Art Therapy

An art therapist is a career choice that I have recently discovered and been interested in. To be considered an art therapist, you must have a undergraduate degree that has to do with a combination of art and psychology. Then you will go to graduate school and get a masters degree in art therapy to be able to have your own practice. You also have to get certified by the state to be able to practice. Depending on how many years you have been an art therapist, the average income for this career is $30,000 to $70,000 per year. An art therapist can work in many different settings like hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, shelters and a lot of other environments. To be an art therapist one should have empathy, patience, the ability to interpret emotional and human behavior, and a background dealing with visual art. 

I think art therapy is a good career choice for me because I love art. I would like to be able to help people throughout my life. I like helping others work through any issues in their life, and I have had a lot of personal experiences that help me relate to what others may be going through. I would enjoy being able to do what I love while helping others. I believe that if you can use art to help people express themselves in a different way, then that is a rewarding job.

M.C. Escher Analysis

Being a graphic artist, M.C. Escher was famous for his lithographs, woodcuts, and wood engravings. His style is reflected by his line quality that makes his work almost realistic and his unique tessellation pieces. Escher's sharp detail makes his work stand out.


I hope, especially to my fellow classmates, by looking at Escher's work you can be inspired by the line quality in his prints. Please check out the Photo Gallery at www.mcescher.com  to view some of M.C. block prints!

Wonders of the Weeping Willow

The weeping willow is such an odd looking tree which makes it very easy to identify. A weeping willow brings about a feeling of enchantment or serenity to some with its whimsical branches swaying as the breeze blows, but the name of the tree itself suggests a whole other meaning. This tree not only brings a lot of significance in its meaning, it is useful in numerous ways too.

Native to China, weeping willows grow rapidly but only have a life expectancy of about 30 years. They range from being 30 to 75 feet in height by around 35 feet in width. As they mature, weeping willows are distinguished by their branches that droop with thin, narrow leafs (shown left) to make a canopy of shade and during fall the leaves' color change into a golden yellow.

The weeping willow's name comes from exactly how the tree looks. The drooping branches look like the tree is "weeping"and gives off a sad feeling especially when it is winter and the tree is bare. A weeping willow can be both a symbol of death and a symbol of life. It has dark mystical stories behind it like how the twigs of the tree were used to make a witches broom or how the bark is used to make wands and other talismans. There are different ancient stories and myths that describe the weeping willow to have fertility powers to also being the product of two lovers who died and now grieve through the bent shape of the tree.I think of the tree as being more of a symbol of life than death but both aspects are equally important.

Weeping willow trees are used to make things that I never would have thought of. The most stunning product the tree is used to make is charcoal which is a medium used religiously in a drawing and painting class. Plus the willow can be used for medical remedies to treat for headaches by chewing on bark and twigs. In willow's bark there is salicylic acid that is extracted and was used as the underlying foundation in producing aspirin, that is used today as a painkiller. 

Sources:

http://www.gardenguides.com/97007-weeping-willow.html

http://www.oplin.org/tree/fact%20pages/willow_weeping/willow_weeping.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/exploring-mythology-surrounding-willow-tree-711967.html?cat=37

http://www.homeandgardenideas.com/gardening/trees/care/5-cool-facts-about-weeping-willow-trees