Monday, March 17, 2014

Art Therapy


This is a true story. Back when I was in college and majoring in art, I signed up for an art therapy class that involved spending a few hours a month working with inmates at the county jail. One evening, as I was preparing to leave the house my mother interrupted a phone conversation she was having to pass on some information to me. I don't recall what the information was, but I do recall what happened when she got back on the phone.

"Sorry, Gloria," she said. "My daughter's on her way to jail and I just had to talk to her before she goes."

I've never lived it down.

But what does that have to do with this post, you ask? Good question. Let me explain.

See, it occurred to me this morning that I used to use writing (in part) as a form of therapy. For some reason, that's not working for me right now. So, finding myself in need of an outlet for my creativity...or, you know, my frustration, I created this new blog, and the matching new look at the Oberon website, and this other newly re-designed blog and this other website (also newly re-designed to match the aforementioned "other blog") as a form of therapy.

I guess it's working out pretty well. After a few hours of concentration and puzzling my way through HTML and CSS and Gimp I feel all cheerful again. At least for a little while.

My other recent art project are the new Oberon print covers. I just did the spines and backs, but I'm still all giddy with excitement at how nicely they turned out. Check 'em out and tell me which one's your favorite.