PeaceLove Studios

Creating the “Getting Better” mini book

PeaceLove — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:50:52 +0000

Getting Better is an 18 page mini book that features three captivating stories from PeaceLove founder Jeffrey Sparr. Through an innovative blend of photography, illustration and Jeff’s own words, Getting Better gives an inside look at living with OCD, finding relief through art, and the experience of sharing the healing power of art with others.

The process of creating the mini book began with sifting through piles of Jeff’s notes for the right stories. With Jeff’s years of unbelievable experiences, it was no small task to choose these three. “BAD” is a powerful look inside Jeff’s mind during an OCD attack, showing how difficult and debilitating it can be. We used a dark color palette, mainly shades of grey with small touches of red for emphasis. Since Jeff’s attacks make it difficult for him to enjoy everyday activities, we used faded out photos as a backdrop to display the text.

Moving to the next story, “ZONE”, Jeff talks about how painting brought him peace of mind and relief from his OCD. To mirror this transition in the book, the color palette for this story changes from dark to bright colors. Jeff’s artwork is full of energy and color, and it was a natural backdrop for this hope-filled story.

Finally, the “NATHAN” story shifts the focus from Jeff to one of his young mentees and shows how art can change lives. We used artwork created by Nathan to set the tone for this story, and kept the color palette bright and warm.

Throughout the book, we used a lot of hand-drawn lettering to emphasize the personal voice that Jeff uses. The beginning and ending pages of the book are filled with words and illustrations selected from the stories.

Getting Better is available for purchase in our store; each one is hand-embellished and signed on the back cover.

Jeff Sparr at TEDxPublicStreet

PeaceLove — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:26:40 +0000

This past January PeaceLove Artist and Co-founder Jeff Sparr took the stage at TEDxPublicStreet and shared his story of recovery and how creativity and painting have positively impacted his life. Jeff explained to the audience what it was like to live with OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, and provided insight on how his illness attempts to rob him every step of the way, every day. Jeff will tell you he’s one of the lucky ones though….great wife, great kids, great friends, and great doctors combined with medicine have allowed him to thrive despite his debilitating OCD. Even with an incredible network of supportive people in his life Jeff needed “more” to relax and find the peace of mind that he so desperately longed for. That’s when he found painting. 17 years ago, desperate for a release from his anxiety and mental anguish, Jeff stopped at a art supply store on the way home from work and decided to try to learn how to paint. Jeff has become the self proclaimed “Forrest Gump” of painting, just like Forrest didn’t stop running Jeff hasn’t stopped painting. This new found love of the arts would transform Jeff’s life and lead him on a path to teacher, mentor, story teller and advocate. Not despite his illness but because of his illness Jeff is uniquely qualified as a self-taught artist, entrepreneur and mental illness sufferer to articulate and communicate a message of hope and a creative vision for making a difference in peoples lives. Jeff left the audience with one final thought and story, “….don’t be scared to dream big, don’t be scared to follow your dreams…because each and everyone of us can make a difference in the world.”

Watch Jeff’s TEDxPublicStreet Talk now!

Faces of PeaceLove: Matt

PeaceLove — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:00:29 +0000

The PeaceLove Community is a wonderfully diverse group of artists and mental health advocates, each of whom has an important story to share. Today we introduce you to Matt Yopak. Matt worked as an intern at PeaceLove, helping us move projects like the 26% Project and PeaceLove Live! forward. Currently Matt is studying art therapy at Leslie College and participates with us when he is home visiting. In Matt’s own words, “I began using art as my own personal therapy at a very young age when I started my battle with depression. It was a way to tell the world what was going on in my head when words failed to get the job done. Ever since I was a child I loved to create artwork and that ended up being my saving grace throughout the years. It was an outlet for me, a short escape from the depression that lurked in my mind. My art helped share my story to the world and show others what it felt like to fight with depression. Now, I am working on becoming an Art Therapist so I can use art to help others the way that it helped me. To this day I continue to create new pieces of art not only for myself but for others so that they too can hopefully see what I have gone through and know that it is possible to reach a better place.”

Faces of PeaceLove: Natasha

PeaceLove — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:00:49 +0000

The PeaceLove Community is a wonderfully diverse group of artists and mental health advocates, each of whom has an important story to share.

This month we introduce you to Natasha, one of our PeaceLove artists.

“I’ve had anxiety and depression since I was 5 years old. I have found that PeaceLove helps ease my troubles.

Art is defined to me as a creation of beauty and everybody has the skills for it. In art there is no right or wrong answer. You just have to let your mind go free and when this happens you feel as if “POOF” all your troubles are gone. When you let your self go free on paper you will feel all at ease.”

Faces of PeaceLove: Gloria

PeaceLove — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 14:00:47 +0000

The PeaceLove Community is wonderfully diverse group of artists and mental health advocates, each of whom has an important story to share. Today we introduce you to Gloria Jean Hareld. Gloria brings laughter into the studio every time she comes through the door. She eagerly volunteers her artistic talents for a variety of projects. Be sure to look for Gloria’s paintings in the raffle at the Get Your PeaceLove On! event in May!

In Gloria’s own words, “I cannot remember a time in my life when I wasn’t drawing. It is not only something that I love to do, but something that I must do.

PeaceLove is a way for me to express what it is like to live with a mental illness. My drawings are an expression of feelings about my heatlh and a way of showing people what it’s like to suffer from depression. Sometimes when thoughts are racing frantically in my head, drawing is the only thing that can silence those thoughts. When I am drawing, my mind empties and my body calms. For me it is a form of meditation.”

Happy Holidays from PeaceLove

PeaceLove — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:06:50 +0000

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday from PeaceLove!

Snowmen and Sleighbells

PeaceLove — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 20:47:39 +0000

“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”

― C.G. Jung

This past sARTurday, the expressive artists of PeaceLove Studios engaged in a multi-modal experience using drums and bells, paints and other imaging materials, and movement.

The beating of the drums and the resonance of the bells accompanied us on our purposeful journey within the studio space, and evoked the feeling of freshly-fallen snow under our feet. And from this journey our images emerged.

A Walrus in a purple tutu advanced briskly towards a skeptical snowman. Llamas and babies strode down a snowy slope, as brightly-colored presents and candy canes bounced to and fro. The horse’s mane reflected the fine powder of the snowy scene, as his thick, sturdy legs pulled the ancient wooden sleigh.

Ultimately, these images took on life as their creators shared the sounds of their scenes. And we, the riders of the sleigh helped witness to their newfound existence—merrily and triumphantly, echoing their voices.

Faces of PeaceLove: Jennifer

PeaceLove — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:00:19 +0000

The PeaceLove Community is a wonderfully diverse group of artists and mental health advocates, each of whom has an important story to share. Today we introduce you to Jennifer Heroux. Jennifer joins us during Open Studio time most weeks for creative expression. We love witnessing her creativity and smile.

In Jennifer’s own words, “I enjoy coming to Peace Love Studios because it’s a place where I can practice my artistic abilities. I feel both welcome and valued here. Painting helps me cope with my symptoms and makes me feel happy. I don’t feel judged by anyone when I am here.”

Transformation Collages at Bradley Hospital

PeaceLove — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:10:56 +0000

At one of our recent workshops at Bradley Hospital, the adolescents were asked to draw a representation of something in their life they wanted to change. After acknowledging it on paper, each was asked to think about what might help that thing to change. Then we ripped up the drawings and created a new image from the pieces to represent what was needed to make the change.

I’ve been having a hard time at school. I don’t even really go anymore. But I want to go back and be able to graduate. So I drew a picture of my high school to represent the thing I want to change in my life. Then when I ripped it up, I made it into me looking happy. The windows of the school are my teeth in my smile and the blacktop is my hair. It makes me hopeful that I’m going to get better and be able to go back to school.

I made this because of something bad that happened to me last year. My trust was broken. The orange is for trust and the green and black is for me. The open spaces of yellow left uncovered by the pieces is the trust I need to work on. I used a lot of glue. At first I didn’t like the feeling of it on my fingers. But then it felt good…like I was putting me back together again. I liked it so much I started finger painting with the glue on top of the pieces. When it dries it will be super strong. Giving it to you is me starting to trust people again.

I liked ripping up the paper. I get very upset sometimes and I wanna change it so I’m peaceful. So I made a peace sign out of my anxieties. I plan to keep it in my room to remember the peace I feel now.

It was transforming to throw paper in the air. First I drew my anger and depression. After I ripped it up it was like changing my life and I felt a lot better. Then I made a happy place and spelled the word FORGET. It was really cool releasing old emotions and bringing in the new ones. I don’t keep stuff like this but I’m actually gonna keep this as a remembrance of ripping the pain away from my life.

Faces of PeaceLove: April

PeaceLove — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:48:28 +0000

The PeaceLove Community is a wonderfully diverse group of artists and mental health advocates, each of whom has an important story to share. Today we introduce you to April, one of our PeaceLove artists.

“I am a 35 year old artist living with mental illness. Doing my artwork makes me deal with my illness a lot easier. It helps me deal with the community easier. My art portrays my feelings -whether they are good, bad, happy or sad, instead of acting out with negative behavior, I can enjoy these feelings and new self with new friends.”