Painting for Chloe

ATC cards for swap with fellow art therapists

Been soo busy

I went to Galveston last weekend and then toured NASA.  The NASA tour was really underwhelming plus it was like 100 degrees outside and we were dying of heat exhaustion.  But seeing the space shuttle up close was so amazing. 

Beautiful moon over the sea.

Another peek at the exhibit

Hospital Art Exhibit

My client's art is on display now at Cook Children's Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas

A quote from Sarah

"Bone crushing World" by Sarah

"We are not here for perfection, rather expression".

10/2008 Sarah Davenport

Bide your time

This is a tiny canvas I just started.  Still working on this one.

Mandala in process

Next step is to add color layers.

You know your an artist when....

Babies on picnic

The finished piece.  This was for a friend.

Making the painting...

Tara Mandala

The Drepung Losling Monastery sends monks to tour the US each year.  They have come to Dallas and celebrated at my friend Eva's house for the past 7 years.  This is the sand mandala they made in September 2009.  I can't remember if it was for Green Tara or White Tara.  But, it is beautiful!

Art is Therapy

I made this to hang in my office.  Watercolor and sharpie marker.

Relax....

Daily reminder...enjoy this very moment. 

Passion Vision

Fun with Sharpie markers

Blurry Mandala

I have snapped 10 photos of this mandala and every one of them is blurry.  I guess it just does not want to be photographed.  Hmph.  Well...here is the best one of the blurry photos.   This mandala (sacred circle), is made using magazine collage.

Peace Kitty

A Little Frida

Don't you just love Frida Kahlo's eyebrows?  LOL!

Contour Line Drawing of Rumi my dog

Heart Kitty

It is hard not to feel peaceful when a cat curls up in your lap.

Prolific Blogger Award

Ali of Let's Graph has awarded me with the Prolific Blogger award.  Wow!  Thank you very much Ali!


I must follow the rules that accompany this award and pass it along to seven prolific bloggers I think are worthy of this accolade, but there are four items you must do in order to pass the love on to others & hereby accept this award:

Each Prolific Blogger Must:

1. Pass it on to at least 7 other deserving prolific bloggers.
2. Link to the blog from which he/she acquired the award.
3. Link back to this this post which explains the origin and motivation for the award.
4. Visit this post and add his/her name in Mr. Linky so we may all get to know the other fellow winners.

My 7 choices are as follows:

1 - Music Psychos
2 - Oleuanna - Humanitarian News
3 - Fazrul Arts
4 - Lani Puppetmaker's Blogspot
5 - Chain of Flowers
6 - Cease cows- Life is Short!
7 - 14 Secrets for a Happy Artists Life

Thank you! 
Andrea

A little spotty...

For a "freckles" themed book swap.  Each page has a circle that slides open to reveal a surprise underneath.

Dreaming in the paints

Before Rumi, my dog, there was Kiggy.  She was given to me while I was in graduate school in Georgia.  She lived with me for 12 years.  She was a sweetie!

Free will and Determinism

Reach for a Star

Make Love Not Wall

Berlin Wall circa 1991- 92 

 Photo by a University of Dallas undergraduate student studying abroad with the Rome Program.

Delicate flowers

I have been painting this for the past couple of weeks while I work with two particular clients who like to paint together.

Get Well Soon!

These Hands, This Heart

Happy Birthday Jennifer!

We were best friends from ages 4 to 21.  She died from a car accident at the end of our first years in college. 

Tonight there was a small storm...just as expected on her birthday.  But as an extra wonderful treat there was a double rainbow!

Love Your Body

Made on Bristol board with Prismacolor pencils.

A Moment in Time

I am getting ready to participate in this worldwide event.  Check it out.

She had a bad mood...

Butterfly, please deliver my wish

If Frida was their muse...

If Matisse loved Frida.

 A version of Munch's The Scream

What if Frida met Hundterwasser?

le petit chateau

2 1/2 x 3 1/2 Artist Trading Card 
Not sure if I traded it or if I still have it..hmmm.

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Present I made for Susie at Christmas.

Love to see articles that educate the public about my profession!

Creative Arts Therapy May Improve Quality Of Life For Pediatric Cancer Patients

25 Apr 2010
As health care professionals continue placing greater emphasis on the quality of life (QOL) of childhood cancer patients, researchers have found that creative arts therapy (CAT) may improve QOL in pediatric oncology patients undergoing therapy. Their findings were published in the May/June 2010 edition of Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, published by the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON).
"By using creative expression, a child or adolescent with cancer can express feelings about the course of the disease and tumultuous treatment through dance/movement, music, and art. This outlet allows the patient to creatively and kinesthetically process the assaults of cancer and its treatment, and thus establish a stronger sense of self and improved quality of life," the authors wrote.
Jennifer R. Madden, MS, RN, CPNP, of the University of Colorado Medical School, Denver, and colleagues conducted their research in three phases - a small, randomized pilot with brain tumor patients only, a descriptive study observing all eligible hematology/oncology patients who received CAT, and qualitative interviews with medical and nursing providers.
"Little is known about the effect of CAT on QOL in children receiving chemotherapy in the outpatient venue," the authors wrote. "Because many children spend 4 to 8 hours in the infusion room, patients, parents, and staff have verbalized the need for additional stimuli such as arts and crafts or music to make the hours spent receiving treatment more tolerable. In addition, there are continuous requests for psychological support from patients and staff. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of CAT on the QOL of brain tumor patients and subsequently all patients receiving infusions in the outpatient hematology/oncology clinic at a tertiary care pediatric hospital."
"All participating patients and parents reported satisfaction with the CAT intervention and stated that they would like to see the program continue. Future research investigating biophysical measurements or specific symptoms (pain, nausea) is warranted to pro¬vide concrete evidence to the medical community of the benefit of CAT. In addition, in this era of holistic nursing, CAT is the perfect example of how a nurse can involve the whole patient using the creative arts to aid in healing from the traumatic treatment of cancer in a child," the authors concluded.
Source

Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON)

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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/186532.php

Painting I made for my dad

My brother and sister are flying inthe sky and I am looking up at them from the grassy hill.  I made it using cut paper (collage) and acrylic paints.

This is love

Precious words drift away from their meanings and the sun melts the chill from our lives
Helping us all to remember what we came here for
This is love

Little things that will change you forever may appear from way out of the blue
Making fools of everybody who don't understand
This is love

Since our problems have been our own creation they also can be overcome
When we use the power provided free to everyone
this is love

George Harrison