the healing art book

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This book accompanies my website and tells of Heal and Paint, how painting helps to heal

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Page 1: The Healing Art Book
Page 2: The Healing Art Book
Page 3: The Healing Art Book

Heal and Paint is a healing art book of

digital images and poetry produced with the

support of the Millennium Award Scheme.

Edited by Sanna Crouch.

Published in 2003 by Joan Celestin.

Book design, illustration and words

Copyright © Joan Celestin 2003.

All rights reserved. No part of this

publication may be reproduced, stored on a

retrieval system or transmitted, in any form

or by means, mechanical, by photocopying,

recording or otherwise without prior

permission in writing to the publisher.

Email: [email protected]

Printed by Joan Celestin

Tel: 07951 366 748

ISBN 0-9544861-0-2

Page 4: The Healing Art Book

“HEAL AND PAINT” – My Coping Strategy

The idea developed through scribbling in Paintbrush,

after returning to work at as an Administrative

Officer at the Department of Health for a brief spell

after a medical accident in December 1992. I joined

the Department of Health in 1981 and had to leave on

medical grounds in 1997.

The whole concept in the creation of images is my

coping strategy - “paint and heal” which is my

personal insight into using art as a creative tool

for helping to realign my focus and energy, through

poetry, photography or digital art with the random

use of colour that allows me the freedom to explore

mood and emotion.

Sometimes it is an enlightening experience, in which

I allow myself the time and space where I can express

my emotions. My images in some instances are so

powerful that I am sometimes shocked, dismayed,

frightened, angry, irritable and tearful at the

outcome. It‟s as if my sub conscious needed to purge

itself of all the pain, anguish and the self-loss,

which I felt as a consequence of the medical

accident. It is only after I have finished an image

that I realise what it may reveal.

The theme of the poems is deeply driven by emotions

of fear, anger, sensitivity, and an inspirational

energy of how life lessons affect or influence our

life pathways and people whose life pathways connect

us.

Some phrases/verses may be repeated in different

poems to form a link or bond with an emotive idea or

theme. “Paint and Heal” or “Heal and Paint” is the

theme that my images are based on and in some way

compliment the poems.

In doing this project I was able to get a deeper

insight of my inner self, potential, motivation, and

sheer resolve in trying to accomplish this task, as I

go through the processes on my healing journey – and

ultimately to achieve to Millennium Awards objective.

There were times when it all seemed too much to cope

with, in one sense reliving the trauma of a medical

accident and also a time for letting go, through

being able to create images and write poems.

Although in effect the project took longer to

complete, my healing art journey begun long before I

Page 5: The Healing Art Book

became aware that, what I was actually doing was a

kind of therapy, my own way of alleviating

posttraumatic stress following the medical accident.

Effectively the project is several years‟ work of

creating digital images and going through the thought

processes and writing, perhaps, my own brand of

poetry.

As you read through my healing journey I hope that

you will have some understanding of how a medical

accident can affect an individual. Albeit, from

negative and traumatic experience, I am able to

discover new insights in being able to repair and

regrow, almost like a metamorphosis, in being able to

draw on a negative experience and turn it into a

positive way of exploring thoughts and emotions. I

hope this may be the trigger, which may encourage

someone to explore his or her own creative healing,

as I have done, through whatever processes are

appropriate to the individual.

I feel so strongly about the images I create and the

need to raise awareness in various art exhibitions to

showcase my “Heal and Paint” theme, in other words “A

Healing Art” project. The first exhibition was at

Gallery Fore, Edmonton in 2001, with three other

similar exhibitions at other venues. The most recent

at the Platform Gallery - March 2003, which was the

most poignant experience of all, in which, I truly

believe, that what I try to portray is meaningful,

based on public perception of my kind of art. Some of

my images are displayed at the North Middlesex

Hospital and form part of their Healing Art

Exhibition which opens in May 2003.

The response from viewers are so encouraging that it

has given me a positive energy that I would like to

continue to further develop the “Paint and Heal” or

“Heal and Paint” concept.

Joan Celestin

Page 6: The Healing Art Book

TTThhhaaannnkkksss tttooo MMMiiilllllleeennnnnniiiuuummm

AAAwwwaaarrrddd SSSccchhheeemmmeee aaannnddd

MMMiiiddddddllleeessseeexxx UUUnnniiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy

fffooorrr ttthhheee sssuuuppppppooorrrttt iiinnn

bbbeeeiiinnnggg aaabbbllleee tttooo ppprrroooddduuuccceee

ttthhhiiisss HHHeeeaaallliiinnnggg AAArrrttt

bbbooooookkk...

TTTooo ttthhheee ssstttaaaffffff,,,

EEErrriiimmm HHHaaassssssaaannn,,,

BBBrrriiigggiiitttttteee CCClllooowwwsssllleeeyyy

aaannnddd aaallllll ttthhhooossseee wwwhhhooo

hhheeelllpppeeeddd tttooo mmmaaakkkeee ttthhhiiisss

pppooossssssiiibbbllleee...

Erim Hassam - Millennium Staff

Photography by Joan Celestin

Page 7: The Healing Art Book

Acknowledgements

To my friend Ade for introducing me to The Healing

Arts Project at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital

and the realisation that I had started my healing

journey. So pleased you‟ve realised your dream –

every success in your medical career.

Izzy for encouraging the art therapy processes

through counselling and the support throughout the

process.

Suzy for everything you‟ve done and words of

encouragement “never under-estimate yourself” -

“don‟t let the bastards get you down -”I tried,

believe me, I did. I could not have done it all

without your insurmountable support. Thank you so

much!

Andene for being a wonderful friend and inspiration

and for being part of your family now. I‟m honoured

to be Marley Rhys‟s godmother.

Bharati, you‟ll always have a friend in me – wishing

you every happiness. Sona and Jay every success.

Nicole, for all the encouragement and thank you for

“propping me up on the pillows that day you visited

me in hospital“. You‟re you very nice friend. Best

wishes.

Marie for your support, we‟ll get to Harrods soon,

now that I have completed my project. Ha, ha.

Jane, for your humour and your friendship. Best

wishes.

Danielle, “I‟ll be your second mummy any day. Thanks

for all the prayers, gifts and hand made cards. I

miss them now you‟ve grown up. Every success

Eileen Balgobin for your continued prayers and

support to my mother and myself.

Shirley (Cuban Red) for poetry recitals. I„ve learnt

so much from watching you perform.

Indra for your inspirational conversations and your

impassioned plea for World peace. Good luck with your

Millennium Project”Children Voices Unite for Peace”.

Page 8: The Healing Art Book

Daddy - thank you for the DIY, if only we had spent

more time together, Love Joan.

Mama, thanks for your care – Stop worrying, be happy.

I‟m O.K. Lots of love.

Hammy for all the times you listened and for being

there. Love you.

My sisters Noreen and Pam, my brother Andre‟ and the

entire family I love you all. You give so much in

different ways.

Michelle. Thank you for my gift - she‟s my baby too.

Luv ya.

Adrian, you bring me so much joy and I love you!

My friends from Cope-Nap, Eileen, Georgina, Jean, Val

– good health.

Sanna, for the computer editing. Best wishes to you

and Paul.

Mike, my computer technical expert. I‟d be lost

without my computer. Thanks for all the upgrades.

To Caroline and David for exhibition space at Futures

Café Bar. Good Health and best wishes.

Aunty Carmen, Berlin, Math, Schol and Vern, Patsy,

Elgin and all that I did not mention, not because I

forgot, but far too many to include. Love you all.

Andrew Wilson Coordinator, Gallery Fore, (EAP)

Enfield Arts Partnership for the exposure of my first

public exhibition.

To the visitors who came to view my exhibitions – my

sincere thanks to each and everyone of you who

commented whether verbally or included your comments

in the Gallery‟s Visitors Book or sent cards or

emails, which I have noted – so touching!

Margaret for recommending me to AVMA.

(AVMA) Action for Victims of Medical Accidents.

Thanks for the continued advice, support and the

invaluable work of this Charity. It‟s reassuring to

know that the “Patient”/”Victim‟s” voice is being

heard and represented in the corridors of power and

that new policies are constantly being implemented to

Page 9: The Healing Art Book

change the culture of clinical negligence in

hospitals in the UK.

AVMA is a National Charity and the only organisation

working exclusively for victims of medical accidents.

To the medical team who saved my life – you‟re not

all tarred with the same brush

My GP

To my divine inspiration and supreme counsellor -

thank you. May I continue to be guided unfailingly.

Page 10: The Healing Art Book

TTTooo

AAAdddrrriiiaaannn VVViiirrrgggeeeeeettttttaaa JJJoooyyyeeeuuuxxx

YYYooouuu‟‟‟rrreee ttthhheee bbbaaabbbyyy

III nnneeevvveeerrr hhhaaaddd

lllooovvveee yyyooouuu

………bbbllleeessssssiiinnngggsss…

Page 11: The Healing Art Book

Joy

BBBooorrrnnn ooofff wwwooommmbbb

BBBooorrrnnn ooofff wwwooommmaaannn

YYYeeeaaarrrnnn tttooo yyyiiieeelllddd ttthhheee fffrrruuuiiittt ooofff ttthhhyyy wwwooommmbbb

NNNooo sssuuuccckkkllliiinnnggg aaattt ttthhhyyy bbbrrreeeaaasssttt

BBBuuuttt III rrreeemmmeeemmmbbbeeerrr

MMMyyy sssuuurrrrrrooogggaaattteee ooonnneee,,, mmmyyy jjjoooyyy

FFFooorrr yyyooouuu‟‟‟rrreee ttthhheee bbbaaabbbeee,,, III nnneeevvveeerrr bbbooorrreee

BBBuuuttt ttthhhooossseee ccchhheeerrriiissshhheeeddd mmmooommmeeennntttsss

YYYooouuu bbbrrrooouuuggghhhttt bbbllliiissssss ……… llliiimmmiiitttllleeessssss

III rrreeemmmeeemmmbbbeeerrr

AAAsss III wwweeeeeeppp aaannnddd sssmmmiiillleee

TTThhhooossseee ccchhheeerrriiissshhheeeddd mmmooommmeeennntttsss

GGGiiivvviiinnnggg cccooonnnttteeennntttmmmeeennnttt,,, tttooo nnnuuurrrtttuuurrreee aaannnddd lllooovvveee

TTThhheee jjjoooyyy yyyooouuu bbbrrrooouuuggghhhttt bbbllliiissssss ……… llliiimmmiiitttllleeessssss

FFFooorrr yyyooouuu bbbaaabbbeee,,, mmmyyy sssuuurrrrrrooogggaaattteee ooonnneee,,, mmmyyy jjjoooyyy

NNNooo ooonnneee cccaaannn fffiiillllll ttthhheee ssspppaaaccceeesss ooofff ttthhheee hhheeeaaarrrttt aaasss yyyooouuu dddooo

TTTiiimmmeee,,, nnnooorrr ssspppaaaccceee ooorrr dddiiissstttaaannnccceee cccaaannn eeerrraaassseee ooorrr ssseeepppaaarrraaattteee

III rrreeemmmeeemmmbbbeeerrr yyyooouuu bbbaaabbbeee ……… mmmyyy jjjoooyyy ……… mmmyyy sssuuurrrrrrooogggaaattteee ooonnneee

NNNooo ooonnneee cccaaannn fffiiillllll ttthhheee ssspppaaaccceeesss ooofff ttthhheee hhheeeaaarrrttt aaasss yyyooouuu dddooo

FFFooorrr III‟‟‟llllll aaalllwwwaaayyysss lllooovvveee yyyooouuu!!!

EEEmmmbbbrrraaaccceee ttthhheee wwwooorrrlllddd wwwiiittthhh yyyooouuurrr jjjoooyyy

FFFooorrr yyyooouuurrr nnnaaammmeee JJJoooyyyeeeuuuxxx iiisss JJJoooyyy

JJJoooyyy fffooorrreeevvveeerrr jjjoooyyy

Page 12: The Healing Art Book
Page 13: The Healing Art Book

HEAL AND PAINT

A personal insight into using art as therapy and the

power of self-healing to regenerate the human spirit

with paint and poetry

Aura

Digital Painting

Page 14: The Healing Art Book

Rebirth

Digital photograph

Page 15: The Healing Art Book

Enlightening

Digital painting

Page 16: The Healing Art Book

Healing the spirit

Digital photograph

Page 17: The Healing Art Book

Water Therapy

Digital Painting

Water Therapy – (A Patient to Nurse)* Quote

This day is mine for taking

This day is yours for making

This day is ours for sharing

“Half an hour is all it takes my dear”

This day is mine for giving

This day is yours for loving

This day is ours for sharing

“Half an hour is all it takes my dear”

Taking, making, sharing, loving and giving

“Half an hour is all it takes my dear”

Page 18: The Healing Art Book

Lucian sunset

Digital photographs

Mother sunset

Digital photograph

Page 19: The Healing Art Book

Rise

Digital photograph

Page 20: The Healing Art Book

Rise and liberate Digital painting

Liberate Me

Smile transfixed

Eyes shut, open wide

Crimson red glows

My face aglow

Streams of life, I see

Wind blown my spirit‟s free

Liberate me

For I rise again

Page 21: The Healing Art Book

Liberate

Digital painting

Rise

Liberate me

I rise

Direction alter

Ego curtail

Mind impair

Body maim

Liberate me

I rise

Free spirit inhibit

Goals impede

Courage and resilience imbue

A new vision; I see

A new dream; I dream

In the eyes of a new poet

I rise

Liberate me

I rise

Cause I‟m blessed

Page 22: The Healing Art Book

Art Therapy in the frame

Digital Painting

Art therapy in the frame

Digital painting

Page 23: The Healing Art Book

Art Therapy

Digital painting

Page 24: The Healing Art Book

Echo

Digital Painting

The Silence Within

The silence within

Speak volumes

No ears may hear

Silent whispers

The words refrain

and peace remain

Fragile moments explode

Shattering fragments

Bare walls splurge

Silent conflict

Outside relative forces create

Silent wars borne in solace

Resolved in solitude

The silence within

Creative thoughts invoke

The golden rule of peace

Space and pace

To find peace

A positive energy

The silence within

Page 25: The Healing Art Book

Echo the Abyss

Digital Painting

Page 26: The Healing Art Book

Pain

Pain it‟s hot, when it aches

Raging fever pitch; Sharp

Numbs the small of my back

Lingers deep within my being

Wrenches my soul

I can‟t take any more

Pain, I know what I feel, how it makes me feel

Hard to describe to the quack

The nature of the pain

It‟s gone as quick as it came

All‟s well now until the next flare up

Did I dream or make it up?

You need a shrink

You‟re a complex case

“It‟s no mind over matter”

“It‟s only too real,” I‟d say

My pain is too personal for you to comprehend

I can‟t scream “ah or ouch”!

It‟s not visible to you or me.

Pain, I know what I feel, how it makes me feel

Like music it reaches a crescendo

Peaks and lows

Haunting by nature, rhythmic, mostly spasmodic

Unlike music it downcasts, rather than uplift

Soon it passes and leaves me calm

Until it rages again within me like a storm

Pain, I know what I feel, how it makes me feel

Deep spasms within my being

I crouch, squat like a frog

I hold me breath and count to ten

Mask the pain and be in control

It‟s my body

How dare a foreign force pervade my being?

I don‟t want to be a martyr

Dog bone tired

Just succumb unconditionally

Sigh and flinch

As the spasms contract and contort my innards

Pain, I know what I feel, how it makes me feel

It intensifies

I stoop, twist, there‟s an urgency to squat

It eases the pain

Just maybe a placebo effect

Momentary relief

Page 27: The Healing Art Book

Emptiness, a void

I sigh; Oooh…hhh…ooo…

I am too tired to be angry

I am too tired to be angry.

“Pain”ted”

Digital painting

Page 28: The Healing Art Book

Alliance

Digital painting

Page 29: The Healing Art Book

Healing art

Digital painting

Page 30: The Healing Art Book

Blood Money

Digital Painting

HES

Figure crunching a known quantity

From episode to episode

Counting clusters

Formatting cells

Finished counting fiddly spells

Grossly inflated statistical political dogma

Page 31: The Healing Art Book

Aaah! Fatigue

Digital painting

Aaah!

Backward like a force within

Gravitating pool

Dragging and sucking into a whirlpool

Clenching, gripping

Drawing me inward

Should I allow myself to be sucked in and under?

Going nowhere

Rushing everywhere

Just late, late, late

Tired, tired, tired

Panting, sluggish, weighted down

Dogged boned tired

I heave

Forcefully I withdraw

I must heave from the whirlpool

Aaah, aah!

Page 32: The Healing Art Book

Scribbling Circles

Digital image

Page 33: The Healing Art Book

Monday abstract

Digital painting

Page 34: The Healing Art Book

Cc-ICD9

Digital painting

Page 35: The Healing Art Book

Tomy kid

Digital painting

Page 36: The Healing Art Book

ES

Digital painting

Page 37: The Healing Art Book

Etch and scalpel

Couch and recline

Can I draw your scars?

Body transparent

Extremities absent

Midriff exposed

Torso-style

Nameless, faceless

I‟m the anatomical dummy

Nameless … faceless

Body transparent

Torso evident

Midriff exposed

Drawn and probed

Fingered, and traced

Sutured and scared

Etched by scalpel

I‟m the anatomical dummy

Scars apparent

Body transparent

Midriff exposed

Bowel ruptured

Wired and bagged

Ureter severed

The plumbing‟s up the spout

I‟m the anatomical dummy

Invisible body

Scars apparent

Etch by scalpel

Keloid it ain‟t

Pigmented it is

Sutured and scarred

Nameless…faceless…

Draw me… I‟m the anatomical dummy

Page 38: The Healing Art Book

Heal and paint

Digital painting

Page 39: The Healing Art Book

B tissue

Digital painting

Page 40: The Healing Art Book

Heal and Paint Catalogue - Copyright

Joan M Celestin 29

“”“”“”

“““Trade stress for restTrade stress for restTrade stress for rest”””

“” “””””” “”“” “””””” “”“” “””””” “”

Trade Trade Trade

stress stress stress

for for for

restrestrest”””

” ” ”

“”””“”””“”””

“”“”“”“”“”“”

“”“”“”“”“”“”

““””““””““””

“”“”“”“”“”“”

“““Trade stress for restTrade stress for restTrade stress for rest”””

“““Trade stress for restTrade stress for restTrade stress for rest”””

Page 41: The Healing Art Book

Exchange Square Revisited

Immerse yourself

Trade stress for rest

in the exchange ravine

Immerse yourself

Breathe in slowly

A slow soft chant you vocalise

Hmmm mmm hmmm mmm

A ravine gushes in the square mile

Country sounds recreated

A country atmosphere revisited

in a busy city-scape

Mile for mile

Pound for pound

eCommerce and eBanking rife

The hum – drum of city living

Time out!

Trade stress for rest

Immerse yourself

Ravine deep

Immerse yourself

Breathe deep

Close your eyes

Let the heady rush

within … … Gush

To reverberate round the square mile

Immerse yourself

Trade stress for rest

in the exchange ravine

Breathe in slowly

A slow soft chant you vocalise

Hmmm mmm hmmm mmm

Page 42: The Healing Art Book

Soul and balance

Digital balance

Page 43: The Healing Art Book

Fusion

Digital painting

Page 44: The Healing Art Book

Sun Rapture

Serene

Eyes shut

Sun on my face

Warmth of your love

Makes me know that you are here

Sunrays, sun-drenched

Winter chill apparent

Sun on my face makes me know that you are there

Sun on my face

Warmth of you love

Makes me know that you are there

Sun warmth, sun love, sun-blest

Your face shines out your love

Makes me know that you are here

“Beautiful day, eh”!

The sound in my voice

Wind in the trees

In my hair

Whispering wind words in my ear

Lets me know you are there

Sun on my face

Warmth of your love

with the wind in my hair

Lets me know you are there

Whispering wind-words softly for me

Blows all my troubles away

Springtime flowers blossoming

Permeating their fragrant perfume

“Lovely day”, hmmm…hmmm

Page 45: The Healing Art Book

Glory

Digital painting

Page 46: The Healing Art Book

Changing landscapes

Tree Tops

Branch barren

Winter stripped bare

A robin red breast on the washing line

perches precariously

A picture window, my kitchen presents

A view of the changing seasons of time

Spring the evergreen

Shooting Leaves, pregnant buds

Soon in bloom

Twittering birds

A song of joyful spring

Frees the troubled mind

A painter‟s easel

A poet‟s rhyme

The ever-changing landscape

The seasons bring

Summer skies, moonlit nights

Summer rain

A rainbow up yonder

A naturists paradise

A Caribbean dream in a London home

Mmm! Mmm; contentment

All‟s well in the window of my world

My kitchen

At peace in the window of my world

Reflect constant, ever changing landscape

A painter‟s canvas

The photographer‟s portrait

An author‟s script

A poet‟s rhyme

All‟s well in the picture window of my world

Autumnal colours

The treetops I behold

The rustle of wind swept leaves

Rustic brown, burnt orange, gold, green and red

Storm clouds threatening, rain a „thundering

The ever-changing landscapes

Space to breathe

Green space, reflecting peace

Reflect on the changing seasons of time

In the kitchen window of my world

Obscuring the visions of my picture world

A building

A political glitch

Page 47: The Healing Art Book

A photographic memory imprint

An image of nature lost, in the picture in window of

my world

Soon to be obliterated into oblivion

A blur on the landscape of my vision

The ever-changing landscape the seasons bring

Green space, reflecting peace

Lost in thought

Amongst the soap suds in sink

I bare my soul to the scene

Each leaf whispers a kind refrain

Hmmm … contemplating

The ever-changing landscape in the picture window of

my world

Soon to vanish

Soon to be history

Active

Digital image

This image was used in (AVMA)

Action for Victims of Medical Accident 20th

Anniversary Conference Brochure 2002

Page 48: The Healing Art Book

Salmons Brook

A gentle pace

The water flows

A steady stream

The water surge

Ripples round the rubble

It rumbles too

A spray of bubbles

The wind to guide

Gently down stream it glides

Ripples at the waters‟ edge

Trickles a gentle flow

An air of music fills my ears

Placidly

Trickling, a‟ rippling and a‟ rumbling

Water comes gushing

Mind, body and soul

Water refreshes and cleanse

Daylight sunshade

A cool refreshing haven for my soul

Fully clothed, but cleansed

My spirit‟s free to wander

Me and nature one within

Skinny-dipping midnight water

Silvery moon shimmers

Glory flows free

My spirit‟s free

Page 49: The Healing Art Book

2000

Millennium old, Millennium new

Millennium come, millenniums go

Millennium Dome a landmark of the century

Millennium Big Wheel, hoist alas over the South bank

Millennium bug 2000

Are you compliant?

Cyber net, Internet, surf the World Wide Web

Super highway, broadband, electronic mail

Soon no more Royal Mail, that‟s Insignia for you

Software, hardware, log online, surf the net, shop

online

Communicate on line

No more commuting to office work

Work form home

Video link, email, voicemail, mobile phone

Black and white, colour, analogue,

On digital TV, are you still unplugged?

Tis the new millennium

The millennium bug

The age of Hi Tech IT

Have you texted yet?

Children‟s promise, Band Aid, Net Aid

Children in Need

Wipe out third world debt

Hunger, war and pain

”A millennium pledge celebrate the culture of peace”

Cheri Boo Blair

Motherhood in the new millennium

New baby, millennium baby boom

Tis the new millennium

Go old Millennium, Come new Millennium,

We are compliant!

A millennium pledge - how can we begin to celebrate

the culture of peace?

Page 50: The Healing Art Book

Homelessness

Homelessness

A big issue

Knows no class or race

Defines no gender

Homelessness

A big issue

Crack it

Smack it

Booze it

Fix it

Homelessness

A big issue

Political

Contentious

Civil

Comic relief

Homelessness

A big issue

Religion

Humanitarian

Global

Homelessness

A big issue

Condone

Fight

Film it

Homelessness

A big issue

Buy it

Support

The big issue

Homelessness

A bigger issue

Page 51: The Healing Art Book

Hindian

Digital painting

Page 52: The Healing Art Book

Face

Digital Painting

Turban Genius

Beneath his turbaned crown

The mysteries of life he ponders

Philosopher, friend, uncle, brother

Profound thoughts he unravels

Human elements

The essence of his wisdom

An old master in him reborn

Too modern

Too shallow our world

for his philosophies

His turbaned crown,

Wrapped legends of history

Art and poetry

Human consciousness he transcends

Us; Mere mortals,

His presence enhances

Beneath his turbaned crown

Creative expressions abound

An old master in him reborn

Poet, painter, philosopher

Our turbaned crown genius

True recognition … eludes him

Page 53: The Healing Art Book

People in our world

Wonderful people fill our world

If you we dare to …

Listen

Pause for a moment longer,

Linger for a little while longer

Smile when our hearts connect

Praise when our emotions are compassionate

Give thanks when the warmth of the spiritual

energy overflows

Be still when the spiritual energy vibrates

within us

Silently

Gradually

Energy surges

Overwhelms

Overflows

You‟ve touch someone

… Today …

For it is the love that you give to others

That is reflected within us

Page 54: The Healing Art Book

Giving

What gift can I give the world?

A gift of love and understanding

A gift of peace

A gift of friendship

What gift can I give the world?

A gift of forgiveness

A gift of compromise

A token of gratitude

A hand in friendship

A smile to radiate

Peace and understanding

What gift can I give the world?

A gift of myself to show

I care

I can forgive

I may forget

I will remember

Your kind words in

friendship

Peace in my heart

Joy in my heart

Love in my

soul

What gift can I give the world?

To the orphan child; the warmth of my love

To the lonely and cold; a warm embrace

To the rowing couple; a compromising truce

To the elderly; a helping hand

To the sick and the dying;

My prayer for peace

What gift can I give the world?

friendship

peace

forgiveness

hope

love

What can I give the world?

To each and everyone in the world.

A gift of healing

Page 55: The Healing Art Book

Laughter

A joke shared

Laughter soars

Pain heals

Happiness surges

The soul rhymes

With the rhythms of the heart

In perfect harmony

Endorphins spill

Joy fulfils

Laughter rings

The soul sings

When perfect moments are shared

in jest with a friend in ease

Trust

Can trust mend

The delicate threads

That bind

To make amends

For past mistakes

New layered delicate weaves

Connect

Frayed edges

Interwoven bleed

A hand held out

Can trust bind

To make amends

for past mistakes

Can it?

Hmmm mmm hmmm mmm

Page 56: The Healing Art Book

Glory Dawn

Digital Photograph

Fathering the Sunset Children

Digital photograph

Page 57: The Healing Art Book

Sunset smile

O‟er heath

Lazy clouds drift

Sunset beckons

Up yonder a hue

Sunset glow

Golden sunrays iridescent

Web of the heart

Dance to a cadence

O‟er heath

Drifting hue

Sun clouds smile; then ebb

Radiant sunbeams fade

Sunset clouds wane

Smile clouds may weep

Hmm!

But not tonight!

Sunset on the Heath

An Arial mast

Vertical, central

The sunset sky divides

Like a Mondrian‟s painting

Sunset gold; orange glow

Right angles it divides

Trees‟ scalloped edge

Mask the cloudless sky

A sunset cloud

Paints gold scribbling

Across the evening sky

Ends a perfect day‟

Drawing in evenings dusk

Sunburst clouds, sunset ray

Etches a scene of dusky sky

Painting and scribbling

A golden, rosy hue

A golden promise of tomorrow

What will our tomorrows bring?

Page 58: The Healing Art Book

Shadows

Digital painting

Page 59: The Healing Art Book

Indecision

Shadows of doubt casting fears in my mind

To do or not to do

To heed my questing thoughts

To follow my hearts desire

Social interventions quashing my free spirit

Forlorn and isolated in confusion

Indecision quelling visions of hope, of dreams

of wants

Worthwhile exploits where dreams achieve goals

Indecision often thwarts challenge

Fear, chaos and that kind

To overcome that shadows of doubt

Casting shadows in my mind

Indecision

Digital Painting

Page 60: The Healing Art Book

Reflections

Panes of glass

Gleam and glare

Mirror upon mirror

Reflect and Create

Abstract images

Bizarre obscure abstract art

Distortions of ugliness

Panes of glass

Gleam and glare

Squares upon squares

Replicating rectangles

glass mirroring images

Archetypes of mirrored walls

Mirroring landscape

of time in motion

of moving images

of day and night

of light and dark

of the world around

What images are mirrored back within?

Are we mirrors of our soul?

Mere reflections

Page 61: The Healing Art Book

Tainted reflections

Digital Image

Cover image for Action for Victims of Medical

Accident (AVMA) - 20th Anniversary Conference

Brochure 2002

Page 62: The Healing Art Book

Dreams

A night full of dreams

A subconscious mental flight

A nonsensical script

A tragic play I rehearse in my sleep

Is it just an illusion?

Dreams!

Illusion

A dream unreachable

A vision elusive

Ripples of ideas

Deflated wishes

Mythical hollows

Like blowing magical bubbles

Reach for reflections

Fishing for moons and chasing fireballs

Only camouflages

Chasing

Grasping

Clutching nothing

Empty

A fantasia of emotions

A translucent Rainbow

Disappearing dreams

Re-emerging differently

in unobtrusive places

Unreachable

Untouchable

Elusive dreams that thought provoke

Page 63: The Healing Art Book

Want … Want

You can

You must

I want

You have

Do it now

What do they want from me?

My time

My know how

My tolerance

My wisdom

What can I give to satisfy?

The demands on my time

My efforts for the things

They require of me

For they do not listen

Nor ask about my needs

Can it be me being different or difficult?

For solace is peace

Green space is peace

Blessed with bliss

The noise they make

With their demands on my time, on me

You must do it now

I want to know now

You got to do mine first

Wait or listen are not words they understand

For their patience is nil

Mine is exhaustive

Perhaps it‟s my fault I do what they want

When they ask of me

What do they want from me?

Page 64: The Healing Art Book

Tribute to JW

For the last time

You cupped my face in both hands

Kissed me warmly on both cheeks

Looking deeply into eyes

Beckoning me in

Where your gracious lady sits

Regal on her armchair of red velour

A star-like quality she emanates

Graceful in old age

Elegant in her youth

A tabby cat lay napping

Snoring near the fire

A warm inviting cosy scene

of blissfully happy old folk

Alas peaceful in your sleep

You depart on boom and a bang

On Guy Fawkes Day, my birthday

Your favourite song

“On a bed of roses”

The lyrics your epitaph

Instead white lilies adorned

I think of you as my granddad

For my granddad died

When I was but a child

Page 65: The Healing Art Book

Ageless Charm

Beautiful once youthful

Youthful and graceful

like a ballerina in swan lake

A ballroom dancer you were once

Beautiful once youthful

Age has withered

Death of a spouse

The anger you feel

Radiant in beauty

Your presence enhances

A psychic quality you bestow

A conventional wisdom you hold

Youthful and graceful

Age has withered

An elegant persona

A crippled poise

Shuffles in an arthritic gait

Rainbows on Cloud Nine

Rainbows translucent

Vivid they appear

on a bright sky

or a rainy cloud

A painted hue

An artist palette

If only I could reach the sky

I would paint a picture for Picasso

Rainbows translucent

Fading, disappearing

A dream unfulfilled

If only I could touch the sky

My canvas on a cloud

Painting, scribbling across the sky

Painted abstracts for Kandinsky

If only I could paint on high

I would paint a rainbow a day

I would paint, peace messages across the sky

If only … I could touch the sky

I would be on cloud nine

Page 66: The Healing Art Book

Topsy-Turvy

Vex

My mind in turmoil

Topsy turvy my world

Blinking blinding rage

An urge to pen

My thoughts on paper

A brown bread roll

Charcoal it burns

To cinders it disintegrates

Whilst my rage

It dissipates

Topsy turvy my world

Vex!

Vexed

My mind in turmoil

Topsy-turvy my world

Just vexed!

Roses for Wednesday blues

Digital Painting

Page 67: The Healing Art Book

Weep don’t bleed

Battered and bruised

Emotionally charged

Empty and neglected

Emotionally scarred

Physically mutilated by a clinical blunder

The hard-core shell

Beneath thin surface

Shallow rain pours

Keeps the flood at bay

The barriers that shield the soul

Bathed in murky rivers

The debris

A trail of crimson tide

Clear waters mingle

Moss on a slippery slope

The rocks beneath smooth

Jaggered edge now

Pierces the core

Weep … don‟t bleed

A reminder of the ghost of the past

Move on

Spirits live on in ravage minds

Battered souls

Broken bodies

A legacy of past mistakes

Glossed over in time

By technology and virtual reality

Empty promises of cracked vessels

Calices of the soul

Weep … don‟t bleed

For they don‟t understand

My broken spirit

They see not

The brave front

I show the world

Hides the vulnerability

The pain

The sufferings of the ghost of the past

A cloud looms

A golden ray it obscures

Page 68: The Healing Art Book

World Peace

Unite a world divide

Make a plea for peace we pledge

To unite our world divide

Lets make a difference

That‟s our millennium promise

Our vision for the future

Celebrate the culture of peace

Children of the world

You can make a difference

Sing a song for peace

Dance to bring joy

Say a poem to reflect and inspire

Lets embrace each other to show humanity

You count; we care

Smile to touch the hearts of others

Outreach our hands from nation to nation

To link a chain of peace

To show humanity that together

We can make a difference

To achieve peace, love and understanding

Where there‟s hope; we will find peace

and unite the world divide

Page 69: The Healing Art Book

Scribbling in the Sunset

Digital Photograph

Page 70: The Healing Art Book

Hungry earth

A warring Nation

Cast by tribes

A disaster strikes

A nation impoverished

Famish and emaciated

Languishing underfed

Cuddling offspring‟s

Suckling non lactating breasts

Bare like shrivelled prune

To weak to wean

To weak to wean

An infant dies

A mother wasted

No grain or seed

A barren land - desert dry

Starved of seedlings

Shooting leaves

Sprouting grain

A nation

Hungry for a bag of grain

Who can I give?

My pound to guarantee

a bag of grain

Grain to seed

To sow the land

To feed…

The hungry earth

To stop another infant

… Dying

Whilst the terror… ist

The threat of war looms…large

Fear and dread

Human miseries recreate

Oppressed and deceived

A nation impoverished

A mother wasted

An infant dies

Grub and guns

Cheek by jowl

And yet…still…

Another infant‟s…

Dying…needlessly

Page 71: The Healing Art Book

Sunday

Digital Painting

Page 72: The Healing Art Book

The Healing Drum

Can‟t beat drum

Feel the rhythm

Drum beat

Heartbeat

Feet thump

To the rhythm

Of the drum beat

Can‟t beat drum

Bought it just the same

Drumming in my bones

Drumming in my head

See the rhythm of the drum

Beat to the rhythm

Of the heat in my bones

Feel!

The rhythm in my body

Hear!

The sound in my head

See!

A‟ laughing to the rhythm

Rocking to the sound … of the beating drum

Can‟t beat drum

No rhythm in my fingers

Feel! … the drum

Beat! … the drum

Drumming to the rhythm

To the rhythm of the sound;

of the drum beneath my fingers

Strumming, tapping, banging, stamping

in a frenzy to the drum beat

Can‟t play drum

Drumming is healing

The feeling of the rhythm… is healing

Filling my bones

Feeling the healing

of the drum… beating

Hearing in my head

Seeing my body… move

To the rhythm

a‟ rocking, a‟ laughing

To the sound… beat

of the beating drum

Can‟t beat drum

… Just … feel the rhythm…

… Bought the drum! … Anyway

Page 73: The Healing Art Book

Rhythm

Digital image

Page 74: The Healing Art Book

Pathways

Digital photograph

Page 75: The Healing Art Book

Peace

Digital Painting

Image - logo for The Children‟s Theatre Workshop at the

“Children‟s Voices Unite for Peace Concert April 2003”.

Page 76: The Healing Art Book

Mystical blending

Digital Painting

Page 77: The Healing Art Book

Masquerade

Digital Painting

Page 78: The Healing Art Book

Colour of history

Black and white

A mixed specimen

Our history a chequered past

The slave trade

Tinged with spice

Laden with sweat

Traded and bided by the triangle

From Africa to foreign lands

Our history a chequered past

A melange‟ of colour

Spiced, dyed, tinged

A little less darker

A wee bit fairer

A new shade of tan

Colour my history

A little bit farther

More British and little less French

French, British

British, French

French, British

British, French

French, British

British French

French, British

Fourteen times they fought

The battle was lost and won

Our history a chequered past

Of wars, occupation and domination

By colonial warriors

Colour of history

“Black History”

Aren‟t we but the rainbow people?

A melange‟ of colour

Spiced, dyed, tinged

A little less darker

A little fairer,

A new shade of tan

A new blend for the future

Black history

Black comedy

Black humour

Black art

Black sheep

Black race

Black history

Page 79: The Healing Art Book

What ethnic origin?

A melange‟ of colour

Of culture, class, wit

Spiced, dyed, tinged

A little less darker

A wee bit fairer

A new shade of tan

What colour is this?

“Whose history”?

What‟s “Black

History”?

History of a

people – “Whose

people”?

Politically

manipulated

Guns and grub;

cheek by jowl

Famine and

depravation

Displaced origin

and culture Gene

Digital painting

Rich fertile crown jewelled lands

Dust and mud raw gold fingered

What is fair trade?

Traded and out bided

Lost to more competitive markets

Living is history, moments in the past

Rewriting in different forms

Our history a chequered past

Politically termed

“Black History”

Colour our history

Rename Black history

“Global cultural Happenings”

A new optimism for cultural togetherness

A new awakening for a global community

Colour our history

Page 80: The Healing Art Book

Etta Clarke

Digital photograph

Page 81: The Healing Art Book

The Power of a Woman

Why let men frustrate you

Why let men make you angry

The whole woman speaks

The power of the woman

Strong, secure, dominant, versatile

The power of a woman

Why be the other half

When you‟re a whole woman

The power of the woman

Strong, supportive, protective

Her natural instinct to protect

The power of a woman

The strength of a woman

The power of a woman…strong

Rise women of the world; rise woman

The power of a woman

Strong, versatile

Stand up woman

The power of a woman

Rise…rise women of the world

Rise…the power of the woman

Whatever your race, tribe; colour - or creed

The power of a woman

Speaks the voice

Rise woman … rise

The whole woman speaks, protects

Nurtures and loves and fulfils

The power of the woman

Speak women; speak woman

The power of a woman

An impassioned plea for all women

UNIVERSAL MOTHER

Voices of a country shout

Refugees! Refugees!

No more refugees

Yet her jalbab flutters

A gentle Somali breeze

An African rainbow aglow

The English morning sunlight exudes

A cultural presence to inspire

Page 82: The Healing Art Book

Tall, she walks, though a stumble

Yet a gentle Somali breeze

Her jalbab, flutters

A gentle face, now wears a frown

No doubt aged before time

Bear the miseries of native civil quarrels

Of a displaced identity

Of yearnings for

The simple rural living

That once was

Of communes binding ancestry and heritage

Speaking in mother tongues

Her jalbab, flutters

A gentle Somali breeze

An exchanged greeting

Acknowledged no doubt

with a nod

Somali queen

not here by choice

but through circumstance

African queen

Mother of the universe

Shalom!

Welcome!

Embrace our mother

Yours and mine

Universal mother

The English morning sunlight exudes

A cultural presence to inspire

PS Jalbab is the headdress or Scarf

Somali women wear over their heads

Queen mother

She‟s queen among mothers

Mother powerful

Ever endearing

Dependable

Mother of the world

She sinks to sit

Stern and stout

A grimace

Her face she shields

An inward groan

Mask the pain she feels

Page 83: The Healing Art Book

She‟s queen among mothers‟

Her brood she mothers

even if they‟re grown up kids

A second generation she mothers ... still

and when life‟s toil is done

She strife‟s their burdens until dawn

She shops for the lot

Her brood round her feet they gather

Gifts she gives

Her arthritic hand

can barely hold

“This for you, does it fit”?

Oh! Don‟t I get all; her son retorts

“That‟s for Lester”

“Blue and grey for you”

“White for Len”

Christmas in August; I thought

When the deed is done

My childhood days she rekindles

Memories of my mother dear

Bearing gifts from a day trip in town

A cocoanut cake; a treat!

Enquiring eyes

All at once they stare and glare

“For me”! “For you”!

“To share; I mean”; she would reply

Butter bread for supper

She‟s queen among mothers

Her screaming grand son she soothes

A scolding from Mum he‟s had

“You mustn‟t be so naughty”

She rocks him gently

Pacifying his sobs

as he hiccups too

Mother powerful

Ever endearing

Dependable

Mother of the world

She‟s queen among mothers

A second generation

She mothers…still…

Page 84: The Healing Art Book

Children of the Moonlight

Dance in the moonlight

To the rhythm of the night

The children of the night

Danced in white

in the moon-shone light

Rhythmically clapping, a‟ tapping and a‟ rocking

A‟ rocking and a‟ jiving to a frenzy

To the rhythm of the moon-lit night

Rhythmically circling the moon

Dancing to the rhythm of the moon-beat tune

Clapping and a‟ rocking in the moonlit night

Soaked in the light

By the rhythm of the moonbeam

Rhythmically clapping, a‟ laughing, a‟ dancing in the

light

They disappeared

A circle round the moon

In the rhythm of the light

In moonbeam shine

In the moonshine sky

Page 85: The Healing Art Book

Aaajjj – Confronting the ancestors

Digital Painting

Page 86: The Healing Art Book

“Planets 1 & 2” Digital paintings

Page 87: The Healing Art Book

Bright

The night sky

A dancing cloud

The night light shields

Oh full moonshine your gaze

Secrets you engulf

Moon beams, star light trail

Shadows of our selves

Our heavenly bodies entwined in earthly souls

Can thou be one?

Untitled

Digital image

Page 88: The Healing Art Book

Digital Paintings

Page 89: The Healing Art Book

Healing wounds

The beast awakes

Creeps and startles

Peeps and Pounces

Paralytic fear

Twists invisible fangs

Scarred wounds … now healed

New bleed … hurts … touches the core

Peeps and pounces

in a dentist chair

on a holiday respite

Comatose in sleep… so vulnerable

Shockingly painful

Bright lights

The sterile white coat

Once the healer

Now only conjure nightmares

Injury and debris

Ravages the human spirit

Broken …yes …dead …no!

New resilience

Must remove the shackles

of fear, anger and pain

… Can I?

Page 90: The Healing Art Book

Marbles to Crystals

Digital photograph

Page 91: The Healing Art Book

h

Colouring the spirit

Digital photograph

Page 92: The Healing Art Book

Worth

Digital image

Page 93: The Healing Art Book

Life’s a juggle

Digital image

Page 94: The Healing Art Book

Just Good Friends

The warmth of friendship

Touches the web of the heart

In moments of need

Friends' cluster round for an evening‟s hot brew

To soothe the chill of ills

Kindness rekindles

Friendship grows and blossoms

Love reflects and sustains

Quiet moments to share

Friendship soothes

Like the hearth of a coal fire that glows

It ignites when it unites

Perfect moments, complete joy

The joy of being

Someone‟s friend – your friend

Poignant moments we share

The warmth of friendship

Tender moments to console

Overfill cups of hot brew spilling

Laughing...uplifting … crying … missing you…

Time‟s everlasting

Another place ever-changing

As I bid you farewell

True friendship will ease our parting

Precious moments to remember; do maintain the

momentum

Keeping in touch,

We‟ll tell of each other‟s news

New home, new friends, but;

A special friend fulfil a different need within each

one

Like seasonal flowers friendship blossoms and fades

So the seasons bring new bloom, fresh buds, new

leaves

Akin to the dandelions when trampled upon

It will not wither, but proudly rejuvenates

Friendship is the same when it nurtures

Love and kindness reflects within

Friendship prevails

Beyond the parting embrace

Nurtures and rekindles

The warmth of friendship

Touches the web of the heart

For Jeanette from Dorothy – moving to a New Nursing home

Page 95: The Healing Art Book

Just Seventeen

Baggy jeans

Crutch down to the knees

Long, lean and listless

Hooded and capped

Just walking the ‟states

Ain‟t bad nor mad

Smoked cannabis and it ain‟t that bad

Just make you tired; then you eat a lot

Sleep to keep out of crime

It really ain‟t that bad

Says someone whose just seventeen!

Gang warfare

Gang on gang

“Too much crew”

Vs.

“Lover More Crew”

Young culture

Just seventeen

Youth culture

Just seventeen

Ain‟t bad nor mad

More simply bored

Just need a mentor

Too much crew

Don‟t know which career to choose

Job seekers

Careers officer

Youth worker

Don‟t know which way to go

Want to be an electrician

Or an engineer

Join the army or the navy

Serve Queen and country

Too much too choose

Don‟t know which one to lose

Just too much crew

Only just seventeen

Lived life to the full like one whose seventy-one

Ain‟t bad nor mad

Just need a mentor

To be my hero

‘States’ is the colloquial term used to describe a

council estate

Page 96: The Healing Art Book

The Storm Ballet

Digital photograph

Page 97: The Healing Art Book

Untitled

Digital Photograph

Page 98: The Healing Art Book

Sunburst

Digital Painting

Page 99: The Healing Art Book

Re-discovering

Digital photograph

Page 100: The Healing Art Book

Time

Time immortal

Changing morality

Time everlasting

SPACE

Vision

Page 101: The Healing Art Book

Space: Cosmic Healing

Digital paintings

Page 102: The Healing Art Book

Wall Flower

Digital photograph

Page 103: The Healing Art Book

Wysiwyg

Stressed out

web site designing

“Jpeg”

“Psd”

“Gif”

Head aches the lot

My guess that its‟ worth, the buzzing in my head

For my web site‟s … well almost complete

“Wysiwg”…ing - What you see is what you get

Ears wigging

My brain's interlacing

My legs a‟ wobbling

The voice in my ear whispering

All night wysiwging

I guess I thought it‟s spelt

"wizzy-wigging"

wysiwyging

Clicking here

Linking here

Roller balling there

mousing all over the mat

Scrolling up and down

Creating, saving, filing

Refreshing, dream weaving

Internet exploring

My web site‟s complete

wysiwging

"What you see is what you get"

Internet exploring

Web designing

Dream-weavering

My head a quivering

Trying to do web designing

I guess "What you see is what you get"

When you been quizzing-wigging

Oops! “Q” is next to “W” on the key-board

Mind boggling, blurry-eyed

"Wizzying-wigging"

Wysiwging

“Err aaahhhh!”

“WYSIWYG”…ING!

“Psd” do a button!

Who gives a “Gif”?

Page 104: The Healing Art Book

WHAT THE VIEWERS SAY …

“Interesting paintings. I think these pictures are

very good” – Rebecca O.

“Very interesting and a very new style of art to me.

Lovely colour use.” – G. Stapleton

“Mmm” – Mr. Richardson

“Would like to have more explanation about the

healing art and if possible to learn. Nice and

interesting.”

– Mr. Simo

“More… good”

“Calming… Good colours… Good” – H. Duport

“Colour and light essential in creating mood, which

has been captured in the use of photography.”

– Cartoonist Emmanuel Anolue

“I like the roses and the pylon pictures. I thought

they were nice.” – Dominic aged 5

“Wow! Stop me at the door if my coat looks bulky!

I‟ve got at least three favourites.” – Karen

“Excellent paintings which have new ideas. It has

proved healing.” – B. Trivedi

“Mystical fantasy… has meaning.”

“Very different!”

“Nice colours, good show.”

“Supernatural – Wild imagination (Paintings). Poetry

outstanding.” – J. Lewis

“Lovely colours and very deep words. Beautiful

combinations.” – M. Jones

“Thanks for having the perseverance to continue, to

inspire and to heal. You – go – girl!” – Cuban Red

“Poem – Ageless charm. Very spirited. Very deep

strikes a chord.” – C. Billingham

Page 105: The Healing Art Book

“Well done. I am really proud of you. I believe

your gift, as a healing artist will take you further

than you can imagine. Please remember me when you

become famous.” – Ade Babalola

“Very interesting all the pictures and especially the

poem world peace.” – R. Ahmed

“Very interesting – Love „St. Lucian Sunset‟ image

and poem „Reflections‟” – S. Bakie

“Very enjoyable art with a new meaning.” – M. Bond

“Very colourful – liked „The Silence Within‟.” – K.

Bakie

“Very good work Joan. Well done. Good luck.” – M.

Bakie

“Very impressed in general, looks to me like a lot of

work has gone into them. Didn‟t understand most of

the abstract images. I really liked the sunset

scenes and the three flowers.” – Margherita

“Some really good stuff. Enjoyed my visit. Thanks!”

– A. Shone

“Very inspirational – Thank you for sharing.” – V.

Barber

“A beautiful sense of colour and form. Deep feelings

too. I liked the combination of art and poetry.”

– J. Elder

“Very creative and beautiful mixture of colours.”

– O. McLeary

“Very expressive and explosive, reflecting a whole

different side of art, different aspects.” – M. Davis

“Very impressive – I liked „Salmon‟s brook‟ and the

„Roses for Wednesday Blues‟ particularly, but overall

found all the exhibits delightful and wouldn‟t mind a

few dotting the walls of my home!” – M. Williams

“Very inspirational and expressive. The exhibition

has excelled anything I could have imagined. I am

proud of you.” – A. Rodney

“I really enjoyed the way that Joan has married her

creative writing with her artistic use of colours and

Page 106: The Healing Art Book

images. Very innovative and inspiring. Absolutely

beautiful w,ork.” – Kelly

“There is a great unity of feeling about the whole

thing”

“Each and every image is rather expressive and

unique. The images have a hidden meaning, which

allows the viewer to explore different depths. Aunty

Joan all the images are wonderful and creative.” –

love Danielle

“Again as I stated to you Joan I like the image of

„aaajjj‟ that reminded me of Egyptian images that are

on Pyramid walls. This is the first thought that I

came up with as I looked at the images.” – M. Weekes

“The image that caught my eyes looked like a smoky

mystical blending. I also liked the image of the

peach flowers. It is very calming and refreshing.” –

Debra

“Chris and I were bowled over. Your work is

beautiful and inspiring”. – Chris and Jo Angel

“Thank you for the uplifting experience. All the

colours cheered me up. Brilliant of you to turn

adversity into something good like this – good for

you. I hope you have lots of success. Best wishes”.

- Mr and Mrs Spencer.

Thanks

Page 107: The Healing Art Book

Start scribbling today – that’s how I began Draw some lines –anything about how you feel or a situation It may be the start of your healing journey. Go on… no one is watching – only you!

Page 108: The Healing Art Book

Hugging the Stranger

Digital photograph

Page 109: The Healing Art Book

The Platform Gallery: 17-29 March 2003

Joan Celestin‟s Healing Art Exhibition

Page 110: The Healing Art Book

Joan Celestin was born

in Curacao, Northern

Antilles and was

brought up in St Lucia,

in the Caribbean and

presently lives in

London. She was

employed by the

Department of Health

from 1981-1997.

She creates digital art

which she calls her

“Heal and Paint”

therapy - a combination

of abstract images,

photography and poetry.

She exhibits her work

at Galleries in the

North London.

Page 111: The Healing Art Book