Somatic Drawing Sessions
Centro de Promotion y Salud
Un Taller: El Languaje Visual
Quillota, Chile
Un Taller: El Languaje Visual
Quillota, Chile
In 2015 I began my journey into intentional healing through art. My drawing practice has always served as therapy while growing up around domestic violence, mental illness, and addiction. I began researching phenomenology & art while simultaneously focusing on my own mental healing through meditation, mindfulness, and traditional Chinese modalities such as acupuncture. I have spent spent long amounts of time in solitude, and have lived and worked at a Buddhist Vipassana Center where I have received guidance and teachings from multiple elders. Plant medicine has also been a part of my healing journey.
In 2015, I noticed that my work was no longer about the story behind my wounds, but rather an exploration of my body in space in the present moment. Rather than focusing directly on the wounds (which would actually deepen them) I was learning about myself in the present moment, accepting my formation of self. I began using line as a way to unravel my own story and to connect me with my surroundings.
Somatics: The drawing method I developed uses the lines within our fingerprints as a starting point. This is a marking of our body at the 13th week of gestation-where our bodies begin to undulate in amniotic fluid. This undulation happens at the very moment our basal layer of skin is being formed. Inner body rippling outwards as we grow, environment and self are inseparable. This undulation I find to be the essence of our being. By looking to the fingerprint, I find a way to reconnect with my truest identity, allowing myself to accept the ripples that are happening within this life, within the womb of the atmosphere. This drawing practice significantly helped to shift my understanding of my own traumas, bringing me into a state of insight and acceptance.
I have taught workshops in NY, Chile, and CA. Workshops begin with subtle movements and a breathing exercise. I guide the student into their own body through drawing. Depending on the student, we may go into a writing exercise, or sound meditation.
In 2015, I noticed that my work was no longer about the story behind my wounds, but rather an exploration of my body in space in the present moment. Rather than focusing directly on the wounds (which would actually deepen them) I was learning about myself in the present moment, accepting my formation of self. I began using line as a way to unravel my own story and to connect me with my surroundings.
Somatics: The drawing method I developed uses the lines within our fingerprints as a starting point. This is a marking of our body at the 13th week of gestation-where our bodies begin to undulate in amniotic fluid. This undulation happens at the very moment our basal layer of skin is being formed. Inner body rippling outwards as we grow, environment and self are inseparable. This undulation I find to be the essence of our being. By looking to the fingerprint, I find a way to reconnect with my truest identity, allowing myself to accept the ripples that are happening within this life, within the womb of the atmosphere. This drawing practice significantly helped to shift my understanding of my own traumas, bringing me into a state of insight and acceptance.
I have taught workshops in NY, Chile, and CA. Workshops begin with subtle movements and a breathing exercise. I guide the student into their own body through drawing. Depending on the student, we may go into a writing exercise, or sound meditation.
Reviews:
I felt called to try this experience because i was not sure what could come out of this creative way of meditation/mindfulness. The calmness that i felt was amazing, just being present and let my intuation guide my hand to finish the drawing of others was unique. But the best part came at the end, when the inner guidance of other people emerged on your initial drawing and see something unusual flourish out of that, is pretty unique. This exercice is a beautiful mix of emotion that I didn’t expect to feel. Recommend to everybody! 10/10
-David Gringas, B.C. (Canada)
The Mind Body Connectivity and Release workshop was wonderful and unique. Jaime held a curiosity-centered, exploratory space for connecting with our beings through our bodies and our creativity. The individuality of our expression was highlighted in the reflection and exploration of our fingerprints, and dissolved into universality as we began to co-create stories of flow and connectivity through the lines and markings we added to each others drawings. Self-identifying “artists” and “non-artists” alike could find many rememberings and viable seeds through the inner-inquiries and exploration facilitated within this container.
-Stephanie Thomson (USA)
I felt called to try this experience because i was not sure what could come out of this creative way of meditation/mindfulness. The calmness that i felt was amazing, just being present and let my intuation guide my hand to finish the drawing of others was unique. But the best part came at the end, when the inner guidance of other people emerged on your initial drawing and see something unusual flourish out of that, is pretty unique. This exercice is a beautiful mix of emotion that I didn’t expect to feel. Recommend to everybody! 10/10
-David Gringas, B.C. (Canada)
The Mind Body Connectivity and Release workshop was wonderful and unique. Jaime held a curiosity-centered, exploratory space for connecting with our beings through our bodies and our creativity. The individuality of our expression was highlighted in the reflection and exploration of our fingerprints, and dissolved into universality as we began to co-create stories of flow and connectivity through the lines and markings we added to each others drawings. Self-identifying “artists” and “non-artists” alike could find many rememberings and viable seeds through the inner-inquiries and exploration facilitated within this container.
-Stephanie Thomson (USA)
