My ongoing process related to subject matter has been one that is autobiographical.  I paint what I know, collect and see. It all started with ‘Big Pig Chakra’ in 1987, which also happened to be the time I was interested in and beginning to research Art Therapy.

I have been painting for the majority of my life, have a BFA in painting from the University of Lethbridge, and graduate diploma in painting and photography from Emily Carr College of Art in Vancouver, B.C.  I am currently completing my MA in Art Therapy at Marylhurst University in Portland, Oregon.

Through the process of my graduate studies I have gained profound insight into my creative process and that of others.  I have also confirmed my ability to understand the mind of the artist per se - why artists do what they do.

Following is a little theory related to this process:

Through the use of sublimation the artist deals with a mature ego defence mechanism - the artist channels instincts, primary drives, and expresses them in art.  Another interesting component of this is the theory of object relations.  Through psychodynamic theory posited by Melanie Klein, W.D. Winnicott, and Margaret Mahler, all weighed in Freudian (Anna and Sigmund) theory; it is held that the individual cannot develop a sense of self without experiencing the fundamental phase of human development called separation-individuation.  One can internalize negative experience with an object (an angry caregiver) and it will continue to be the source of self-criticism…ultimately impacting on relationships with others.

The theory has more to it; there are many books written on the subject and that of subject relations which focuses on interactions with others, based on self-concept.

This exhibition focuses on a variety of disparate objects that I have intuitively connected.  Through my paintings, through my choice of objects, I am establishing a clearer identity of who I am…my own sense of self. I have always painted ‘objects’ per se and never understood why…I merely followed the process of painting what I felt I had to paint. Now, when I look back on when and what I painted I am able to relate the subject matter to stages of transition in my life.

Footnote: Art Therapy focuses on process whereas ‘fine art studies’ focuses on product.  I recall an intense dialogue about ‘process and product’ with one of my instructors over twenty years when working on my BFA. I also recall the variety of subject matter painted by students in the BFA program and the criticism of some of it by instructors.  Little did they know that they were dealing with an innate process of ‘sublimation’, engaged in by students and how the impact of criticism affected the ‘sense of self’ of the individual.
I am of the firm belief that Art Therapy should be integrated into a BFA program and that instructors should also have training in the field.
An understanding of the ‘creative process’ from both a scientific and clinical stance can certainly provide the student and instructor with insight into not only their own ‘inner symbolic domain’, but how to initiate exploration of creativity with a broad population.