Activity 2 : Landscapes of my changes

• Addressing problems and issues 
• Engaging in self-development 
• Dealing with change

Paint, paper, brushes

The art-therapy technique “Landscape of my changes” helps learners to see the process of change from a side, to deal with it, to prepare for it. Landscape is an image of an area (literal translation), a view of an area.

Ask participants to draw their subjective feelings about the word "change". Explain that they can use concrete images or abstract strokes, lines or doodles to express how the word "change" feels in the age they are in. Maybe this word for them has some kind of anxiety, maybe excitement and adrenaline. Ask them to try to transfer this now in colours, forms and pay attention to the feelings they have when you are working on the image of change. It is desirable to paint with paints, but you can use pencils, crayons are better, they are softer. 

Now set the “change” image aside and continue working with the "my landscapes" technique. 

Ask participants to draw 4 stages of the landscape (each on a separate paper): 

-Stage of Pleasure (comfort zone): what I have every day without change, I am used to it comfortably, but what I wanted to change long ago but cannot let go yet, I have wanted it for a long time but do not have the strength for. 

-Stage of Denial (holding area): what I don't want to let go, it's hard for me, I drag and complain, but I don't want to change (for different reasons). One reason is fear (what I have I know, what if the new one comes is something better? What if it's going to be worse?) 

- Stage of Confusion (zone of chaos) The old has outlived itself and the new has not yet arrived. Not worked out, but I can already see or imagine what I want . But the steps - when? How will it all be? While changes are taking place, new beliefs, new understanding, new behaviour and new surroundings are taking shape. In essence a new structure is being created around you. It is a time of chaos. (For me it's a meltdown, when grains of gold can be picked out of all the "chaos”. It's a beautiful time of transformation. It's the time to find out what's important and valuable to me).

-Stage of Renewal. My vision of an awareness of the new me or a renewal in general, what is important for me. Why this technique is given - to enter the process of change at a symbolic level, in the process of change and to observe myself through all these "landscapes" of change. Draw landscapes: 1 landscape of Pleasure 2 landscape of Denial 3 landscape of Confusion 4 landscape of Renewal. Draw landscapes and listen to your body feelings and thoughts that arise. It may be written on the sheet where you draw. 

Then at the end, take the "change" image and see if you want to change something, redraw, add colour, etc. 

Reflect on the experience either with all the group together or dividing the participants in pairs.

Variations

The technique "my landscapes" can be used without the technique "my changes". 

Source: Oksana Rotman

What have you created? Give a title to your work. Individually or as a whole.

What thoughts, feelings did you have while creating your work?

What do you feel now as you look at your work?

What landscape was easiest for you to interact with?

Which landscape has caused you the most difficulty? What does it look like in real life?

What was unusual for you, unexpected in the process of creating landscapes?

What habitual behaviours, beliefs did you discover in the process?

What new behaviours, beliefs are important for you to note for further development?

What experiences of the Renewal Landscape can you use in real life?

What is the first step you can take towards Renewal?

It is an exercise that is performed individually, hence it can be realised with people of different ages. However, it is not recommended to do this exercise with little children.