The Art Supplies Moms Need for Art Journal Therapy At Home

As a virtual expressive art therapist for moms, I often get asked this question: What supplies do I need to get started with art therapy at home?

First, if you are new here, you might wonder what expressive art therapy is. Expressive art therapy (interchanged with "art as therapy" and "therapeutic art") is an evidence-based, non-clinical approach that uses creativity to help process emotions and experiences. Think drawing, painting, collaging, writing, or just doodling – it's all about expressing yourself through art. And I facilitate expressive art therapy with my clients mainly through art journaling.

Expressive Art Therapy helped me
name and command my needs,
go deeper than words and
make time for real self-care.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

The arts healed me in ways that I can't describe in words. Ask me to show you in shape & colour and I can do it over and over again. (Maybe I’ll record a podcast episode about this one day)

I've experienced the transformation of therapy at many different intervals in my life. But none is more significant than art as therapy as a mother.

Five basic art supplies to have to create your art stash for expressive art therapy at home

1. Art Journal

2. Pastels (chalk and/or oil)

3. Water Soluble Wax Pastels

4. Paints (watercolours, and/or acrylic) and paint supplies (paint brushes, palette, water)

5. Collage Materials (paper, magazines, scissors, glue, washi tape, quotes, embellishments)

These are just examples of what you could purchase; you can borrow and thrift or use whatever you already have to build your unique art stash.  You can expand on this list and add your favourite art materials (pencil crayons, markers, stamps, stencils, pipe cleaners, etc.) to your at-home art therapy supply stash.  

I have excluded specific brand names because what works for me might not work for you; everyone is unique in their art preferences and budget. Finding your preferred and affordable supplies for your stash is part of the creative process.

There are many options and resources for acquiring art supplies, so if you’re new to this kind of thing, it’s better to get art supplies that are easy to use, cheap, and not too fancy. Why? If you get “pretty,” expensive and professional supplies, you are less likely to use and enjoy them because you will tell yourself you “have to create something good” to get your money/value back. 

Art supplies and YOUR art don’t owe you or anyone anything; they are invented, made and supposed to be consumed for the pure fun of creating art (yes, they even need to be used for “bad” and “ugly” art)!

The more you use your art supplies, the more you will come to appreciate, use, and know them. Think of your art supplies as a budding relationship, something you need to get to know.

And the more you nourish that relationship, the more familiar, comfortable and approachable you will find the at-home art therapy process. 

Watch the video below for a flip-through of one of my art journals to get a feel for the variety of supplies I enjoy creating. 

I hope you found this helpful, share in the comments if you could pick just one art medium to use for the rest of your life which would it be?

Mine would be collage materials!

This work I do as an expressive art therapist is for the mothers. Mothers who feel guilty about putting their needs first. Mothers who stay quiet. Mothers who can't say no. Mothers who do not honour their mental health. Mothers who are struggling with self-care. Mothers who are burned out. Mothers who cannot make one more decision. Mothers who are exhausted but can't sleep at night. Mothers who do not feel worthy.

I do this work for you. 💛

I am currently accepting new art as therapy clients in Alberta and Saskatchewan;

you can claim on your benefits because I am a registered social worker in these two provinces. 

If you are anywhere else in Canada and are interested in exploring your feelings, thoughts, and experiences by creating art and expressing yourself creatively, I call this Creative Coaching. All my education informs coaching, but you can't claim it on your benefits.

The process is quite simple if you're interested in trying it out. First, we have a quick, no-cost 20-minute meeting where I find out more about you, what keeps you up at night, what you are already doing that is working, and so on. Then, we'll have an online 90-minute "create and chill" session where you can regulate, rediscover yourself, reduce stress, and calm your mind without leaving home. Finally, if you're interested, we can move on to the third step of establishing a consistent, accountable rhythm to help you create the life you want.

Until next time,

Kayla Huszar, Therapist for Moms