Daily Archive for March 31st, 2009

Paint Not Pain

Published on March 31, 2009 in Abuse, Anxiety, Art Therapy, Borderline Personality Disorder, Emotional abuse, Emotions and PTSD. 0 Comments

crystals-art-suicidal-thoughtsMy week end was difficult. I had a hard time concentrating on anything but one very destructive act triggered by a phone call and a cruel comment someone left on a different web site.  Instead of falling back into the same pattern I kept my pens, paint brushes and coloured pencils moving. Some of these pieces I worked on for up to 12 hours at a time. It never takes me that long to sketch but I wanted to keep myself busy.

One thing I noticed about recent artwork is how one large head oversees a body surrounded by smaller bodies. There’s a small body in the corner either facing the group or hunched over away from the group. This particular piece doesn’t have a large tree to the side or the in the center like many of my art therapy sketches. Another difference is the house and tree inside the belly of the body sitting beside the white redheaded figure. That’s new for me but not for the person who drew this piece. Again I see a poppy field and hair that blows away wildly. There are a ton of hidden flowers which represent emotions. This is disturbing to look at but I understand why she drew it. Continue reading ‘Paint Not Pain’

Tree House Challenge

Published on March 31, 2009 in Art Therapy, Borderline Personality Disorder and Trust. 0 Comments

Tree House ChallengeWhile looking over my drawings in therapy Dr. D said something interesting about boundaries. He noted that even in my artwork there are few boundaries. Everything swirls together. Objects share space and go wherever they please. Later at home I decided to try and sketch a piece that has boundaries. Little did I know it would be so difficult that I gave up on it.

I started out simple, a house and a tree. I couldn’t think of what else to put in it so I pictured my neighbors house. After that mental image I added a walk way and mailbox. I was frustrated by then so I jotted down what I thought. (See gallery for close ups) The first thing I remember feeling was how rigid it was to draw an image in it’s own space. The tree doesn’t grow through the house, just up through the ground. The door isn’t over sized and the walkway is a normal everyday walkway instead of one that winds around the house, over it and everywhere but to the door itself. That is what I would have done with the sketch had I not taken the challenge of boundaries.

As I said, the piece was frustrating so I moved on to art I could do and enjoy. The below sketch is an answer to the boundary challenge. Continue reading ‘Tree House Challenge’