Art for Self-Care: Create Powerful, Healing Art by Listening to Your Inner Voice

by Jessica Swift

Overview

Discover the healing power of making art—learn how you can process feelings of stress, change, uncertainty, grief, and fear as you create.

*Winner of the 2023 Gold Foreword INDIE Book Award*

In Art for Self-Care, artist, designer, and online instructor Jessica Swift outlines a path to healing through artmaking for both artists and non-artists alike.
 

• Going Inward offers guidance on how to get quiet, embrace the swirl of emotions and nonlinear thoughts without editing or judging, and identify and tune in to one’s authentic inner voice, along with prompts for expressing those messages.
• Inside Out shares advice on mediums and techniques to try, finding inspiration, and incorporating personal symbols, and emphasizes the value of simply showing up, allowing for mistakes, and focusing on the process rather than on the finished piece.
• Integrating and Honoring reveals how to accept healing and honor one’s truth and make a commitment to engage in an intuitive art practice.

Strengthen your relationship with your inner voice and begin to change your life, one piece of art at a time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780760382592
Publisher:	Quarry Books
Publication date:	08/01/2023
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	498,121
Product dimensions:	7.50(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Jessica Swift is an artist and fabric and surface pattern designer who creates colorful, uplifting artwork intended to inspire others to live courageous, honest, hope-filled lives. In addition to creating and manufacturing her own products to sell in her Portland, Oregon, studio, she licenses her artwork for branded products such as fabric, greeting cards, stationery, puzzles, and books. She also designs fabric collections for Art Gallery Fabrics, a premier fabric company, and her fabric is available in independent fabric shops worldwide and through a variety of online fabric stores, including Hawthorne Supply Company, Fat Quarter Shop, and Fabric.com. Jessica is a Top Teacher on Skillshare, where she teaches classes on pattern design, color, and intuitive artmaking. To learn more, visit jessicaswift.com, @jessicaswift on Instagram, and @jessicagswift on Facebook.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION
My Story, My Process
Whom This Book Is For
Artmaking for Healing and Processing Feelings
Getting Set Up
My Invitation to You
1 GOING INWARD
Your Journey Begins
Making Your Process Sacred/Taking Your Process Seriously
Sinking Down and Settling In
Getting into Acceptance
Tuning In
Navigating in the Depths
Hearing Your Inner Voice
Ears Outward, Heart Forward, Mind Inward
Your Messages
Prompts
2 INSIDES OUTWARD
Diving In
Trust the Process
Your Inner Child
Techniques and Supplies to Try
Surfaces to Consider
The Process
Finding Visual Inspiration
Incorporating Personal Symbols
There Are No Rules
Showing Up
Focus on the Process
The Importance of Practice
3 INTEGRATING + HONORING
Tracking Your Feelings
What to Do When Your Image Is Complete
Honoring Yourself
Keep Showing Up
Trust Yourself
You Are Magic
Final Words
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX

Editorial Reviews

"Perhaps the best thing about this title from artist, designer, and online instructor Swift is that it is for artists and non-artists alike; there is no set skill level required to heal through art. ... This is an excellent companion for those who may need to express themselves and heal but aren’t sure where to start."—Library Journal

From the Publisher

07/01/2023

Perhaps the best thing about this title from artist, designer, and online instructor Swift (Radiant Rainbows: Messages of Hope, Healing, and Comfort) is that it is for artists and nonartists alike; there is no set skill level required to heal through art. Swift has arranged the book into three sections. In the first section, she describes the importance of looking inward—hearing and accepting oneself. Then she urges readers to look outward, diving into the experience and trusting that there are no rules. Finally, Swift asks readers to track their feelings throughout the process and to honor them once they have finished their piece. The prompts and questions are thought-provoking. Additionally, Swift provides a solid foundation of suggestions for surfaces and tools to use when completing projects, information that is helpful for those who don't consider themselves artists. VERDICT This is an excellent companion for those who may need to express themselves and heal but aren't sure where to start. Worthwhile to have in any library, especially for readers who may be hesitant to reach out.—Sarah Filiberto

Library Journal