Art therapy

One of my favourite forms of therapy is art therapy. I enjoy it because it calms me and the process itself is exciting. I love to see how blank canvases and colour collide to produce pictures that speak to the soul. Before being hospitalized I found out about art classes being run at my local Midas store. The thought to join a class crossed my mind, but it wasn’t until my therapist mentioned that it would be a good idea, that I finally took the plunge.

The art teacher, Jannie, was patient and encouraging. When he first saw the photo I wanted to paint (from my garden), he didn’t think it would be an easy feat. This mainly because it was my first class. He thought I should have tried something a little less of a challenge but I continued anyway.

“One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

It wasn’t long before I got lost into my own world and although I got a few anxiety attacks during the class, he wasn’t too far to calm me down and center me again.

As the hours passed, I grew confident, arm steady and heart beaming. I felt so alive. The class breathed life into me.

Have a look at the pictures as they progressed from photo to acrylics to the final layer of oils.

1. Photo

2. Acrylics

3. Finished arcylics

4. Finished painting with oils

Thanks to Jannie and Elmaire (from the Midas store in Vredenburg). If you want to attend classes, contact her on 073 174 2676. They cost R270 and you just need to buy your canvas. Everything else is supplied.

Happy painting!

Yve