Art – Counsellor Talk : Creative Collaborative Connections

Art Tips for Teens

Published on August 18, 2022 by SSpellmanCann2 Comments

Art has a way of taking you away from all your troubles and worries , so today is just the right day to begin creating.

Creating art can be very therapeutic. You can start simply by creating for 10 minutes a day, or once a week whatever works for you. I love that art allows me to express my emotions and no one else really knows what I am feeling. I create because it feels good in the moment. I let go of my fears of what others think and just do it. Below are a few tips to get you started. If you see any of my art online feel free to use it as inspiration to get you started.

Anything goes, so just start today being creative. Have so much fun. You can use any medium acrylic, watercolor, or oil paints whatever works for you is good enough. if that seems too daunting doodle or cut out pics from magazines and create.
Be like a child and create.
Create, don’t critique yourself.
Don’t give up … Don’t be afraid to try new things … play away.
Experiment with different papers and mediums.
Forget about your worries and create art instead.
Get your space ready to play.
Have a blast.
Imagine all the great things you will create.
Just be yourself and create what makes you happy.
Kindness matters when you start out. Everyone can do art and we all get better with time.
Let go and let it flow.
Mistakes make marvelous art pieces.
Music brings out the creativity in you . Listen while you create.
Practice , Practice, Practice.
Quit saying you can’t … you can!
Relax and let the paint take you away.
Spend time in the moment.
Trust the process.
Understand it takes time to get to where you’d like to be so enjoy every moment.
Visualize what you’d like to create, then do it!
Watch lots of artists’ YouTube videos.
XO from me to you.
You’ve got this!
Zazzy that’s you and so will your art be.

A- Z Tips for Alcohol Inks

Published on January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 by SSpellmanCann1 Comment

Anything goes, have fun.
Be like a child and create.
Create, don’t critique.
Don’t give up … Don’t be afraid to try new things … pour and play.
Experiment with different papers like Yupo and different inks.
Forget about your worries and create art instead.
Get your space ready to play.
Have a blast.
Imagine all the great things you will create.
Just be yourself and create what makes you happy.
Kindness matters when you start out. Everyone can do art and we all get better with time.
Let go and let it flow.
Mistakes make marvelous art pieces.
Music brings out the creativity in you . Listen while you create.
Practice , Practice, Practice.
Quit saying you can’t … you can!
Relax and let the paint take you away.
Safety matters, ventilation and masks make for a safe work space.
Trust the process.
Uplift friends who are new to alcohol inks.
Visualize what you’d like to create, then do it!
Watch lots of artists’ YouTube videos.
XO from me to you.
You’ve got this!
Zazzy that’s you and so will your paintings be.

Art is Therapeutic

Published on September 17, 2020 by SSpellmanCannLeave a comment

Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life
Pablo Picasso

I love painting. In the last while I have grown to love working with inks and alcohol. I love the vibrancy of the colours and the way I feel when I splash away and see what happens.

What joy it brings me to be in the state of flow on a regular basis. I wish that for you too. We could all use a little therapeutic bath right now. Try doing a little art and see what happens.

Play … Wherever You Are

Published on July 15, 2020 by SSpellmanCann3 Comments

It’s a dreary day in the Maritimes today, but I decided to paint,play and post.

I love everything about the maritimes , so I am often inspired to design maritime swag. Today I played painted and created new designs. I hope you are inspired to create and play too. It’s ok to play even as an adult. Now that I am retired I get to play in so many ways. It’s the kind of freedom I love having,

I am working on finishing a book called Nova Scotia Hugs in which all paintings /pics will be done by me. I’ve always wanted to do this ,but was never able to do all the painting until now.

So go ahead and play away. I think I’ll have a summer of doing just that.

Painting For Pleasure

Published on July 12, 2020July 12, 2020 by SSpellmanCann2 Comments

I just started painting in the last eight years and I have to say it brings me so much joy. I love to play all day just exploring texture and color. Painting brings me flow like no other experience. Especially during this time I love to escape and paint as much as possible.

You can also find me on redbubble in my shop. A few years back my son told me to join and I thought if he thinks it’s cool it must be and so I did. I have donated hundreds of pieces of my art , because I believe in giving back and the truth be told I just had too much art. I got on a violin painting kick during covid19. I love everything about the violin, the way it looks, the way it sounds and especially the way it can be painted. It was an opportunity to donate some to those who love the violin as much as I do.

I hope you too find something during this time that can bring you as much joy as painting brings me.

Using Art to Heal

Published on April 1, 2018April 1, 2018 by SSpellmanCannLeave a comment

Processed with MOLDIV

Life is a process of healing and I love to create more than ever before. Using art with students is a wonderful way to connect with them and let them express themselves. We often use art as a way to talk and share. They inspire me and I have found another way to help them. I am not an art therapist , but that does not mean I or you cannot use art in your counselling sessions to help students. Referring students as always when needed to a certified Art Therapist is ethical.

Here are some ideas to get you to start on your own creative journey. Let go of the fear and create art anyway. You may become a better teacher or counsellor. I know I have. A new chapter … a new journey. An ever ending journey of learning for me and I hope for you.

Celebrating A Piece Of Me I Did Not Think Existed

Published on July 30, 2017July 30, 2017 by SSpellmanCannLeave a comment

Truly before #ETMOOC. I did not even believe I could paint, or draw or really do anything artistically. Now , I know that is not true. I just need to be me and let the fear of making mistakes go and just go with the flow.

This past couple of weeks some very close friends of mine have bought my work. I was very excited to see them in it!!!!

I did not do this for the money.I did it for the fun , the joy of creating! My son told me about redbubble, (although a friend had told me about it earlier ). I thought if he thought it was cool then it must be and so and it is!

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Redbubble turns your paintings and drawings into dresses, prints, cups, shirts, bags, pillowcases and much more.

I am grateful that people even enjoy my Art . If you happen to be one of those please send me a pic!

The Heart of A Community

Published on February 28, 2017 by SSpellmanCannLeave a comment

Our students always inspire me. I am so fortunate to work in a community that encourages creativity in all forms. The people I work with also give their heart and soul to all they do. Thanks to our wonderful Art teacher Sheila Stacey and Counsellor Erin Luong for collaborating on this fun project full of heart.

One of the innovative projects I am pleased to work on this year involves a collaboration between myself, another counselling colleague and our art teacher. BCHS Spectrum Club’s mission is to bring people together and spread a message of love and acceptance. Our aim is to educate and bring awareness to students while expanding our […]

via Heart of A Community: BCHS Students Fill Their Hearts — Erin Luong’s Reflections on Counselling, Education, Leadership and Technology

My Story of Art and Flow … Visible Learning , Digital Story Telling

Published on February 11, 2013February 11, 2013 by SSpellmanCann3 Comments

Why do I love painting., because I think I might make money at it someday? No absolutely NOT.

It is because it is the ONLY thing in my life that brings me such wonderful flow. True flow in the psychological sense as described by the positive psychologist Michaly Csikszentmihaly. http://psychology.about.com/od/PositivePsychology/a/flow.htm

It brings me to a place where I am living in the moment. It is a place for me where eight hours feels like five minutes. I have never experienced this feeling in anything I do. Lacrosse brings me to that place for a very short period of time, but nothing else I have done in life has been able to bring me to this mental state.

I can only draw stick men of sorts, so I never gave painting or any Art a real try until two years ago when my neighbour and friend Cristine invited me to her place for an Art lesson.

Since then I have been hooked, moving away from my fears of feeling I can’t … to I can. It is about the process for me, the freedom to just let go. I have taken four one day lessons with four different Artists (each having their own unique style) and that is what is so freeing.

There is no one right way to do Art. Painting is so liberating for me. I look forward to it as an escape, a relaxing activity that just brings me joy and most importantly flow.

We all need a little flow in our lives especially those of us who are in the helping professions. Flow brings us to the place where we can go to recharge.

I am not going to go to that place with my Art that can be the perfectionist in me. I am just going to let go and be me with the Art. I am doing this for me and if my kids happen to like a piece of art I do, I hope someday they will keep it with them as a memory of me. The fun, who cares piece of me that just allows it to be.

Maybe they will keep the piece that they had input into, the one where they inspired me to do something different than I originally planned. It is now the piece I call “ Celebrating Family”.