About
Learn about The Art Sanctuary and it’s creator
The Art Sanctuary is a Hawke’s Bay based art for wellness business that provides services and activities designed to help promote a sense of well-being through artistic workshops and private art making sessions.
What makes The Art Sanctuary so unique is the art workshops are guided by an artist who is also interested in the importance of mental health. She is a qualified artist and art teacher with a passion for creating art activities or resources that blend the process of making art with the concept of healing and self-development.
During an art session you will learn about artistic practices while also engaging in themes of wellness such as mindfulness, self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. This helps to develop a deeper connection to ourselves while also engaging in fun activities. There is no assessments or homework so you can feel at ease as you explore your creative license.
In a art for wellness workshop or private art session you can expect to start of with a simple grounding exercise to help center the mind, followed by a guided art lesson that focuses on a specific theme or process linked to mental health. To finish we transition into a reflective activity to assist us in relating back to the chosen topic. It’s the perfect way to relax and explore your inner artist in a creative and supportive space.
Benefits of the Art Making Process
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Lowers blood pressure and helps immune system functioning
- Reduces burn-out
- Improves communication skills
- Assists with emotional regulation and processing
- Develops personal growth
- Stimulates the imagination
- Boosts a sense of self worth
- Enhances creative thinking and problem-solving skills
Types of art activities you can expect include;
- Observational drawing
- Printmaking
- Painting
- Sculpture
- Portraiture
- and more..
Meet The Creator
Claire Weston is a local artist living in Hawke’s Bay with a Bachelor of Visual Arts & Design from EIT (Hawke’s Bay) and a Post Grad Diploma of Teaching (Secondary) from Massey University. In a professional setting Claire has spent many years learning and understanding the grief process through her time as a volunteer in the ‘Seasons for Growth’ program run by Anglican Care Waiapu and also while working as a palliative caregiver at a local aged care facility.
From a young age she was always interested in helping others and knew she wanted to do this with art. The Art Sanctuary is a result of a fifteen year passion project in the making and she excited about sharing her knowledge with you. Claire is passionate about the importance of mental health and helping to improve the lives of others.
In her personal time she has a home studio where she practices painting while also learning about historical and contemporary visual art culture which allows her to take care of her creative health.
Throughout my life I have seen the benefits of using creative outlets for processing feelings and major life events. Ever since I can remember I have always gravitated towards working through challenges by painting, drawing or creating art. It’s during this time that I have gained clarity, insight and understanding about myself or the world around me. In my late teens I knew I wanted to build a career by enabling others to engage with the practice of using art as a healing process.
Claire Weston – Owner
About The Logo
The two elements I wanted to incorporate into The Art Sanctuary logo are; gold (depicting the Japanese practice of Kintsugi where broken pieces are repaired together with gold – mimicking the idea of mending after trauma) and leaves (representing growth and emotional well-being). Together they represent the basis of the business where the mission is to provide support through art and creative practices.
Supporting Local
One of the core values of The Art Sanctuary is to support and grow local businesses by using the premises, products and services of companies within our community for the art workshops.
Drop me a line!
I’m accepting new clients through the rest of the year. Please drop me a line and we’ll get started with your next project!
