Finding New Avenues of Self-Expression

Since beginning her journey at HSVS’s art Therapy program, Art Therapist Monica has wanted to expand its services to as many hearts as possible. When we last spoke to Monica, she mentioned the upcoming Artist in Residence Program at the Heart Studio. This program is designed to provide young artists with the space, time, and support to explore themselves through their art and create a body of work they are proud of.

Now, as one of the program’s first-ever participants is preparing to showcase the work they have been making throughout the residency, Monica invited us to sit in on a chat with her and artist Marina to discuss what it was like being in the program and how it helped unlock new parts of her creative process.

Artist in Residence Marina, with Art Therapist Monica

MONICA
Marina, thank you for sitting down with me. Will you tell us how you used the Artist in Residence Program to develop your art practice and what discoveries you made along the way?

MARINA
I think the studio was a really lovely space to reconnect with the things I enjoy about art the most. I find it personally gratifying to just make art and just make whatever comes to my mind. When I have a specific project in mind, I feel like I have to be a little bit more active in my decision-making, but when it’s just me in the studio, I get the opportunity to let this stream-of-consciousness version of my art flow out of me. It’s really quite liberating. I think that’s probably what will stick with me most about how I developed my practices. The program just allowed me to be a little looser with my art and have a little more freedom.
It’s like that Bjork quote, something like, I don’t know what’s going to happen, and that excites me.

MONICA
We do love that quote here. So, taking a look at some of the art you made during the program, what was your process in creating it?

“Mars Island” by Marina

MARINA
The way these paintings usually happened was I either recall something from a dream or something that just randomly came to my mind. For example, this one, “The Train Station,” is a big ice tower that’s from a dream I had, and this one with the vampire that is just something I thought of off the top of my head. I really just enjoyed finding new avenues of self-expression, such as trying out a strange color combination or trying to visually depict this dream I had. So a lot of it was new to me.

As for the poetry component accompanying it, I also went all in with my gut on that. I wanted the sentences in the poems themselves that felt good to say, and that conveyed a very specific emotion.

A lot of the work is inspired by my childhood. The various things that I cherished as a kid. The various feelings that I remember kind of dwelling on. With “Mars Island” in particular, I just thought of all of the promises you make as a kid and how you kind of think of them in hindsight, whether or not they’re fulfilled, and how, beautiful and innocent they are. Even if they are often just fading in the memory.

“I get the opportunity to let this stream-of-consciousness
version of my art flow out of me. It’s really quite liberating.
I think that’s probably what will stick with me most about how
I developed my practices.”

MONICA
Something I like about your art is the size. The way you scaled things down, I think, is so special. Talk about why you chose to make your art on the small side.

MARINA
I feel like when you have a smaller canvas to work with, it kind of forces you to think in broad strokes, forces you to abstract some of the details, and look at the bigger picture ironically. When a canvas is too big, it’s much harder to get a grasp of what detail should I be working on first? Whereas on a smaller canvas, I can just start with a single strong image. Something like pink islands or a weird clown face. It forces you to think in these kind of ways and I really l like just getting a bit lost in the sauce.

MONICA
What about this program has been the most meaningful to you?

MARINA
I enjoy having the opportunity to express and process my emotions through art projects. It’s wonderful when we talk about emotions, but when the emotions and the art are synthesized together, it becomes really healing. Combining the two can actively help me make sense of my own head and I loved those moments. They felt really important, like I was developing not just a better and healthier mindset in general but also a better and healthier mindset for art as well. It makes you recognize the potential of it all. Like there’s real potential to heal yourself and potential to make real art. I think that it’s a wonderful thing that more people should attempt.

“Midnight Snack” by Marina

MONICA
What advice do you have for any aspiring artists?

MARINA
I have a lot of advice for creative people. Because I see a lot of creative people going about things in a way that seems overly cautious. So, if I had one piece of advice, don’t make. Good art. Make your art.

I mean, it’s just a device I like to live by everyday. What could possibly be more meaningful than whatever story you’ve been dying to tell? A lot of people think that if only they could make perfect art, that could be enough, but it’s not really worthwhile as just telling the story and making the art that I think you really want to make. I think it kind of ties back to reconnecting to a lot of that childhood wonder. I think as kids, there’s a certain shamelessness about the things we create and the things we think of.

It is the sincerity and honesty with which you express yourself. Even if it isn’t loved by the world. It just has to be the thing you wanted to make. And if you made the thing you wanted to make, then I think it’s inevitably going to be something that someone is going to want to see.

“When the emotions and the art are synthesized together,
it becomes really healing.”

MONICA
What are your hopes for the Artist in Residence Program as it continues to grow?

MARINA
I really hope that the program moves forward and continues to offer this beautifully wide array of materials to work with. I love seeing people discover a medium of art and within that finding their passion. I’ve no doubt that someone’s going to discover that they love watercolor at the Heart Studio. I’ve no doubt that someone’s going to discover they love knitting at the Heart Studio. I think if more people can discover those things that they want to do, the things that bring them happiness. I think that’s going to be a major factor in building up the artists of tomorrow.

Thank you, Monica and Marina, for inviting us into the studio with you, and congratulations, Marina, on your showcase. You can learn more about our art therapy programs and other integrated health services at HSVS’ mental health clinic HERE.