Safe place
Art Prompt: Create an image of a place that feels safe to you, real or imagined.
Materials: Micron pens, watercolor paper, watercolor set
Safe, as in calming, secure and brings on a feeling of ease. What would that space look like to you? Is it a place you’ve been before? A place you’ve been many times or a place you could dream up and imagine? Create an image of a place that you can go to in your mind, notice all of the surroundings, sights, and feelings. Think about places in your life that have felt secure, what made them feel that way? Incorporate those into your image. This image can be used as a grounding technique afterwards, and you can take yourself to your safe place when feeling overwhelmed. In your mind, explore your place and notice all that you see, hear, smell, touch and taste.
What first came to my mind was a place I dreamed up, and place I hope to one day recreate in real life. This place has parts of other places that have felt safe, secure and calming to me, and I compiled it into one. I created an art space dedicated to creating, a space that is organized, open and encourages creativity. When adding color to my image, a cabin came to mind. This was not intentional, but it took me to memories and my space changed from one location to another.
The amazing part about art therapy is what comes up subconsciously. Try to not overthink your image or worry too much about the end product. When relaxed and present in creating, you allow for new feelings, thoughts and memories to come up that may not have been there at the start of creating.
Journal prompts for further exploration of the directive and/or image:
When I was a child, what space felt safe to me?
As an adult, where do I retreat or go to when I am feeling overwhelmed or stressed and need to relax? Is this place safe and healthy?
Who is someone that feels safe to me? When do they feel most safe and when do they feel unsafe?
Write about what feeling “safe” means to you.
Tips:
I am vague in my description of my image for two reasons: A.) this is an example to help people see the progression and thought behind the process, B.) so that my image and description does not stifle your own creative exploration within this prompt.
Do not overthink the art directive. Jump into creating with your first thought and allow the image to form itself.
Explore the artwork when you’re completed and see what you notice in your colors, method, imagery. Sometimes you’ll have new insights once you’re finished creating.
Materials will be suggested, use whatever you have access to or materials you’d prefer.
Work as little or as long as you’d like.
Don’t create thinking of a product, focus solely on the process. This may not be something you’d like to hang on the wall and that is perfectly fine and often preferred 🙂
You may not always be able to reflect on your image and understand what it means. Sometimes just simply engaging in the art process is therapeutic enough.
While these directives are designed for deeper exploration of self, sometimes they may cause one to feel overwhelmed. These prompts should not replace therapy. If any of these prompts bring up unsafe emotions and you feel you are a danger to yourself or others, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital.
