Art Therapy for Broads Abroad :: Still Life :: Exercise #16

:: I needed something--the distraction of another life--to alleviate fear. ::

- Bret Easton Ellis, American author, screenwriter, short-story writer, and director.

In harrowing times we are told that innovations are birthed or that we can be led to opportunities seldom dreamt. In harrowing times we can take a downward spiral, finding all of our worst features face forward. At this strange moment in human history, we can and must be a still life - a platter of transformation, a spark of light on the edge of a glass, and a vase filled with the natural longing to be connected. This is an aurora moment. This is our time to make our lives so beautiful that all are compelled to take a photograph.

Today's Secret Message of Love

The connections we can't explain are the deepest parts of ourselves. Find them.

Still Life©  News From A Broad

Materials

• *A notebook for recording the completed scene during the process. (See Options)
• Before you begin your composition, take a few moments to center yourself. Deep breathing, yoga exercises, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or meditation are all ways to consider movement, unity, rhythm and focal point. Make yourself a still life first.
• You'll need a surface to create a tableau - a tabletop, a dresser, a side table, a bed.
• A collection of objects, without consideration of size, is best
• Here is a short list: feathers, rocks, marbles, a string of beads, bottle caps, Christmas ornaments, wooden matches, fabric scraps, textured objects, Pez candy dispenser, Star Wars collectibles, postcards, photographs, CD cases, reading glasses, styrofoam head, costume props, Legos, scarves, ties, sticks, driftwood, napkins, shells, flowers, leaves, paintbrushes, fruit and vegetables, bowls, pasta, pitcher,  ...

Process

• Create your still life using the compositional element of the triangle. You can find examples here.
• Use the Broad Dream Notes to process the scene.

Options

• *Use the journal from the Without Conclusion or Siesta Dreaming exercises.
• Take a digital image of the scene.  Copy and paste it at the top of a Word document, using the Broad Dream Notes outline for processing the scene.
• Color schemes can be used to denote your feeling state. Canva has a free interactive color wheel that is a fun way to play with color.
• You can find all of the Art Therapy exercises by searching for posts or click here.

Conclusion
Be kind, charitable, and feel your feelings. We do our best in each moment. When we are joyful or afraid, healthy or sick our best will look different. You can't force change but you can be the change.
Create the life you want!
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