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This is the kitchen where we talk about food, life, and recovery—a spiritual path to healing and peace.

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You are invited to keep coming back to A Cup of Kindness to share your experience, strength and hope; fears, doubts and insecurities; and to pick up information, inspiration … and have a little fun!

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In January 2007, at the age of 51, I joined a 12-step program and began my recovery from food addiction, losing 75 pounds in the process. Read more…

In January 2011, at the age of 55, I began my recovery from a multi-trauma accident, 36 fractures, damaged lungs, and post traumatic stress. Read more…

I am deeply grateful for all the kindnesses, large and small, offered to me in recovery. Here I am... alive… still making progress … still not perfect … finding a new way forward in a growing community of women and men who share a lot in common around food and life.

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Art

For many years, therapists have been telling me to put color on paper. I knew why. It was to move my feelings from hiding low down inside, to expressing themselves where I could see them.

Since the early 90s I’ve taken three or four workshops that have required me to paint… in groups. They were all great experiences. I wasn’t worried about the results. I just had fun.

I mentioned all of this recently to my artist friend, Agnes. Her daughter, Camille, is also a talented artist. Camille  graduated from high school this year and will be going to college with an interest in art therapy. Agnes suggested that Camille serve as my art coach.

Camille and I agreed that this was an excellent idea. Each week Camille will give me an assignment and, within the agreed upon time, we will take a look at the work I’ve completed.

Here’s the first assignment, a version of which she did at school. Camille says, “The art project is to illustrate a demon in your life. What is a demon in your eyes? What is the demon in your life? The challenge is to come up with a fear, or source of anger, sadness, disgust, or anguish, and to illustrate in such a way that conveys those powerful feelings. Be creative with composition, color, and symbolism. This is your personal demon, so make it any way that you picture it in your mind.”

Then, Camille showed me a way around the blank page. Find a large-enough old book — a book of cartoons, an encyclopedia, a cookbook — any book, with or without illustrations. The idea is to make art on top of the pages. I can use paint, ink, pastels, pencil, glue, paper, cardboard, whatever comes to hand.

Thank you, Camille, for the challenge and the inspiration.

Love & Light,

Valerie

4 Comments to Art

  1. Myra TAte's Gravatar Myra TAte
    July 20, 2012 at 12:42 pm | Permalink

    What a fascinating ideA! I think the fact that the page already has art (art can be anything) on it must make it easier to add your art without concern about a blank page. What a great idea! I’m reading a book by the poet, Robert Pinsky about sounds and accents and duration in poetry and he says we have learned them from the time we were born! Perhaps the plastic arts are the same. We have been looking and seeing and visualizing all our lives! Now to turn all that art into “art”! enjoy! mom
    p.s. I love the quote by Andy Warhol. I read a fascinating brief bio about him.

  2. Sandra's Gravatar Sandra
    July 20, 2012 at 5:02 pm | Permalink

    I love this idea. I have a blank canvas waiting for me in my art room. Demons, you are warned. Soon there shall be light. 🙂

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