“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer; a wordless trust of the same mystery is the foundation of your work and its integrity.” Rachel Naomi Remen, MD
The above quote expresses so well how artistic expression and my practice of psychotherapy intertwine and promote growth and healing for myself and others. Both psychotherapy and art involve a courageous venture into an unformed and mysterious interiority and result in the creation of coherence and shared meaning.
I like to take risks as an artist and to try new ideas and media. Here are some things that excite me right now:
Sky photographs: I live on the tenth floor and am in awe of the ever-changing cloud formations, sunrises, thunderstorms, and other natural compositions that I see from my east-facing window. I enjoy documenting them in photographs.
Zen photographs: I like to practice something I call “zen photography” because it involves taking photographs of things as they are, without trying to express a particular idea or tell a particular story.
Abstract painting and collage: On the other hand, it’s such fun to combine different elements or media in unexpected or unusual ways to tell a story or express an idea.
Poetry and painting: I sometimes write poetry and enjoy combining one of my poems with a painting I have made or a photo I have taken in order to create a richer experience.
Memory books: I am preparing for memory loss as I age by creating digital scrapbooks that include photographs, paintings, music, and narrative so that I can review my life even when I no longer have all my memory.
Here are some examples of Jacqie’s work
