Painting as meditation
Process painting has a meditative quality, and is a powerful tool for changing negative patterns, breaking through creative blocks, healing art wounds, or simply to get the juices flowing in other creative life endeavors. Often, images will mysteriously appear before you. Images which hint at what the future holds - much as dreams often do. Since this is a non-verbal form of creative self -expression, painting for process (not product) frees you from a linear mind set.

It's like taking a vacation from your mind.

Who will benefit?
How often have you said to yourself, 'I want to get into my creative work, but I don't have time,' or 'Someday I'll get my creative juices back.'

Are you afraid that your artwork won't look right? Or that you'll be disappointed if you can't paint something beautiful? Do you think you'd like to try your hand at something creative, but feel you don't have talent, or just don't know where to begin? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then process painting is for you.

Getting started
Your session at the studio will be facilitated by Karen Lehrer, founder of Ambianz Studio. You will be gently guided throughout the session. The truly wonderful thing about process painting is that there are no rules. There is no right or wrong. You will gain insight about yourself. The experience is very freeing and satisfying. It's all about you and your unique personal process.

My mission is to accompany you on a personal journey, using paint and paper as tools to access the non-linear part of your brain. New insights are accessed by engaging with the non-dominant part of your brain. You will likely see images appear which come from deep within you - images which depict aspects of yourself, reflect your issues, patterns, habits, concerns, challenges and joys. As you paint, you will discover your own visual vocabulary, which will expand and deepen over time. Fresh insights are accessed as the practice develops.
- Karen

Karen Lehrer is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California and an artist.
License # MFC 35957

Individuals:
Individual sessions: A wonderful way to work with your own inner images, dreams, or goals. No art experience necessary.

Groups:
Weekly studio time is available for small groups.
Bring your friends! No art experience necessary.

Psychotherapy trainees and interns:
Special groups for exploration of your
personal process. Gain BBS personal or group therapy hours - or training hours - as you explore your personal process. No art experience necessary.

* Introduction to Process Painting
* Symbolic Drawing and Painting
* Paint Your Process
* Paint Your Dreams
* Visual Active Imagination
* Facing Your Inner Critic

* Mapping the Inner Journey
in Santa Barbara, & Big Sur California & Santa Fe, New Mexico

What others have said about this experience:

"I was so absorbed in the painting process - three hours slipped away before I knew it."
- Dr. S.

"Karen's studio was very comfortable and inviting. I painted with whatever colors attracted my attention, and made shapes and gestures spontaneously. Gradually a situation in my life emerged in the images. Some strong emotions arose. Through talking with Karen about what was coming up for me, I discovered some new things about this issue in my life. Following some of Karen's suggestions (and my own ideas) I was able to use the painting process to re-imagine my situation and bring in some of the elements that were missing. I was lacking strong boundaries with someone and was able to paint a very clear, thick, powerful boundary. I was able to embellish parts of myself (symbolized in the painting) that were neglected. Through making visual changes on the paper, I felt internal changes happening... I left the session in a very different state than when I started. The painting hangs in my home and continues to retrigger that new sense of myself and my ability to have strong boundaries."
- Anonymous

"My process painting with Karen was eye opening. I knew I was struggling with major writing blocks in my work. But when the very same blocks came to the fore while I was painting, I was surprised. With Karen's guidance, I gained deeper access to the paralyzing perfectionism that was going on with me. It was fun and freeing, cathartic and therapeutic, all at the same time."
- Michelle Deen, psychotherapist and writer