Around 2013, I came across a book called “The Magic of Mess Painting.” I was so enchanted with the idea of painting out my feelings, which were overwhelming at the time, that I read it cover to cover in a few days.  In the method proposed you were instructed to paint on Wall Street Journal pages because they are cheap, and the ink doesn’t run.  The idea was to paint fast, cover one page after another, just to get all of your feelings out.  I wasn’t ready to actually do it at that time, but I was intrigued enough to do more research.  Next, I found the book, Life, Paint & Passion: Reclaiming the Magic of Spontaneous Expression by Michelle Cassou & Stewart Cubley.  This one outlined a method called, Process Painting, where the goal of painting is about the process not the end result.  I didn’t have the wherewithal to try these processes myself, so I started looking for a workshop where I could experience these processes.  I found one but it was all the way in California.  I lived in Pennsylvania at the time.  I contact the retreat leader and she offered me a discounted room for the weekend retreat.  That was all it took.  The workshop was held at Creative Juices Studio in Oakland, CA with Chris Zydel.  Chris welcomed me with a huge hug, and she created an environment where I felt safe to express myself honestly and fully.  It was transformational for me.  A few years later, I decided to change careers and become an art therapist.  After I finished the degree, I took a 9-month training course with Chris to learn her method of Intuitive Painting as an expressive arts facilitator.   I loved the way that Chris created a community of support that helped me be totally open.  The process is usually to paint standing up on big paper with tons of tempera paint.  The materials are inexpensive on purpose so that people don't feel like the paintings are too precious.  When the materials are expensive it is harder to be free to paint without planning and being too influenced by the inner critic.  For me Intuitive Painting is a way to be spontaneous, paint without thinking and express whatever shows up for me. It has helped me find my authentic self and to accept myself with boundless compassion.