Tag Archives: art therapy

Be My Guest: Francine Kohn

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My Special Guest Blogger

for MAY  ~ 2016

 Francine Kohn

California  Artist

 

For each guest blogger, I ask just one question.  “What is on your mind?”

My guests are free to write about whatever they want to say in response to my invitation. Thank you, Francine, for your Guest Blog!

I was raised in Long Beach, California where I have been inspired by a love of bright
colors, dynamic movements of water, and vibrant energy.

In my art, I envision life as colored energy patterns and I use the convergence of matter and spirit to create  form.  I like to  show others how they too can affect real changes in their lives by using their own personal tools and resources.

My artwork  invites you to join me in
connecting with your inner spark and making real changes in your life.
I worked with 3-year old children  and teens who are considered to be at-risk, as well as retired individuals.

This wide variety of experiences laid the groundwork for overcoming a life-threatening event in my personal  life.  I had a form of paralysis from the ribs down.  My  right hand turned into a claw and I experiences significant sight loss in my  right eye; it was  legally blind.

I will share my experiences  when I am a guest blogger in May.

I will relate the personal tools and perception I used and you can use them also to work with the medical professionals for the highest outcome. Discover how I  transformed a death sentence to create a life and relationships prior to event s that challenged me  to enter a life of joy  most of the time!

Visit this blog by clicking here:

“Art & Healing” blog http://www.francinekohnart.com/art–healing-blog.html

Bio for Francine Kohn:

Francine Kohn lives in Southern California.

Francine’s moving art paintings have been exhibited nationally and collected internationally.  She has been interviewed on 3 television shows.
As a teacher and healer, she develops original curriculum inviting
freedom to create, reaffirming the magic and the power of art and
healing to influence perception and understanding.
Francine Kohn Art

 

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Below you will find a quote from a testimonial by  Joni Yacoe, MFT, concerning  Francine working with at-risk teens.

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Of all the work I have done with troubled teenagers, I feel Ms.
Kohn’s project brought out more self-esteem and pride than I have seen
with other modalities.  It was challenging and difficult enough that
they were impressed with their completed work…They were able to
express feelings and how they saw themselves in a form that allowed
them to drop a lot of their defenses.  They were delighted and
somewhat embarrassed by their accomplishment as it took them out of
their comfort zone and allowed them to experience themselves as
creative young people, instead of “problem teenagers.

 

 

This Guest Blog

by Invitation

of Lynda McKinney  Lambert

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Lynda’s Bio:

Lynda McKinney Lambert – author of “Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage” published by  Kota Press. To order, click here:  Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage

Lynda  authors two blogs on writing, the humanities, arts and faith.
She is a freelance writer; her work appears in numerous books and literary journals.  She is a retired professor of fine arts and humanities (Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA).
Lynda exhibits her exquisite mixed media fiber arts in exhibitions worldwide.
Currently, Lynda  has 3 books in development for publication in late 2016. First, is a book of essays based on her memoirs.  Second,  a book of new and selected poems. Third, a chapbook collection of  Abecedarian Poems.
Contact:  Contact Lynda – Click Here!

To order a signed copy of my book:

contact me.

Little Steps #4_ Look for the EXIT SIGN

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Little Steps #4 – Look for the EXIT SIGN

ExitSign_ThisWayOut

Discover, Recover and Revise your life through some Little Steps

Part 4 of 7-part series

“Little Steps” by Lynda McKinney Lambert

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Artist and author, Tammy Ruggles, recorded an  interview with Lynda McKinney Lambert in 2013.

Click on the link below to listen.

Interview with Lynda McKinney Lambert

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Visual artist and author, Lynda McKinney Lambert,  lost most of her eyesight due to

Ischemic Optic Neuropathy in 2007

Topics discussed on this video:

Diagnosis and finding help

Treatment and Rehabilitation Services

Begin your Personal adjustment

Recover a functional and creative life

Find your own path after sight loss

Seek answers from your own past – your Timeline

Change your life for successful transition to your next step

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Regardless of any situation or challenge you will face at any time, remember there is a way OUT.  You may veel like you are locked in, secluded, alone, or trapped. Remember, YOU are NOT any of those conditions. You have CHOICES you can make and those choices will take you in a better direction.

The KEY is to ELIMINATE HESITATION – Grab that EXIT SIGN

EXITSignRed LOOK around for your WAY OUT, and go for it.

Do it NOW.

Look for your EXIT SIGN!

“The more you are challenged the more you change.”  

Lynda McKinney Lambert

Lynda McKinney Lambert. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

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You can read Little Steps #1, 2, and 3 by clicking on the links below.

Little Steps #1: Begin the Journey to DISCOVER, RECOVER, REVISE you life

Little Steps #2: No More Excuses for YOU!

Little Step #3: Choose Better Words

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Lynda is the author of “Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage.”

Visual artist and author, She is currently working on two new books.

“Kaleidoscope: Patterns of Light and Dreams” is a series of realistic fiction based on memoirs.

“Eclipse: Hands Folded in Prayer” is a book of poetry.

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Lynda writes two blogs. Scandalous – Reflections  and Walking by Inner Vision

One Word – Exuberance

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blog_Exuberance_MatissewithDancingMan

ONE WORD

Exuberance!

Did you come up with a list of resolutions for this new year? If you did, by now you might be worried  about how you will  stay on target  with your list of resolutions.  Maybe you have even forgotten some of them by now?

I found  a better idea that is more realistic and more personal. I want to share it you today.  Be kind to yourself  and instead of writing out a list that will be forgotten soon, focus on just one word for the year – let’s see where the journey takes us. ONE WORD will be far more personal and much easier to stay focused on than a big list – won’t it!

Think about joining in with people who are turning to God and praying about getting just ONE WORD that will be with you for the 365 days of this year.  I just did!  You can find the link right here, and take a look and see if this would be something you might like to do.

http://oneword365.com/

My word?

Exuberance!   
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Yes! When I thought about this word, I immediately thought of the Matisse dance paintings in the Barnes Museum in Philadelphia. I cannot think of another image that would better represent what it means to be exuberant; one word that would represent  a person  filled with exuberance.  I think of this word as a noun, as well as an adjective.  Matisse understood this word, I am certain.

EXUBERANCE…this is my ONE WORD for 2015.  This word  just came into my mind near  the beginning of the New Year,  settled in, looked around  and decided to stay with me for the entire year. How did this happen?   I have no idea how a single word comes to mind and lingers.  It’s a mystery to me.  What I do know is where it came from, the source of it.  It is gentle and yet, persistent, and it  whispers to me as I sit a while and have some quiet time with God. The time for silence, set aside, and practiced at the beginning of the day, or any other time apart,  is one of my “intentions” for this year. I wrote about my intentions on an earlier blog post.  The daily periods of  quiet time are when I  reflect and  experience God’s  presence in my daily activities.   I speak  of exuberance, as a noun.  This painting by Hanri Matisse expresses what the noun, EXUBERANCE, might look like. It’s JOYFUL, and delightful, and full of life!Blog_Exuberance_Matisse_cutouts

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The word, EXUBERANCE,  dates back to the sixteenth century,  French exubérance  and from  Latin,  “exuberantia.” Both mean,  “superabundance.”

Left: Photo of Matisse drawing on canvas – the beginnings of his paintings of dancers.

When I think of EXUBERANCE, I think of  Matisse! And, then I think about what this word will hold for me during 2015. I will hold it in my mind, envision it in  my spirit, recognize it  in my prayer life, every day of this year.

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I ask myself,  “What will the final painting of my life be like?”

 Today, I am beginning the drawing of it. A year from now we can look back and see what the word we chose has brought to us this year.

Pray about this and see what word God has for you this year. What will your finished work of art look like?  God is the Creator of the entire universe and we can trust him to create in our lives, something exciting, new, and joyful.

Let your light shine everywhere you go this year.

Be a picture of JOY, like a painting by Henri Matisse!

In all circumstances, yes, ALL circumstances, give thanks to God. blog_Exuberance_TheCityViewMatisse