I Do Art Discussion No. 6 – “Lady in the Honey Straw Hat with a Flurry of Feathers”

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Painting No. 33 – Title “On the Rails with my sister entertaining friends” Painted Nov/Dec 08 – Jan/Feb 2009

A good part of my art therapy journey has involved taking photos, which are part of my visual diary process that I use for inspiration, to create my abstract paintings and abstract digital photo paintings.  During one of Melbourne – Australia’s  famous racing seasons, I had the good fortune to be able to attend my sister’s Derby Day marquee function at Flemington Race Course 2008.  Victoria Derby is a thoroughbred race and is the oldest classic horse race in Australia, it ran first in 1855 (Derby Day. 2014).  And on this day 2008 Melbourne, once again, turned on a beautiful day with a clear blue sky!

Whilst attending my sister’s racing day function, I helped her prepare the food and entertain her friends. During the day I took many photos of interesting people in great outfits. One of the photos of my sister really inspired me to paint an abstract painting of her.

Sister at Derby Day, The Rails - Flemington Races, Melbourne Australia 2008 Photo taken by Karen Robinson Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Sister at Derby Day, The Rails – Flemington Races, Melbourne Australia 2008 – Digitally manipulated photo taken by Karen Robinson Abstract Artist NB All images are protected by copyright laws!

Below is the portrait abstract painting I did from the photo inspirations of that day.  It is one of four that I painted for the 2008 Melbourne Racing Carnival.  They consisted of this Painting No. 33 featured below and Paintings Nos. 32, 34, & 35 – please click here to view!

Painting No. 33 - Title "On the Rails with my sister entertaining friends" by Abstract Artist Karen Robinson - 2009 All images are protected by copyright laws!

Painting No. 33 – Title “On the Rails with my sister entertaining friends” Jan/Feb 2009 Acrylic on Canvas, 60cms Length x 60cms Wide x 3cms Deep
– by Abstract Artist: Karen Robinson All images are protected by copyright laws!

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Art Therapy Humour – “When you just gotta get it out!”

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During my art therapy journey, particularly in the early years, where I was using art to express pent-up emotions such as grief and despair; I found myself feeling just like this very clearer but simple illustration.  It came to me via my Facebook page from “Art Therapy Without Borders” and its caption is just spot on.  The act of painting and writing my accompanying painting stories did just this for me – “art therapy helps to get what’s in your brain out on paper” (Mead. 2014).

Art Therapy Humour "art therapy helps to get what's in your brain out on paper" Mead. N. - Art Therapy Without Borders 2014

Art Therapy Humour “art therapy helps to get what’s in your brain out on paper” Mead. N. – Art Therapy Without Borders 2014 – Artist:  ASAF HANUKA – Cartoonist and Illustrator http://www.asafhanuka.com/the-realist/#/viral/

I love its simplicity!  For me it clearly illustrates just what it is like to use “art for therapy” in three simple sketches and yep…have been here!

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