Article #23- Couples Art Therapy
by Arrachme
Retiring does not mean becoming sedentary. Couples or singles can easily adjust to a whole new wonderful life. In my opinion, it all begins with art.
How does a routine morning coffee, moving into daily business duties, and traffic-filled roads on the return home easily morph into The Village life? Most of us have traded one fast-paced life for another. The transformation is full of valued friends, clubs, sports, and travel with people that have desired shared experiences. Within this intense “busy”, what can we rely on one most important thing for balance? In my humble opinion, it all starts with a comfortable home comprised of things that express our voice. This is so that in the evening we can pull back luxurious bedding and relax into a gentle restful sleep. Building momentum to complete a well-appointed space is desirable. Once our home space is complete, breaking bread with invited friends is a must.
For new homeowners and those that desire a refresh, wade through a myriad of checklists: an inventory home, follow through on the builder inventories, scheduled appointments with contractors, and choosing a landscaper. In addition, everyone discovers that they must discard the extra furnishings that were unloaded into the garage because they are either the wrong color or just don’t fit. Believe it or not, this process can be most enjoyable. Close the garage door full of boxes and let’s step inside the house.
Art Can Be the Unifying First Step
As an artist, over the years, the best advice that I have given couples or partners is the gift of a positive jump-start. After listening wholly and completely to their needs, without interrupting, I give out one simple task. Coming together for the sake of immediate comfort is necessary. I have instructed them to use the morning coffee break to engage. Together, thumb through the over one hundred paintings on my website to see what jumps off the page. The experience is gratifying because the couple finds things that they mutually agree on. It’s like walking through a museum and being captivated by something beautiful. It is unique in that there are no ads and no pesky tracking algorithms. No agenda is welcome. It is an old fashion at-home action. Ninety-nine percent of the time this is a heart-warming bonding experience. There is enough variety of style and genre on my site making it a useful tool for anyone to use. After this, they can go out in the world with a clear picture of their likes and dislikes. They will have removed the cobwebs and honed their skills regarding style and color in fine art.
See the attached painting in cold wax and oil, named “Partners”
What’s Next?
One way to execute movement with a plan is to find one oversized, impressive painting that provides a sense of peace to be placed on a large empty wall. Why does this work? The answer is simple; it reflects one’s extraordinary new self. Let’s test this theory. Have you ever looked at a painting and felt a relaxing sigh come over you? Have you looked at a painting and felt excited because it reminded you of a happy moment on a beach that you shared with loved ones? My collectors report that the choices they made were because the art reminded them of a happy time with family or friends. It can provide a combined experience with a newfound sense of joy. So, rest assured choosing is instinctive and something anyone can do. The caveat is that the couple can breathe a sign of joy because they did this one action together. No additional therapy is needed.