Gratitude Journals at CHDC 42nd Street

How do you paint gratitude? At the September 8th Arts & Dreams workshop at W 42nd Street, artists mulled over their appreciation for the wonderful things in their lives as they painted. Everyone got a blank journal and created something uniquely beautiful and inspiring to them -- a special place to express thankfulness, hopes, fears, dreams and whatever else their heart desires. Thank you to CHDC and everyone at Cultivate Hell's Kitchen NY for another workshop in our series with Clinton Housing residents.

Rest in peace and power, Louise Hay

Rest in peace and power, Louise Hay. She went from a victim of childhood abandonment and abuse to a teacher of self-love, forgiveness and empowerment. Built an empire of empowerment.

Self-love author, educator, publisher. Louise's teachings about self-love, forgiveness and mirror work inspired the creation of Arts & Dreams. She was a miracle worker of empowerment.

A few years ago, Arts & Dreams received a grant from Louise's Hay Foundation. She supported healing in love and hope through making art. She supported Arts & Dreams workshops.

In 2016, the Arts & Dreams book for children, Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams, was published by Balboa Press, a division of Louise's publishing company Hay House.

The idea that we can change ourselves, one loving thought and action at a time, by changing how we treat ourselves in our minds, is revolutionary. And it's and idea that is growing every day, throughout the world. 

What new world are we all creating because we choose to love ourselves, forgive ourselves and others, and treat ourselves kindly? Can't wait to find out. 

Thank you, dear Louise. "Life loves you."

Collaging for the Soul at CHDC 42nd Street

Arts & Dreams collage workshop on August 18, 2017, with folks at Clinton Housing 42nd Street in New York City. The art of collaging images, words and themes that inspire us to feel self-love and hope, using acrylic glossy medium on stretched canvas, is collaging for the soul!

Affirmation Paintings with CHDC/Clinton Housing 42nd St

With the lovely people at Clinton Housing 42nd Street, we explored the power of positive messages to self, personally selected and hand painted using acrylics on stretched canvas. Something so simple as an encouraging phrase, a collection of uplifting words, combined with the soothing action of applying paint, brought stress-relief and relaxation to carry into the next moment, and the next. Wonderful affirmation paintings. Thank you Cultivate Hell's Kitchen for making this workshop series possible.

Watercolor Affirmation Paintings with CHDC / Cultivate Hell's Kitchen

Watercolor paints on paper, with sharpied affirmations on top. The power of play, painting designs and images, and then meditating on meaningful phrases to inscribe, brought a peaceful vibe to the room during this workshop on July 7, 2017 in a Clinton Housing building in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City, made possible by Cultivate Hell's Kitchen.

Gratitude Journals with CHDC Cultivate Hell's Kitchen 30th St

Participating artists painted inspired designs and affirmations on their new gratitude journals. Everyone wrote a list of ten things for which they're grateful, and discussed how they felt focusing on appreciation, and committing those things to paper. Arts & Dreams Gratitude Journal Workshop June 16, 2017 in New York City with CHDC Cultivate Hell's Kitchen 30th Street.

Mixed Media Collage with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen / Clinton Housing

It was a beautiful June afternoon collaging dreamy images and applying acrylic paint and matte medium texture. In this week's part of a series of Arts & Dreams workshops with residents of Clinton Housing on 30th Street made possible by Cultivate Hell's Kitchen, we experienced the calming joy of working with layers of inspiring photos and phrases clipped from magazines, affixed in a pleasing composition onto stretched canvases. Collaging for the soul!

Gratitude Journals at Children's Museum of the Arts

It was wonderful to be invited back to Children's Museum of the Arts and participate in Family Day, an annual fundraiser. Arts & Dreams shared the gift of thankfulness with a Gratitude Journal station. Children and their parents created handmade journals, bound by rubber bands, and decorated them with glitter glue and markers. Inside we wrote down and drew pictures of things we are grateful for, and had a blast doing it.

Affirmation Paintings with Clinton Housing 30th St

Attendees of this workshop with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen at Clinton Housing 30th Street painted hopeful affirmation art on stretched canvas. Inspired by their individual accomplishments, personal choices, uplifting beliefs, and Louise Hay's power thoughts cards, each artist created hand-painted reminders of love.

PS 111's 5th Annual Mother Daughter Celebration

Wonderful morning at PS 111's 5th Annual Mother Daughter breakfast. We talked about growing up -- changes in our bodies and in our emotions. How to give ourselves the love we want. How to start speaking with more kindness to ourselves, and into a mirror. How to find and use our special talents. Everyone got a copy of "Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams." We celebrated ourselves and our mothers for Mothers' Day. Such a pleasure to be a part of it! - Laura Baran, co-founder of Arts & Dreams

Watercolor Affirmation Paintings at CHDC's Block Party

It was a beautiful afternoon making free empowering art at CHDC's Block Party in Hell's Kitchen! Watercolors, sharpie markers, and a lot of love. Thanks for the invitation, Cultivate HKNY.

Creating Gratitude Journals with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen/Clinton Housing

Expressing gratitude brings the focus to appreciation, and to things that feel good. Gratitude can soften our hearts. Tenants and staff of Clinton Housing Development wrote gratitude lists and decorated new journals, creating hand-painted art on the covers.  

Tote bags: Expressive Fabric Painting with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen/Clinton Housing

With residents and staff of Clinton Housing, we expressed our dreams and hopes through painting on fabric tote bags. The key to painting on a canvas tote bag is to keep a cardboard insert inside the bag, directly underneath the painted area. We used kraft manilla folders and they worked great. Meaningful, inspired spring-and-Easter-themed creations emerged -- functional art that relays an uplifting message.

Collaging with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen

The goal of this workshop was to explore the healing power of collaging on stretched canvas, working with inspiring images, text, craft materials and acrylic paints. Residents and staff crafted personal works of art to express themselves, in partnership with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen and the Clinton Housing Development Company. 

Affirmation Paintings with Cultivate Hell's Kitchen

Wonderful afternoon sharing stories and making hopeful art with residents and staff as part of arts programming at Clinton Housing Development Company/Cultivate HK.

Affirmation Paintings for Qurin's Birthday Party

Welcoming a new year for Qurin, who loves to draw, with an Arts & Dreams party at her grandfather's home in the Bronx. Beautiful artwork was created by Qurin and her family and friends!

Photos by Keisha Molby-Baez

Watch Laura on CUNY TV's Independent Sources!

My interview on Independent Sources, a CUNY TV show, is online!

I discuss Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams and why empowerment through art and self-love is so personal and important to me.

Thanks for watching! Your support of Arts & Dreams made this possible.

How to Use a Mirror to Love Yourself

Mirrors reveal a lot about the way we think about ourselves. 

We tend to have so much negative chatter in our heads that often we don't recognize self-love over the same stream of thoughts happening, especially when we're looking in the mirror.

Looking into our own eyes and saying something loving is important. In this video we show you how to do it.

Oh, and if you can't bring yourself to say "I love you," just say "I'm willing to love you," or "Hi," with a smile.

Taking a second just once a day to say something loving into your own eyes in a mirror will help you to form a new habit of kindness and respect. 

The better we feel about ourselves, the more our lives improve. 

In our brand new book Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams, Aunt Olive introduces this concept to her 9-year-old niece Rose, who has been struggling with the way she thinks about herself. 

To celebrate our book launch, Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams is available now on the Arts & Dreams website for only $10!

When you order now through August 10th, you'll save $3.95 from the list price of $13.95.

Enter the promo code "summer" at check out

In the comments section, let us know if you practice saying loving words into your own eyes in a mirror.

• Any feelings come up that you'd like to share?
• How has your life changed since taking on his new practice of self love?

Big hugs,

Laura & Patricia

How to Create a Gratitude Journal

An easy, fun way to make your life more hopeful using creativity is to use a gratitude journal.
When we make gratitude journals with children and teens in Arts & Dreams workshops they take to it right away. Young people instantly get the importance of being thankful.
In this video, we show you how to create a gratitude journal for yourself using acrylic paints.

There's always something to be grateful for. Take a few moments to stop and write them down. 
Small, big, and everything in between. The practice of gratitude is transformational.

Gratitude journaling is an art project we share in Arts & Dreams workshops and it's also featured in our new book for children, Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams.
The book is about Rose, a 9 year old Brooklynite who has lost hope in her dreams, and learns how to feel better using art.

Buy a copy for only $10 now through 8/10 (down from $13.95) using the code "summer" at check out.

Leave a comment below and share with us --

• Do you have a place to write gratitude lists?
• Have you made your own gratitude journal?
• How has practicing gratitude impacted your life?

Happy gratitude journaling! 

Thank you for being you,
Laura Baran and Patricia Geremia
Co-Founders, Arts & Dreams
and Co-Authors, Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams

How to make an affirmation painting

We are thrilled to announce that our brand new book for children is here!  
Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams tells the story of a nine year old Brooklynite named Rose who hasn't been feeling so good about herself or her dreams.
Rose's Aunt Olive comes to visit, bringing art projects and tools to show Rose how to begin practicing self love.
One of those art projects is a making an affirmation painting.
In this video, we walk you through how to make your own!
(Be sure to scroll down for a special offer!)

Making an affirmation painting is its own gift. The act of creating is calming. And when we make something beautiful with a positive statement on it, it lifts us up every time we see it.

To celebrate the launch of our brand new book, we're making Rose's Summer of Arts & Dreams available on our website for only $10!

When you order now through August 10th, you'll save $3.95 from the list price of $13.95.

Use promo code "summer"

Enter the promo code "summer" at check out!

Do you use positive affirmations? Have you ever created an affirmation painting?

Please share your story. Leave a comment below!

With gratitude and love,

Laura Baran and Patricia Geremia
Co-Founders of Arts & Dreams
and Co-Authors!