Art Therapy (With Elephants)

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As followers of this blog know, I lost my dear father last week.  He had been declining for some time, but his death has still been very sad, especially for my mother, his spouse for over sixty years.  The above is a collaborative drawing of my mother, myself, my husband and my iPad2 done during the preparation of the first dinner we’ve actually been able to cook since my dad’s death.  (Doing normal everyday things like cooking is difficult after a death.  In my case, this difficulty is compounded by the fact that my mom has an electric stove, and I’m an absolute devotee of cooking with gas.)

One activity that is quite wonderful after a death, however, or perhaps after any trauma, is the making of visual art–even not-such-great art like the painting above. There is something absolutely engaging about making images, one’s own world, a new world–a world that, if you don’t have complete control over your medium, is full of surprises, and yet still self-contained.   It is probably more fun to do the art with paper and brushes, but those may be more dicey to whip out in the midst of food preparation.

As always, I recommend the Brushes App for those working on iPads.

Explore posts in the same categories: iPad art, Uncategorized, Vicissitudes of Life

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5 Comments on “Art Therapy (With Elephants)”

  1. David King's avatar David King Says:

    So sorry to hear of you losing your father. I still remember mine going and can empathise with you all.

    That’s no excuse for talking down the art, though! It may not be Michelangelo, but it would hold its own alongside many an illustration for a child’s story book. (No mean feat that, for the standard’s high these days and the concepts difficult,)

    you’re right, though, in your comments about the value of art therapy.

    Every blessing to you and yours for the days ahead.

  2. brian miller's avatar brian miller Says:

    so true on the art…i use it with many of the kids that i counsel with some pretty amazing result…i like your elephant…and glad it is srrounded by beautiful flowers…


  3. I chose this photo for your sidebar button. Then I read the post.

    What a beautiful piece of artwork. I LOVE it!! Off to post it now.

    Your father was so lucky to have you as his daughter.

    xoox

  4. ManicDdaily's avatar ManicDdaily Says:

    Thanks so much. You know I look at this one now and see some sadness in the elephant. So interesting. Thanks much. k.


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