Baylee Abigail Esquivel Frisch
My name is Baylee, and I am an art therapist and artist. I have my BA in studio arts (emphasis in sculpture) and psychology from UNI. I also have my MA in art therapy and clinical counseling from Adler Graduate School. As an art therapist, I specialize in senior and dementia populations. In my own art, I mix in art therapy techniques and enjoy exploring all kinds of materials. I love playing with textures, movement, and beauty. Beauty, for me, is something I find in nature, animals, people, aging, and emotions. Often times, I use mixed media from nature and recycled materials, along with traditional art materials. I sometimes incorporate humor in my artwork because we all need a laugh!
Behind the Hive
My hive is my safe space to be creative and share my art and story with you! I also like to advocate and educate on art therapy, older adult populations, and dementia.
I was born in Waterloo Iowa and grew up mostly in a small rural town called Jesup. I spent a lot of town with my paternal grandparents who helped foster my creativity. My grandma Ruth (who I am now a primary caregiver for!) would encourage me to use materials like empty toilet paper tubes and mesh fruit bags to make art so we did not have to throw them away.
As I spent more time developing my technical art skills, I found myself coming back to these random textured materials. Others may view these materials as garbage, but I was able to see value and give them purpose while pulling out their beauty.
Now, I love letting uncontrollable and unexpected elements into my art process. I may pour or scrub liquids onto my canvases and once they dry, I wait for shapes to pop out. I then use all kinds of texture to pull out and define the images. I try to bring in natural elements to my art, as well, and I really enjoy scavenging for materials. If you have any materials you don't want to throw out, but have no personal use for them, please let me know! I might be able to repurpose it for art projects!
Art Therapy, Art, and Therapy
Art Therapy
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) defines art therapy as "an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship."
AATA describes how art therapy is "used to improve cognitive and sensory-motor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change."
Art therapy can be used with any population (kids, adults, seniors, different diagnoses and demographics, etc.), but each person is different. Art therapy may not be the best fit for every individual. I personally love working with seniors and dementia populations, and if you art curious about art therapy and seniors, please view my pamphlet below:
Art
Art, to me, is a form of expression. It lets me communicate parts of myself with others and find points of connection. It allows me to to explore parts of myself I did not know or fully understand. Art also allows me to process, regulate, and understand my emotions. I can find materials, textures, shapes, and colors to capture moments, feelings, and beauty, and then I can put them out into the world in hopes to relate to, inspire, and encourage others.
Therapy
Understanding what is and is NOT art therapy is important to ensure your own safety. Therapists may incorporate art into their sessions with clients, but this is NOT considered art therapy. If someone who is NOT trained in art therapy is stating they are an art therapist/doing art therapy with a client, this can be harmful and should be reported here. Only art therapists, who are highly trained in art, therapy, and art therapy, can and should state they are doing art therapy. With that being said, there are still art therapy tools you can incorporate in your own expressive processes! You can view some of these tools below: