The Face of Christ by David Edward Lenarz, Jr.

Ink and watercolor

Meet the artist: David Edward Lenarz, Jr.

Inspiration:

I painted the face of Christ on a day when I felt alone and without hope.

Carl G. Jung's art-making and ideologies were an impressive lifelong affair that relied upon mixed media, making it reasonable for us to consider Jung the father of art therapy.  Edward Adamson is also considered the father of art therapy in Britain.

Both advocated for the use of Art as a form of recovery from mental illness. Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses Art for communication and self-expression. The idea is that the creative process involved in artistic self-expression helps people resolve conflicts and problems, develop interpersonal skills, manage behavior, reduce stress, and increase self-esteem and self-awareness. It gives a voice to the inner self that has struggled to be understood. It became a neural pathway to have conversations with the pain of PTSD that I've struggled with for years. It became my peace.Art therapy can treat a wide range of mental disorders and psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use disorder. Beyond mental disorders, Art can soothe physical pain symptoms, enhance the quality of life among adult and children cancer patients, and improve the ability to cope with pain and other distressing symptoms.

Art has become my place of Peace.