Blog Stories.Topics. Inspiration. Prompts.
The AP Connections Blog was started to create a connecting and shared creative space on my website for those interested in art and art therapy where art stories, prompts and ideas, general art therapy information and self care suggestions could inspire and engage others in their creative journeys. Welcome post and invitation to share stories. List of stories and topics below.
Information provided in this blog is for creative exploration, reflection, general learning and self care only.
✿ AP CONNECTIONS BLOG • Blog Listing. Titles A to Z. 〰 This page provides an alphabetical listing and archive to help you revisit all previous posts.
✿ ART THERAPY • Blog Listing. Art Therapy Resources 〰 An art therapy resource page for art therapists. Let’s connect through the sharing of art, information, reflections and stories. Overview of art therapy topics as well as additional resource links are provided. Recent art therapy posts can be found here. Creativity and Aging/LTC Resource Listing here.
✿ CONTRIBUTORS • Artist and storytellers who have shared stories are listed here if you would like to connect with them further around their creative endeavours and stories. Recent stories can be found under stories and makers and creators tabs.
✿ Antigonight Art After Dark. Kellie and Maggie Kat. 〰 KELLIE & MAGGIE ANDERSON 〰 sharing film festival project
✿ An Unfolding Revolution toward Widespread Flourishing 〰 PATRICIA KI • response art from first year coursework in Critical Disability Studies
✿ Body of Wisdom. Jacquie. 〰 JACQUIE COMPTON 〰 art and poetry book
✿ Creating Community in Times of Uncertainty 〰 TANIA SANTER • sharing her art in the pandemic
✿ Every Creation Starts with an Armature. Kellie. 〰 KELLIE ANDERSON • wire sculptures & armatures 2024
✿ Gillian’s Exhibition - As Above, So Below 〰 GILLIAN KING 〰 painting & exhibition
✿ Going ‘Rogue’ and Paying it Forward 〰 KELLIE ANDERSON • STORY • art and film
✿ Heather’s Miniatures 〰 HEATHER JOHNSTON • painted miniatures
✿ HeartArt. Jill. 〰 JILL HEWLETT • STORY • heart paintings
✿ Hope Squared Part 1 〰 SHARA MCLAREN 〰 mixed-media art & community exhibition
✿ Hope Squared Part 2 〰 APRIL ART • mixed-media art & community exhibition
✿ Inspiration|Exhalation: Breath-Taking-Time and The Space Within Us 〰 SUSAN BENISTON 〰 art installation
✿ Lisa’s Gratitude Journal 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journal art
✿ Mason’s Story. islandmanfoto. 〰 MASON LAVER 〰 photography
✿ My Life Summed Up into 15 Tiny Pieces. 〰 TANIA SANTER • painting reflections
✿ Twisty Tree Dee 〰 DEE STOREY 〰 jewelry and art school reflections
✿ My Zentangle Storey 〰 LAUREL STOREY 〰 Zentangle drawing
✿ Today I Am an Art Therapy Student. Luke. • LUKE GUSTAFSON • response art and poetry 2024
✿ engAGE Living Lab Créatif. The Story. 〰 ENGAGE LIVING LAB 〰 sharing the evolution of this Concordia University project & art hives
✿ Inspiration|Exhalation: Breath-Taking-Time and The Space Within Us 〰 SUSAN BENISTON 〰 sharing community project and art hive roots
✿ My Journey to Art Hives. 〰 CYNTHIA MORIN 〰 art hive journey
✿ Butterfly Bereavement Project. Aldona. 〰 awareness days NOVEMBER 〰 ALDONNA MORRISON • sharing this community bereavement project with 4000 participants✿ Global Dignity Day 〰 awareness day OCTOBER • NEWS
✿ Honouring, Remembering and Sharing ALL Stories. 〰 awareness day NOVEMBER • Remembrance, Awareness and Eco-Art 2023
✿ Mayworks Festival of Working People & the Arts. 〰 awareness day MAY • NEWS
✿ Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 〰 awareness day SEPTEMBER • AP Reflections from LTC Group 2024
✿ Pocket Full of Questions. 〰 PATRICIA KI + VIRGINIA 〰 awareness • art therapy resource 2022
✿ Supporting Indigenous Art, Learning & Initiatives 〰 awareness • MULTIPLE SOURCES
✿ When I Heard the Recent Horrific News. Response Art 〰 awareness • FYRE JEAN GRAVELINE • response art for the Wheat Memorial Gallery 2022
✿ World Creativity and Innovation Week. 2023. 〰 awareness APRIL • NEWS 2023
✿ OATA: Why OATA? Shared Reflections. 〰 awareness • Reflections: Why an association matters. 2023
✿ Expressive Heart-Art. 〰 collective art post
✿ Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found 〰 collective art post
✿ I AM. Collective Sharing. 〰 collective art post
✿ Words That Guide Us 〰 multiple participants 〰 words & quotes story with prompts
✿ Antigonight Art After Dark. Kellie and Maggie Kat. 〰 KELLIE & MAGGIE ANDERSON • sharing film festival project
✿ engAGE Living Lab Créatif. The Story. 〰 ENGAGE LIVING LAB • sharing evolution of this Concordia University project & art hives
✿ Going ‘Rogue’ and Paying it Forward 〰 KELLIE ANDERSON • STORY • art and film - Rogue Wave Films
✿ Inspiration|Exhalation: Breath-Taking-Time and The Space Within Us 〰 SUSAN BENISTON • Nuit Blanche Art Installation
✿ Message in a Bottle 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • community hospice art project
✿ Nature & Urban Studios. Exploring Identity. 〰 APRIL • Reflections from WATC Ecological Models
✿ The Fairy Door Project 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • sharing a community art project in the pandemic
✿ The Hatching of A Seaside Art House 〰 KELLIE ANDERSON • community gallery story
✿ Safe Space for Ukrainian Refugees. 〰 HANNAH SHEREBRIN • Hannah shares her community project
✿ Supportive Hands. A Connecting and Creative Legacy Project. 〰 APRIL • sharing a LTC community art therapy story
✿ ‘Supportive Hands’... The Origin Story. 〰 APRIL • sharing a community project with my LTC colleagues 2024
✿ Expressive Heart-Art. 〰 collective art post
✿ Golden Autumn Moments in My Garden Sanctuary. 〰 APRIL • an autumn eco-art and gratitude story
✿ Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found 〰 collective art post 2022
✿ Gratitude Hearts. Andrea. 〰 ANDREA NEUFELD • STORY • found heart-art
✿ HeartArt. Jill. 〰 JILL HEWLETT • STORY • art
✿ Lisa’s Gratitude Journal + Loving Kindness 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
… the importance of connecting through creativity and legacy art
✿ A Safe Space for Creativity & Wellness. 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • art therapy in hospice
✿ Butterfly Bereavement Project. Aldona. 〰 ALDONNA MORRISON • sharing this community bereavement project with 4000 participants
✿ Grief and Gratitude. Intersections. 〰 AP ART THERAPY REFLECTION 2025
✿ Hope Squared Part 1 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • mixed-media pandemic art story
✿ Message in a Bottle 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • community hospice art project
✿ Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 〰 AP Reflections from LTC Group 2024
✿ ReMatriation for heARTivists. Circle of Indigenous Healing Arts. Response Art. 〰 APRIL • response art for Symposium Workshop
✿ Today I Am an Art Therapy Student. Luke. • LUKE GUSTAFSON • response art and poetry 2024
✿ When I Heard the Recent Horrific News. Response Art 〰 FYRE JEAN GRAVELINE • response art for the Wheat Memorial Gallery
… connecting stories and specialty arts project from LTC settings
✿ ‘A Creative Connections Story’ 〰 MEGHAN & APRIL
✿ Art & Horticultural Therapy. A Creative Collaboration.〰 APRIL & JENNY MCSPADDEN • LTC collaboration of Art & Horticultural Therapy
✿ Connecting Hands 〰 APRIL • a LTC reflections story
✿ Creativity as We Age. Art as Connection. 〰 COLLECTIVE reflections • sharing the value of creativity as we age 2024
✿ Creativity in Community. Celebrating Seniors Month. 〰 AP • STORY • sharing a creativity afternoon project in LTC 2024
✿ Grief and Gratitude. Intersections. 〰 AP ART THERAPY REFLECTION 2025
✿ My Grandma Sings: A Journey Through Dementia to Long-Term Care 〰 ANDREA FRAY-BOWEN • LTC book story
✿ Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 〰 AP• Reflections from LTC Nature-Themed Group 2024
✿ Percy • Therapy Dog. 〰 MELANIE SHULMAN • Percy’s story as therapy companion
✿ Roxy Art Group Mascot 〰 APRIL • sharing a little story about pet therapy
✿ Supportive Hands. A Connecting and Creative Legacy Project. 〰 APRIL • sharing a community art therapy story
✿ ‘Supportive Hands’... The Origin Story. 〰 APRIL + JUDY BARCELOS • sharing a community project with my LTC colleagues 2024
✿ What Kind of shoe are you? 〰 APRIL + SANDRA RUHL • a LTC story from the Scented-Art program collaboration
… eco-art - nature as inspiration - and mindful moments
✿ Art & Horticultural Therapy. A Creative Collaboration.〰 APRIL + JENNY MCSPADDEN • using art and nature to engage LTC residents
✿ Autumn Rhythms, Co-Creation, Time and Transformation. 〰 APRIL • creative prompt with transformation story
✿ Connecting Circles 〰 APRIL • my 2021 eco-art project
✿ Earth Day at Amica 2023. April & Heather. 〰 eco-art APRIL + HEATHER JOHNSTON • engaging RH residents in nature-based art
✿ Golden Autumn Moments in My Garden Sanctuary. 〰 APRIL • photos capturing autumn moments
✿ Golden Sunflowers. Golden Moments. 〰 APRIL • sunflower photos - I Am Here moments
✿ Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found 〰 collective post with nature heart-art
✿ I Am Here. In My Favourite Season. 〰 APRIL • autumn photos • self-care and mindful moments
✿ Nature Art on Truth & Reconciliation Day. 〰 AP• Reflections from LTC Nature-Themed Group 2024
✿ Nature & Urban Studios. Exploring Identity. 〰 APRIL • Reflections from WATC Ecological Models 2024
✿ Spring Moments & Eco-Art in My Garden. 2022. 〰 APRIL •
✿ Winter Moments. Silence and Stillness. 〰 APRIL • mindfulness and self-care
ontario art therapy association - reflection stories and updates
✿ My Journey to Art Hives. 〰 CYNTHIA MORIN 〰 STORY 〰 art hive
✿ Reflections from the OATA 2020 AGM and Virtual Retreat 〰 OATA • APRIL + SUSAN BENISTON
✿ OATA News. 2021-23 Board 〰 OATA • update 2021
✿ AGM and Keynote 2021 〰 OATA • Ontario Art Therapy Association flyer
✿ Reflections OATA 2021. Group Supervision 〰 OATA • one-canvas and creating in community • APRIL + SUSAN BENISTON
✿ Safe Space for Ukrainian Refugees. 〰 HANNAH SHEREBRIN • OATA • Hannah shares her community project
✿ Connecting Circles 〰 AP ART • my 2021 eco-art pandemic project
✿ Creating Community in Times of Uncertainty 〰 TANIA SANTER • sharing art in the pandemic
✿ Expressive Doodles in Pandemic Times. 〰 AP ART • my pandemic response art
✿ Golden Autumn Moments in My Garden Sanctuary. 〰 AP ART •
✿ Heather’s Miniatures 〰 HEATHER JOHNSTON • painting story
✿ Hope Squared Part 1 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • mixed-media pandemic art story
✿ Hope Squared Part 2 〰 AP ART • mixed-media pandemic art story
✿ Lines & Flowers - A Springtime Creative Prompt 〰 MAGGIE KAT + APRIL • story and drawing prompt
✿ Michelle’s Masks Off Series 〰 MICHELLE FACTOR • mixed-media pandemic art story
✿ The Fairy Door Project 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • sharing a community art project in the pandemic
✿ The Maggie Kat Connection 〰 MAGGIE KAT ANDERSON • connecting through drawing pandemic story
✿ The Virtual Space. Videos that Resonate. 〰 APRIL • sharing interesting pandemic art videos and reflections
✿ An Unfolding Revolution toward Widespread Flourishing 〰 PATRICIA KI • excerpt from first year coursework in Critical Disability Studies
✿ Befriending Ghosted Feelings 〰 BRIANNA KESTLE • sharing her 100 days of emotional resiliency project
✿ Expressive Doodles in Pandemic Times. 〰 APRIL ART• my pandemic response art
✿ Expressive Heart-Art. 〰 collective art post
✿ Honouring, Remembering and Sharing ALL Stories. Remembrance, Awareness and Eco-Art 2023
✿ Letters to the Self 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • self-care and validation
✿ Lisa’s Gratitude Journal + Loving Kindness 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
✿ Nature & Urban Studios. Exploring Identity. 〰 APRIL • Reflections from WATC Ecological Models 2024
✿ Pocket Full of Questions. 〰 PATRICIA KI + VIRGINIA JAHYU • response and awareness art resource
✿ Reflections from the OATA 2020 AGM and Virtual Retreat 〰 OATA • APRIL + SUSAN BENISTON • mindfulness art
✿ Reflections OATA 2021. Group Supervision 〰 OATA • SUSAN BENISTON + APRIL • guided response art created in community
✿ ReMatriation for heARTivists. Circle of Indigenous Healing Arts. Response Art. 〰 APRIL • response art created in community
✿ Today I Am an Art Therapy Student. Luke. • LUKE GUSTAFSON • response art and poetry 2024
✿ Befriending Ghosted Feelings 〰 BRIANNA KESTLE • sharing her 100 days of emotional resiliency project
✿ Connecting Circles 〰 APRIL • 2021 eco-art self-care project
✿ I Am Here. In My Favourite Season. 〰 APRIL • autumn nature photos • self-care
✿ Letters to the Self 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • self-care and validation
✿ Lisa’s Gratitude Journal 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
✿ Loving Kindness 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
✿ Saba’s Ten Reasons to Create 〰 SABA RIZVI • benefits of art-making story
✿ Sharing Summer Skies 〰 KELLIE ANDERSON + RACHEL CHAINEY + ANDREA SAVOIE • photos capturing summer sunsets
✿ Winter Moments. Silence and Stillness. 〰 APRIL • mindfulness and self-care
the toronto art therapy institute connection.
✿ A Safe Space for Creativity & Wellness. 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • art therapy in hospice
✿ Befriending Ghosted Feelings 〰 BRIANNA KESTLE • sharing her 100 days of emotional resiliency project
✿ Butterfly Bereavement Project. Aldona. 〰 ALDONNA MORRISON • sharing this community bereavement project with 4000 participants
✿ Creating Community in Times of Uncertainty 〰 TANIA SANTER • sharing art in the pandemic
✿ Gratitude Hearts. Andrea. 〰 ANDREA NEUFELD • STORY • found art
✿ Hope Squared Part 1 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • mixed-media pandemic art story
✿ Letters to the Self 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • self-care and validation
✿ Lisa’s Gratitude Journal 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
✿ Loving Kindness 〰 LISA GIGNAC • journalling & self-care
✿ Message in a Bottle 〰 SHARA MCLAREN • community hospice art project
✿ My Journey to Art Hives. 〰 CYNTHIA MORIN • STORY • art hive story
✿ Pocket Full of Questions. 〰 PATRICIA KI • VIRGINIA JAHYU
✿ Saba’s Ten Reasons to Create 〰 SABA RIZVI • benefits of art-making story
✿ The Fairy Door Project 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA • sharing a community art project in the pandemic
✿ Today I Am an Art Therapy Student. Luke. • LUKE GUSTAFSON • sharing his student response art and poetry 2024
✿ PROMPT-DOODLING 〰 3-Line Doodle • DOODLE + Stained-Glass Doodle • DOODLE
✿ PROMPT-DRAWING 〰 Lines & Flowers
✿ PROMPT Eco-conscious Ways to Discard Old Art. 〰 TAYLOR BOURASSA
✿ PROMPTS-NATURE ART 〰 Exploring Nature as Object & Backdrop. Creative Prompt. + Nature Corsage-Boutonnière. + Heart Art - Creative Inspiration + Autumn Rhythms, Co-Creation, Time and Transformation + Autumn Photo-Triptychs - Creative Prompt
✿ INSPIRATION ECO-ART 〰 Connecting Circles + Nature Corsage-Boutonnière. + Nature & Urban Studios. Exploring Identity.
✿ INSPIRATION NATURE IMAGES 〰 Inspiration Photos for Art Making
✿ INSPIRATION-SPRING 〰 Spring Moments & Eco-Art in My Garden. 2022. + Noticing. Spring, Sunlight and Shadows.
✿ INSPIRATION-SUMMER 〰 Sharing Summer Skies
✿ INSPIRATION-AUTUMN 〰 Golden Autumn Moments in My Garden Sanctuary. + Golden Sunflowers. Golden Moments.
✿ INSPIRATION-WINTER 〰 Crisp Winter Moments & Frosted Outlines. + Winter Moments. Silence and Stillness.
✿ HEARTS • Heart Art - Creative Inspiration + Expressive Heart-Art. + Gratitude Hearts. Formed and Found.
✿ PROMPT WATER PAINTING • Art in the Moment. Buddha Boards
✿ PROMPT-GROUNDING 〰 I Am Here. + I am Here… With You! - Connecting in Pandemic Times. + I Am Here. Photo Collage. Creative Prompt
✿ PROMPT-NOTICING 〰 Elevating the Ordinary. + Exploring Nature as Object & Backdrop. Creative Prompt. + Noticing. Spring, Sunlight and Shadows. + Sunlight, Silhouettes and Shadows
✿ INSPIRATION 〰 SKIES • Sharing Summer Skies
✿ PROMPT-WORDS 〰 Meaningful Words… Creative Prompts and Colouring Templates.
✿ PROMPT-QUOTES 〰 Inspiring Quotes - International Women’s Day + Words that Guide Us.
“…I think it’s amazing how you are bringing so much light and beauty into the world… it is what the world needs right now. I like your focus on words and contemplation.”
