Art has power beyond language.

Expressive art therapy is a broad artistic activity developed in recent years, which focuses on exploring life stories, capturing the track of inner spiritual flow, and showing inner feelings that are difficult to express in words through the use of media. The overall finished product presented builds a bridge connecting the creator's mind and the outside, and also provides a channel for the outside world to communicate with the creator.

This treatment orientation has gradually appeared in the fields of mental health care, psychotherapy/consultation, education, social work, medical rehabilitation and so on, and has become one of the catalysts for holistic care of body, mind and spirit.

Looking back at the history of human development, people have learned to record paintings with natural materials in ancient times without brush pigments. Prehistoric rock paintings show that painting can not be limited by media, class or psychological age, and has the function of conveying information. Modern people, with convenient information, devote their time to all kinds of learning, and often devote themselves to being more socialized, knowledgeable, advanced and effective; Pay attention to professionalism in work, leisure and taste, and pursue exquisiteness in art. But at the same time, we often forget the childlike innocence of playing, forget nature, forget ourselves, and forget that we can always pick up all kinds of tools at hand and create creatively if we are willing to try.

I remember when I was a child, there was a course called Life and Ethics. My tutor always gives me extra homework every Saturday: at home, I will hand-draw an illustration of the progress of the next week on a drawing paper, and my tutor will post the picture at the back of the classroom every other Monday for reading; Zhou Zhou is like this. Although I don't like to imitate ready-made pictures rigidly, I still bear it silently and finish this boring task again and again.

In the terrible time, fortunately, there are also warm fragments.

During a stroll, my father walked by the letter and picked up a crayon. Naturally, he colored, rubbed and mixed colors on the drawing paper, and told me, "What colors are stacked on this color can be adjusted to the color you want. 」

Getting a point in an instant is an unforgettable experience and a deep-rooted private enlightenment. So, I began to observe my father carefully and found that he played the piano without a teacher, played the scales accurately and sang happily. I am amazed at my father's talent, and I am also amazed at the potential released by people in a relaxed state of doing nothing and revealing their true feelings.

The experience of being forced to imitate did not inspire my sincere interest, but limited my imagination and painting ability. When I was young, I was curious and confident to try several talents, but I was always depressed and tired of painting until I was close to 30 years old and joined an art therapy growth group.

In the group, I found that no matter what media I use and what kind of creation I make, I or any member of the group have their own unique and identifiable personal imprint. This phenomenon attracted me deeply. Through creation and works, "unique existence" is no longer a slogan declaration, but an experiential reality.

From then on, I opened my other eye and eagerly watched art exhibitions, enjoyed picture albums and read Jungian psychology. But I'm still not sure that I can draw, and I have no positive action to draw.

It was not until I grew up with my children that I came into contact with the huge treasure house of children's picture books. I have noticed that some picture books use few words, even only pictures. No matter the media or the creative form, they can vividly express the thoughts and feelings that the author wants to express on paper, and readers of all ages can get the information.

For example, Leo Leonie has published the classic children's book Little Blue and Yellow for more than 50 years, with simple lines, bright colors, simple but profound stories and images. Eric Carr began to draw illustrations for children's books when he was nearly forty years old, and the fun of painting kept emerging in his childhood. He knew he wanted this feeling, and since 1969, he has written more than 70 books. Now that he is 80 years old, he continues to create colorful picture stories for children of all ages. Cher Silverstein, the author of The Lost Corner, elaborated the fables about "perfection and defect" and "growth and pursuit" with concise and vivid lines and words. Quentin Blake, the first British painter laureate and the winner of the painter's lifelong contribution award, expressed his deep affection and humor in the melody rhythm formed on the screen with lines and colors as smooth as dancing, even without words.

When I read these picture books full of childlike interest and creativity with my children or alone, I was repeatedly moved by the strong colors and images, choked up, burst into tears and burst into laughter. At that time, I was afraid that I couldn't draw. At best, I am just a collector who likes picture books. However, the artist's incredible imagination and creativity, mixed with gorgeous colors and amazing images, puzzled me day after day, which made me quietly ignite the idea of "I want to paint, too."

Really regaining the brush, in fact, begins with the life course that has to be done.

About forty years old, I am facing the challenges of physical injury, functional degradation and identity crisis, and death anxiety gnaws at me from time to time. Driven by these multiple problems, I have no room to think about the past and the future. With intuition and courage, I let myself start doodling to find a way out. Painting and painting, the little girl who longed for painting but didn't like or want to copy other people's works, released herself and regained her long-lost freedom one by one.

In this way, I have been painting amateur until now.

Aside from the obstacles and restrictions of standardized art education in the past, painting at this stage has no pressure and burden for me, neither training my own skills nor pursuing good painting or image. With the in-depth exploration of the heart, the unrestrained spiritual image is the content of my painting. Images and energy are constantly emerging. Many parts of me and I have made new friends and experienced the power of fusion and healing. At the same time, personal painting style is natural and clear.

For more than ten years, I have enjoyed the experience of facing my innermost feelings and doing it myself. After I received training and stepped into the field of expressive art therapy, I also like to apply this method to group work.

In the past few years, in the experience of leading the painting workshop of intuition course, I have the honor to witness each member telling a unique and deeply connected spiritual story through the color of the brush in the process of painting. I remember a middle-aged man with a successful career. He repeatedly confronted himself, compromised for a long time, approached and stayed away, gradually penetrated layers of self-restriction and personality masks, and then confronted and reconciled with the spiritual power he believed in. Finally, his family scene as a baby appeared on the drawing paper, as well as the faces of several close relatives who died a long time ago. Now he is crying.

For me, painting and other expressive art media are a practical way to discover, express and perfect our own hearts. In this process, we listen to and respond to ourselves, know ourselves, and further support and heal ourselves. Every image from the depths of the soul has its own rich beauty and strength because of its originality and authenticity. When people meet art classics in famous art galleries, they will have a profound peak experience occasionally, but as long as they are willing to open their deep inner eyes, they will always have a beautiful and meaningful experience in their daily lives.

& lt This article was dictated by Wu, psychological counselor of Cultural and Educational Foundation, and written by Zheng, Marketing Commissioner of Cultural and Educational Foundation:

& lt This article was published in Xu Li Cultural Education Foundation and used by authorized magazines. & gt

& lt This column reflects experts' opinions and does not represent our position >