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Transformational Self Portrait Art Therapy Activity
This activity is based on the idea of transformational therapy and art therapy for life changes. People tend to go through many changes and transformations in life. These changes can really run the gamut, but it’s important to reflect on our experiences and how they affect one’s self…whether it be our self-esteem or self-image, our self-confidence or self-doubt, our mental and emotional health, etc.
Coming Up With the Concept
Think of an experience or event from your past that still has a negative impact on your life today. It could be something big or small, recent or long ago. Think about what happened, how the event(s) played out, and how it affects you today. Feel free to write your thoughts down if you want. Now think about what you would like to change about yourself as a result of that negative experience. It could be a transformation related to your self-esteem, self-confidence, mental/emotional state, etc.
Getting Started
Now that you’ve thought about your past experience, how it has affected you today, and how you want to change, you can focus on putting your creative juices to work! As you may have guessed by the title, you’re going to create a self-portrait. This will be a little different than the typical self-portrait though. For this art therapy activity, you will be creating a transformational self-portrait mural. This can be a painting, drawing, collage, whatever you want. You can use any materials you’d like in any combination. Don’t feel like you have to restrict yourself…creativity is encouraged!
The First Piece of the Transformational Self Portrait Art
Based on the concept you devised above, the first piece of the transformational self portrait you will create will be based on the experience that negatively impacted your life and caused a negative transformation or life change to your “self.” Remember, you are creating a self portrait, so this first piece will be a self-portrait based on how you were in the past as a result of the experience. Think back to when you had your negative experience and how you felt when it happened. You can create a self-portrait based on the details of the experience/event, or you can create something based on one aspect of the experience that might be the source of the negative impact, or you can make the first piece an overall reflection of your “self” at that time.
The Second Piece of the Transformational Self Portrait Art
The second piece you will create will be another self-portrait, but it will more of a traditional self-portrait in the sense that your creation will reflect your “self” as you are today. The caveat of this being that it should reflect how you are today because of the negative experience mentioned above.
The Final Piece of the Transformational Self Portrait Art
The third, and final piece of your transformational self-portrait, as you may have figured out by now, is the piece that looks toward the future. Similar to the recent “Future Self Portrait” activity, this particular activity doesn’t have to be a reflection of the immediate future or any specific date. Step outside yourself as much as possible for this and think about how you WANT to be, about how you WANT to change your “self” because of your past negative experience. Think about how you see your “self” in the future after you’ve transformed. Create a self-portrait of this ideal future self.
The Transformational Self Portrait - Putting It All Together
Look at your 3 pieces and put them together to see your final product. Look at what you’ve created and see if you can notice elements in your creation that reflect the transformation that occurred and the transformation you want to happen. And now that you’ve created an image of your ideal future self, you can work on becoming the image you created. Certainly, this is easier said than done, but hopefully this will be a good start, and a reminder, to work on your future transformation!
Filed as Art Therapy Activities | Comments (10)10 Responses to “Transformational Self Portrait Art Therapy Activity”
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What age group is this art activity targeted for? What about younger kids? Can they grasp this “transformational” concept and be able to put it on paper? Just curious. Thanks!
Jane
@Jane: I think it depends on the kids. You may have to explain the concept in a different way, but generally speaking if they are self-aware and understand the concept of time (past, present, future), then they should be able to perform the activity with the proper guidance.
[...] will decorate crucifixes in a mixed media manner on 6/3/09 and on 8/26/09 I will try a bit of the Transformational Self Portrait art you described here on the site. I will use a technique known as thumb doodles where I’ll [...]
Yeah..a simpler subject-matter such as dolls or balls may works better with younger children.
However, the verbal explanation need to be given a careful consideration as i find the concept the transformation itself is rather a bit too abstract for children of younger age. They are responsive upon concrete examples within their environments.
I really love this activity and think it could be very beneficial to some of the clients I work with, I have an MSW, but only took one intensive art therapy course, do you think this activity would be effective with adolescents who were victims of sexual abuse?
I like the way the activity flows from the past events in someones life to the future, that way a person can see what all they have gone through in their life. I work with drug & alcohol addicted adults. Do you have any more art therapy activities that would be good for them.
I would love to use the activity in my women’s therapy group. Do you have any suggestions for question discussion after the activity? Thanks
Hi
i need help…where can i find new art terapy exercise for kids?? 
thank you
HI, I am German and got introduced to art therapy during my recent trauma therapy.
If you care to click over to my blog I worked my way through these transformationals self portraits. I dont know how to submit all posts and paintings. However if you care to publish them, feel free to contact me.
Never thought that art therapy would help me so much. Now I am recovering one image at atime.
Thanks again, Paula
in response to:
Joe on December 10, 2009 8:03 am
“I like the way the activity flows from the past events in someones life to the future, that way a person can see what all they have gone through in their life. I work with drug & alcohol addicted adults. Do you have any more art therapy activities that would be good for them”
This is a very effective and amazing project for people of all ages and situations to work with, I myself have used this concept in my own work ( being a visual artist ) one thing i have noticed with others I have seen doing this is sometimes depending on the event in their past this can be a troubling task, with any sexually abused person child or not, things can get rough when visualizing past memories. I may try to alter the first step in these cases, to avoid this.
That being said, I believe it is really dependent on the individual. Some may find this vary helpful, my girlfriend for instance is an artist as well as survivor of sexual abuse as a child, even though those memories are a rough spot for her to go to, seeing her work i believe that it always finds its way back. And in some way it truely helps her.
I hope this helps somewhat, I am working currently on a thesis, on different art therapy projects and I will be studying closely how each one helps different groups so I will keep these findings posted as they come.