#westminsterpaintingclasses

Michelle Baker, MA

Things to Do With Kid’s Art

Regardless of your kid’s natural artistic talent, it’s likely that you feel that every drawing, painting or collage your child produce is a masterpiece. Yes, they are cute, but the refrigerator can only hold so much. Kids have no shortage of inspiration and creativity, and if your kids are like mine, then there’s probably a mini avalanche every time you open the refrigerator. Here are a few ways for decluttering the fridge, preserving your child’s most cherished work of art a

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Art Therapy Activities to Help You De-Stress

Michelle Baker, MA

Art Therapy Activities to Help You De-Stress

Have you ever wondered how doing a simple art activity like drawing, painting or listening to music helps you relax after a long and stressful day? This is because art is therapeutic. Art therapy is not only used as a form of treatment, it can also be used to relieve stress or tension. Consider these exercises if you are looking to feel a little more laid back. Draw using your non-dominant hand Pablo Picasso once said, “All children are artists”. But as we grow older, we tend

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Art and Healing: How Art Therapy Can Help Divorced Couples Heal

Michelle Baker, MA

Art and Healing: How Art Therapy Can Help Divorced Couples Heal

Sometimes, marriages do not succeed. For some people, divorce can be a relief. But for most divorcing couples, it can be a very stressful and heartbreaking process. The stress level can even be higher if there are children involved. Whether you wanted it or not, divorce can trigger all sorts of painful and unsettling feelings such as anger, guilt, grief, anxiety, shame and confusion. It can also turn your world upside down. Art after divorce At this stage, you might feel like

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Helping Children Cope with Divorce through Art Therapy

Michelle Baker, MA

Helping Children Cope with Divorce through Art Therapy

Each year, approximately 1 million children in the United States experience divorce of their parents. Due to the prevalence of divorce in our country, this shatters a child’s concept of family and spurs a host of reaction from guilt to anxiety and rebellion. For children, divorce is often a traumatic and life-changing event. In fact, a few studies reveal that children who are coping with the separation and divorce of their parents are experiencing sleeping problems, decreased

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Michelle Baker, MA

Art After Divorce

MBodied Art Studio is a special place where art takes on new meaning. Owned and operated by an art therapist, the vision of MBodied is to provide a safe space for personal reflection, community and healing. Art becomes a path for self-discovery, for pushing through boundaries and bonding with others. Within this vision, MBodied is proud to offer Art after Divorce, a free meetup group for parents and children of divorce. The studio will be a gathering place for parents and chi

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Michelle Baker, MA

Choosing Art for Your Home

Photographs, drawings, paintings, any of these can instantly warm up a space and transform it into a home. It’s time to liven up those empty walls and add color and life to your space. Here are some tips to help you fill your walls in a welcoming, homey way. Buy art that you love Follow your heart. It may sound cheesy, but it’s actually a great advice. The key to successfully investing in art lies in knowing what you want. Remember, the art is for you. So be sure to get somet

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Michelle Baker, MA

How Art Therapy Can Help Children

Art therapy can be beneficial for children, even at such a young age. As with most therapies, art therapy is also used to help improve a child’s emotional state or well-being. It is an effective way of working with kids who may be going through a difficult time. While kids may also benefit from traditional therapy, they often find it scary especially if it is done in a clinical setting. Art therapy provides kids an easier way to express themselves and be creative. Plus, it g

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Michelle Baker, MA

Create a Personalized Photo Book

A personalized photo book is a great way to help your little ones remember the names and faces of the most important people in their lives. If you live a thousand miles from your family, it’s also a good idea to include grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins in the photo book. Aside from that, you can even use it to help your kids identify animals, shapes, colors and other things. Of course, you can do this the easy way and create one online. There are a lot of sites that c

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Michelle Baker, MA

DIY Gift Wrap Ideas

A gift really is as good as its wrapping paper. But when it comes to giving gifts, there is one area where most of us are hesitant to splurge on - the gift wrapper. Oftentimes, you would choose the prettiest gift wrappers on the store, but it still doesn’t have that Martha Stuart touch that you’re looking for. Now, you can bid farewell to the typical wrapping paper and boring gift tags. These clever DIY gift wrap ideas are sure to impress your family and friends. Plus, you ca

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4 Ways to Preserve and Sort Your Child’s Masterpieces

Michelle Baker, MA

4 Ways to Preserve and Sort Your Child’s Masterpieces

Every child is a prodigious Picasso. As a parent, you are likely to feel that every drawing, painting and macaroni collage is a masterpiece. You are so proud of your little artist that you want to showcase every artwork on the fridge. You are hesitant to toss any but your fridge is starting to get too cluttered. Here’s a system to help you save, sort and share your child’s masterpieces with family and friends. Create a photo book of your kid’s artwork If you have already coll

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Michelle Baker, MA

Ways to Foster Your Child’s Creativity

A lot of people believe that creativity is an inborn talent. But the truth is, creativity is more of a skill that can be harnessed. And you, as a parent, can help them develop this skill. By fostering your child’s creativity, you are helping him/her mature emotionally, mentally and socially. These ideas will provide them with an opportunity to explore their artistic side and even develop their analytic skills. Ditch the usual art materials While it is important to provide you

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Michelle Baker, MA

Using Art to Relieve Stress

“I am so stressed out!” Most of you have probably uttered this phrase a number of times. While exercising, trying to focus on the positive and deep breathing exercises are all helpful in reducing stress, you might want to try something a bit different this year like art therapy. If you are about to stop reading this blog post thinking you don’t have a creative bone in your body, then we would like you to know that you don’t have to be an artist in order to embrace the benefit

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Michelle Baker, MA

Tiger Woman

...continued from The Origin of Tiger Woman After many months of contemplation, I was ready to change “mediocre woman” into “tiger woman”. Working with the shape of a human’s face and a tiger’s stripes, I added dark markings to her face and toned her skin orange. The marks felt definite and permanent; she would never be the same again. Once the marks were down it became easier to go along with the new identity. I gave her tiger-like eyes and kept her human nose and lips.

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Michelle Baker, MA

The Origin of Tiger Woman

In the summer of 2012 I had just graduated with my Master’s in Art Therapy and could not find a job. 3 years of hard work, introspection and experientials to find that no one thought I was qualified to do the work. So I went to the art store, bought a large, beautiful blank canvas and went home to paint. I did not begin with a sketch or an idea, just yellow paint and movements that felt right. After awhile a face started to form and I went along with defining the features.

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Michelle Baker, MA

Talking to Kids About their Art

As parents, we are often curious and fascinated by our kids’ art. Art provides children an opportunity to tell a story, express internal thoughts or describe an event. So, every time your child comes to you with a picture he/she has just drawn, make it a point to ask some questions or talk to them for a few minutes before putting their work on the fridge. Here are some tips for talking to kids about their art. Ask the child to tell a story Let’s face it. There are times when

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Handprint New Year’s Resolutions to Welcome the New Year

Michelle Baker, MA

Handprint New Year’s Resolutions to Welcome the New Year

If your little ones are staying up until midnight, they’ll need some craft projects to keep them busy and entertained until New Year arrives. Quick, easy and fun for the kids, this project will help make the hours go by peacefully as the kids anxiously wait to wish in the New Year. Handprint New Year’s Resolutions Have your kids make their own resolutions (I will fix my bed every day, I will not fight with my sister, I will keep my toys after playing). Encourage them to remem

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Michelle Baker, MA

Art Therapy and Its Benefits

While psychotherapy and therapy comes with several benefits, art therapy has proven to be effective in a variety of ways that differ from traditional therapy. A lot of people are still unfamiliar with art therapy and have no idea as to how it might be able to help. If you haven’t heard of art as a form of therapy, the benefits may surprise you. In this article, we’ll be highlighting the benefits of art therapy. Read on and see if it can aid you in some way or another. Self ex

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Michelle Baker, MA

Why is art important?

Art develops important life skills that create successful people. Creating art is an opportunity to “make special”. If you’ve ever received a hand made gift, had someone make you a piece of furniture or painted you a picture you know what this is about. It’s what makes us different from animals, we celebrate and make special and decide that things have significance. Art is an opportunity to express yourself. We all have a voice and we all have the right to express ourselve

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(720) 443-1994

8781 Sheridan Blvd #6041

Westminster, CO 80031

MBodied Art Studio

(720) 443-1994

8781 Sheridan Blvd #6041

Westminster, CO 80031