Animal As Metaphor: Family Art Journaling

This summer Atlantic Center for the Arts offers a creative way to enjoy time with all generations of the family. Local artist and art therapist Laura Bohn (MAAT), invites grandparents, parents, and kids to have fun with visual art and storytelling. Play with colors, words, and images of animals! Enjoy this art journaling experience for yourself and your child or grandchild (ages 7 and up). Learn some fun techniques and how to create an art journal spread around an animal that you relate to.

Bohn states that, “the benefits of art journaling in a group include making friends, sharing stories, and creating memories in a safe and nurturing space. This practice allows each person to use their imagination through collage, paint, text, and other media.”  No experience is necessary for anyone who wants to learn art journaling, as it is beneficial for all ages. For those who feel they cannot draw, collaging is a great option. With so much ready-made printed imagery available simply choose imagery that intuitively speaks to you and add color, and text to a page to tell your unique story. Art Journaling is also a tool used by art therapists to assist clients in processing emotionally charged events by using art as a way to process stress.  “By getting thoughts and emotions out of the head and onto the page, participants have a chance to step away, reflect, and learn about how they react to the event and eventually access their own wisdom,” says Bohn.

At the end of each class, participants are given the choice to share their written words and journal pages with the group, or not, as privacy is respected. The opportunity to share experiences and stories in a safe supportive setting allows for possible outcomes that include self-discovery, growth, and new insights. Having the flexibility of being able to choose visual or narrative, or a little of both, through this process is the key.

Atlantic Center for the Arts presents Family Art Journaling on Saturday, June 30, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM, held at ACA Downtown: Harris House, 214 S. Riverside Dr. New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169

Beginners welcome! Mixed-media art journal provided.

Children are only allowed if accompanied by an adult taking class.

Limited to 12 participants. Register to secure your spot.

$10 adults / $5 children / Free for ACA members.  Click here to become a Member

Register at 386.423.1753 or community@atlanticcenterforthearts.org.

Mixed-media art journal provided. Please bring any photocopies or images you like of an animal you relate to for its qualities or for your child they can simply bring magazine or photocopies of their favorite animal. We provide magazines with animal imagery although no guarantees you will find your favorite animals in there so it is recommended to bring a couple of images.