Conversation with Self – An online course using Art for Healing by Isa Schwartz Gesseau
“Art is the elimination of the unnecessary.” - Pablo Picasso
There is much research out there purporting that human beings are neurologically wired for suffering due to the intense conditions we survived to evolve. There are plenty of meditation and yoga practices out there to support reprogramming our mind, body and emotions to inevitably change this programming over time, yet finding a beneficial practice that hits the right nerves so to speak, is a journey. If traditional meditation isn’t for you, there is always art to lift the dense parts of the psyche and re-spark the soul. Art, whether witnessing or creating it, has a magical way of revealing the unseen and unfelt pieces within for the sake of reflecting, healing, change and growth.
I recently reconnected with an old acquaintance from Johannesburg, a fabulous artist with a big heart – Isa. Isa is the type of person you can find yourself sharing the depth of your being with in the first 5 minutes of a conversation. Her openness and passion for he(art) radiates through who she is and prominently through her work. Our reconnection led me to sign up for her online course, Conversation with Self: two guided processes to 1) reflect on one’s life through a timeline process and 2) Iconic self -portrait exploration working with manifestation – a process of drawing yourself, with your eyes closed. The second part may be quite fun or you may be gently challenged to trade rigid perfectionism for the realisation that you are perfect in your entirety.
It’s one thing being told to draw or paint and another to be compassionately guided step by step to create art that consciously reconnects you to your inner world. Through short videos, Isa eases you into the process. Conversation with Self is fantastic for those who don’t feel an inclination towards creating art but would like to explore the therapeutic benefits of art. Those who would like to get straight into the process can skip ahead to do just this.
In particular, one part that I enjoyed on my journey through Conversation with Self in section b, is looking at my life’s experiences and myself from different viewpoints. I found it refreshing to acknowledge the diverse angles of my being, appreciating the fullness of myself – light and shadow. Isa’s guidance of consciously bringing in positive energy through words, colour, symbols and images- even to the most challenging experiences, felt like a healing medicine balm for the soul. It was also a profound way to re-focus on what’s really important in this trip we call life.
My Iconic Self- Portrait
Isa is an Untraditional iBi Art Art Therapist as well as an Art Teacher. She has developed her own art therapy methodology over time through experience in community over 15 years plus. Isa has witnessed profound results and feedback from leading this process in a variety of settings with children and adults who are working through intense trauma.
I totally recommend this process with Isa for those who have experience or who are curious about art therapy. I also suggest this process for art teachers who use art in a therapeutic way as a complimentary tool for their classes.
To purchase Conversation with Self (at a very decent rate), visit and sign up with Udemy and purchase it here: https://www.udemy.com/course/conversation-with-self/ . It’s super easy to sign up with Udemy – no sign up fee involved.
You can also visit www.ibiartschool.co.za to check out more of Isa’s brilliant work.