In my Basic Skills in Adlerian Psychology course, my class was asked to compile all of the artwork that we created individually during class this Spring 2014 semester, and then use the images to inspire a Lifestyle Self Assessment.

While the instructor played soft music in the background, we were encouraged to start thinking of how we would analyze our lives using diving board phrases such as:

• I am...
• In my family I am/I was the...
• I found my place/made my place by...
• I decided...
• The values in my family emphasized...

I selected "I am" and started using objects within my collage of images to stimulate the discussion of how I would assess myself. All of the images were made with the purpose of representing my feelings, interactions, and how I perceived my environment in that moment. So I looked at the images and sought consistent symbols that revealed something about myself.

This is what I wrote within the 3 minutes that I had in class:

"I am in a disguise through hats, shadows, and silhouettes. My hands are open and reaching towards the right direction, because this is where I should be. There are elements of time and movement, because these things wait for no one, time is always constant and movement is a constant progression. If I were to hop off this moving train of life then I would miss the opportunity. So, I will not lose focus and I will not remove my gaze. Others cannot see where I am looking, but I know, which creates the areas of misunderstanding because they do not know. It may appear selfish at times but this is a time for investment so that my crop will be overflowing in harvest season so that I have plenty to provide for others who depend on me."

The following are the images within the collage of this semester's drawings that I used to inspire the previous passage:

#Hats

#Shadows #Silhouettes

#OpenHands #RightDirection #WhereIShouldBe

#Time #TrainOfLife

#Movement

#Gaze

I certainly encourage anyone to engage in this activity and see what they come up with for their own Lifestyle Self Assessment. I will be writing a more extensive self assessment for the course, but this was a fun way to start.

We were also asked to take one of the drawings and create a changed version of it. I went back to my horse drawing that was based on a horse in my dream, I will call the horse David.

David is now more radiant, physically stronger, wiser, more masculine, and his gaze has shifted direction....I will reveal in more detail at a later time. So make sure you continue checking the blog!

I came across this book in Barnes and Noble by Sam Piyasena and Beverly Philip and thought it was encouraging because it empowers any ordinary person to embrace their innate creativity. Every person has the capacity to create something great, it is just important to discover that greatness. This book is full of relaxing art directives that stimulate the mind.

Here is the description for the book:

“This unusual book serves several different purposes, starting with its guaranteed appeal to both professionals and amateurs who like to pick up a pencil and draw. Art students seeking a change of pace will respond to the authors’ very informal approach, seeing the lessons as fun-to-do confidence builders that emphasize the value of creative freedom. Every exercise can be performed by artists at all levels of training and ability.”

I was scrolling and came across a page that talked about how Salvador Dali was influenced by Sigmund Freud’s theories on psychoanalysis of the unconscious mind. Dali has explained many times that his artwork is based on his perception of his own dreams.

So Philip, encouraged readers to do what Salvador Dali did and create something based on a personal dream. These are the instructions:

1. Put a sketchbook next to your bed.

2. Immediately when you wake up, draw any images or messages from your dream.

3. In your drawing, try to express the emotional and visual characteristics of your dream.

4. The drawings could come out being literal depictions or more abstract and expressive interpretations.

I finally completed this exercise and here are my results:

Stephen Wiltshire is an artist from London who draws and paints realistic, detailed cityscapes. He has a gift of photographic memory where he is able to complete entirely accurate representations of a city with only briefly observing it. At age three, Stephen was diagnosed with Autism. In his childhood he was completely mute until the age of five, but he used art as his language to communicate with the world. The first word that he spoke was “paper”.

He realized that the only thing that he enjoyed was creating art, and he became dedicated to creating. Stephen studied Fine Art at City & Guilds Art College in London. His artwork has become popular all over the world, and owned by many influential art collectors.

You may view his artwork at http://www.stephenwiltshire.co.uk/. Check out this video to learn more about Stephen Wiltshire:

“Do the best you can, and never stop.” -Stephen Wiltshire