Category: expressive arts

Expressive Art Therapy Technique
art · art studio · art therapy · expressive arts · lifestyle blog · painting · pen and ink drawing · personal blog · personal development · simple life · watercolor

Expressive Art Therapy Technique

caroline

This is an art therapy technique that helps with calmness and relaxation for those with anxiety and stress. I have started an online counseling and art therapy practice and I have been developing YouTube videos to show different types of art therapy tasks

Supplies

  • Watercolor
  • Watercolor paper
  • Brushes
  • Container for water
  • Paper towel
  • Ink pens

Start by painting with watercolors shapes symbols and anything that you would like it could be realistic trying it could be abstract. The idea is for this painting to be calming and relaxing.

Using a hair dryer can speed up the process of drying time for you to use the ink pens. But this art task can be divided into two days if you want to spend time painting for one day let it dry and then return back the next day to add the details with the ink pen

Once you are finished then you could add details using the ink pens. The ink pens can be black or it could be color ink pens.

https://youtu.be/JDbi8wKNhws

You could find a demonstration on this on my YouTube channel Zen Art and Wellness.

Caroline

The Artist Life
art · art studio · art therapy · etsy · expressive arts · flower art · lifestyle blog · painting · personal blog · water soluble oil paints

The Artist Life

caroline

It’s been another few weeks, or has it been months, since I posted. I have been taking care of myself, doing some thinking and making changes. Actually big changes.

I have not enjoyed my career for a long time. I am now making a decision to open my own art as therapy business. I am a registered art therapist and want to try online art as therapy sessions. I named my business Zen Art and Wellness. You can find me under that name on Instagram and Youtube. I am really excited to get my first few clients.

This tulip painting has been sitting on my easel for some time. I wanted this to be a quick painting, turns out the only way for anything to be quick is to actually work on it!!! But I have been side tracked with developing my business. I am now done with most of the “boring” business stuff and can now be creative. I am still working my other job as a counselor, until I can live off of my business.

I am going to really try to focus on making more art and getting it on Etsy, I have not shown my best art, so there will be a clean up on it and I might be making a change to where I sell my art. Not sure yet….

The tulip painting will be for sale, both in print and the real painting on canvas!!!!

Here is me in my studio. I bought some new lights, but I need a few hooks to put it up, so maybe off to the store later today for that. Might be my evening adventure.

Enjoy your day and take a look at my art on Etsy! And check out my business as well on Instagram and Youtube.

Painting in a Journal
acrylic painting · art · art journal · art studio · art therapy · etsy · expressive arts · lifestyle blog · painting · personal blog · simple life

Painting in a Journal

caroline

I have cardstock of various colors. Each was cut in various sizes and taped onto a board. Then I painted using colors that compliment the paper. After it dried I took acrylic markers and drew in details.

Later, they will be glued into the art journal.

Finished Paintings

I plan to paint more in my art journal for 2023.

Etsy Shop

My Etsy shop is open and has some amazing pen and ink drawings and acrylic paintings that are sold in prints. Check it out https://4PawsArtStudio.etsy.com

Happy New Year

Caroline

Oil Painting
art · art studio · etsy · expressive arts · flower art · lifestyle blog · painting · personal blog · simple life

Oil Painting

caroline

When I went to college, oil painting was the choice of medium. It’s been many years since I used oil painting as my life took a different turn and I was not making art during those years.

I heard about the water soluble oil paints. These paints are nice, the tubes are small, but just enough for what I need. It might help me get back to oil painting.

Flower Art

I mostly paint flowers, mostly in abstract. But this painting I wanted to paint an iris for my bedroom.

The Inspiration Photos

Here’s the First Layer

The Second Day in the Studio

Waiting…

Waiting for it to dry and I’ll add in more highlights.

Hope you enjoyed this blog.

Etsy Shop

Check out my Etsy shop. I have pen and ink drawings and acrylic paintings sold in prints for sale.

https://4PawsArtStudio.etsy.com

Caroline

Bold, Bright, Beautiful
acrylic painting · art · art journal · art therapy · expressive arts · journal making · lifestyle blog · mindfulness · self-care · simple life

Bold, Bright, Beautiful

caroline

Lately I have been painting in my art journal. I use acrylic paint. The intention of painting in a journal is to practice mindfulness and relaxation.

Paintings

It’s the end of the year and I realized I just haven’t been writing in this blog much. I hope to publish more and make more art next year.

Caroline

Animal Drawings
art · art journal · doodling · drawing · etsy · expressive arts · illustration · lifestyle blog · mindfulness · personal blog · personal development · redbubble · simple life

Animal Drawings

caroline

I drew these animal drawings in a sketchbook with colored pens.

Lately I have been going through my art and starting to decide what to start selling.

These drawings might be selected.

Redbubble

Look for my art on redbubble items it is under 4pawsartstudio

Etsy

A few items are on Etsy under 4pawsartstudio

More will be posted in months to come.

Caroline

Weaving Paper
art · crafts · expressive arts · journal making

Weaving Paper

caroline

I am showing you how to paper weave in a journal. This can be made on a larger separate paper using the same steps.

Supplies Needed

  • Journal
  • Cardstock paper
  • Extra paper from shaving cream project see previous post
  • Glue
  • Washi tape
  • Cutting board or x-acto knife or scissors

Steps

Cut the paper and then strips half an inch or less. Then decide which papers are going to be horizontal. Then glue the top of the horizontal paper to the journal page you will only glue the very top parts of the paper do not glue the entire horizontal strip of paper.

Then add washi tape at the top to secure that portion that was glued down. Then you will start your weaving. Pick another strip of paper and start weaving under and over you’re going to alternate. When you get to the end pick up another paper and then weave again but alternate from what you did previously. So if you started under for your first weaving strip then your second strip will start with over.

Once you are finished you can cut the edges of the remaining paper strips or you could fold them into the journal page. This would be your choice of what you want to do.

Caroline

Doodling on Construction Paper Page
art · art therapy · doodling · drawing · expressive arts · journal making

Doodling on Construction Paper Page

caroline

Supplies

  • Ink pen
  • Journal page with construction paper

This journal entry will be a doodle that is drawn on the construction paper that was glued on to the page.

Start by drawing simple shapes, circle, curved and lines.

Add the shape next to the shapes already drawn. Continue drawing until the entire page is filled.

This is the finished page.

Making a Journal Cover Pretty
art · art therapy · crafts · expressive arts · journal making

Making a Journal Cover Pretty

caroline

Supplies

  • Construction paper
  • Decorative paper
  • Glue sticks
  • Glue
  • Washi tape
  • Lettering
  • Magazine letters cut out

Measure the size for the front cover. It will be a little bit smaller than the pages due to the spiral rings.

Cut decorative paper or construction paper to the measurements of the front cover.

Glue to the front cover. Add washi tape on the edges.

Inside Pages

Use the same measurements as the front cover and cut decorative paper or construction paper to paste on the odd side of the journal entry.

I used construction paper. The next post I will show you what to do with construction paper to add to the journal.

The journal will start expanding due to adding in more paper.

Glueing Shaving Cream in your Journal
art · art therapy · expressive arts · journal making · painting

Glueing Shaving Cream in your Journal

caroline

Supplies

  • Scissors
  • Shaving cream painting sheets
  • Glue
  • Ruler
  • Pencil

Measure the page and cut the shaving cream painting sheets to the measurement size.

Pick the area of the painting that is interesting to you.

Glue the painting to the page.

Glue all of the shaving cream paintings there will be many pages of these works in your journal.