the soft warmth of the sun in spring, when it warms my cheers and reminds me of the summer to come. The blues remind me of our beautiful clear bright blue sky, we as so fortunate to have here in Australia. The planting represents a plant my husband has used to line each side of our garden leading from the road to our front door.
Our garden has been a treasure over many years, offering both my husband and myself a form of refuge during difficult times in our lives. My ‘safe space’ is my garden where nature kindly cares for my soul…
NB: Please click on the below links to view Nos. 1, 2 & 3 Art Therapy Group Sessions:
- Art Therapy Group Session 1 of 7
- Art Therapy Group Session 2 of 7
- Art Therapy Group Session 3 of 7
- Art Therapy Group Session 4 of 7
Whilst you are here – please check out my home page! My Art Therapy Journey – A window into the soul of an Abstract Artist through art therapy and storytelling…by Karen Robinson
ido art karen robinson 
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