Take a break from the holiday stress with this project involving blotting paint onto paper. It is a fun project that will allow yourself some freedom to let go, get out of your head, and let the images appear!
It is similar to the concept of the Rorschach inkblots—the projective test that many mental health professionals have used to learn about their clients. The term “projective” means that because the imagery is ambiguous, you can make your own associations to it by “projecting” meaning onto it.
You will need a workspace suitable for using paint, some sheets of paper (preferably larger, as the paint can get messy) and acrylic or tempera paint. Fold the paper in half and squirt some paint colors (less quantity is more!) onto the page. Now fold the paper back again and move the paint around with your hands, pressing it into place. Pull the paper apart and see how the mirrored image appears!
Make several of these. Have fun and observe what images appear to you. At Brookhaven Retreat, we have seen bugs, faces, and landscapes appear. How do they relate to your life? Interests? Struggles?
This concept relates to our brain being “imprinted” by our experiences. We are colored and shaped by our experiences. Some experiences shape us positively, but there is hope for recovery and change from the experiences that have affected us negatively.
Take it a step further and add to your images. Did something come out looking like something that you can further adapt? For example, I made one that reminded me of a crab, so I added legs and gave it some character and detail. What can you add to yours? How can you shape yourself to overcome your negative experiences?
