Disclaimer – Jesse Raudales Inc. offers art-based programs and creative workshops that support emotional expression, personal growth, and community engagement. While our Therapy Through Art Classes may have therapeutic benefits, we are not licensed therapists or mental health professionals. Our programs are not a substitute for professional therapy, counseling, or mental health services. Participants experiencing emotional distress, trauma, or mental health challenges are encouraged to seek support from a licensed mental health provider or therapist. Participation in our classes is voluntary, and all materials are presented for educational and self-development purposes only. If you are in crisis or need mental health support, please contact a licensed professional or call the National Mental Health Hotline at 988.

Art Instructor: Olympic Artist Jesse Raudales and his staff of two College students will teach Four Weeks of (2 classes per week) 2-hour Art Classes each to 35 students and will commit 100% of their time to instructing Students in the Visual Arts. The students have the opportunity to express their creativity and delve into art, developing confidence, increasing their empathy, and learning to view the world from different perspectives. All those skills help prepare students to take on the world with passion and creativity. Students will receive a T-shirt and a Certificate of Completion signed by Olympic Artist Jesse Raudales after the art classes and keep their Art Supplies.

Project End Goal Art Exhibit: At the conclusion of the Art Classes, students will present an Art Exhibit to display their work to the public.

JRI Therapy Through Art

Objective: This is either an after-school or summer course that aims to provide participants with artistic skills and techniques, enabling them to express themselves through visual media. Total of 35 Teens

Week 1 Drawing 2-hour classes 2 days a week (Materials: Graphite pencils, 9 x 12 drawing pad) 

Week 2 Grids & Still-Life 2-hour classes 2 days a week (Materials: Graphite pencils, 9 x 12 drawing pad)

Week 3 Watercolor 2-hour classes 2 days a week (Materials: Watercolor paint, paint brushes, 9 x 12 painting pad) 

Week 4 Acrylic Paint 2-hour classes 2 days a week and Showcase/ Exhibit 

Project End Goal Art Exhibit:

At the end of the Art Classes, the students will have an Art Exhibit to display their work to the public.

 

Emotion in Motion: Self-Connection Through the Creative Process 

How Painting Supports Emotional Processing

1. Bypassing Verbal Filters
Some emotions are too complex, raw, or deeply buried to articulate in words. Painting offers a non-verbal, sensory route to expression, engaging brain regions involved in imagery, emotion, and memory. This allows artists to express what might otherwise remain unspoken or inaccessible through language alone.

2. Making the Invisible Visible                                                                                                                  Feelings like grief, joy, fear, or confusion can be abstract and hard to grasp. Painting gives them form, color, and shape, allowing the artist to see what's going on internally, turning emotion into something tangible and workable.

3. Regulating the Nervous System
The repetitive, rhythmic motion of painting and sketching calms the autonomic nervous system. This lowers cortisol and activates the parasympathetic system, reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of safety and flow.

4. Activating the Limbic System
The act of painting and drawing stimulates the amygdala and hippocampus, helping artists process emotional memories and assign meaning. This integration reduces emotional intensity and increases clarity.

5. Gaining Emotional Distance and Insight                                                                          Once an emotion is on the canvas, it’s no longer trapped inside. This externalization creates a safe distance, allowing the artist to reflect on it, reframe it, or even release it. Over time, painting and drawing can become a visual record of growth.

6. Enabling Flow States
Painting and drawing often lead to a flow state, where time fades, self-judgment quiets, and focus deepens. This immersive experience supports healing by interrupting negative thought loops and fostering a sense of control and renewal.

7. Facilitating Symbolic Expression and Transformation                                                       Colors, textures, and symbols used in painting and drawing often carry subconscious meaning. Choosing a bold red, layering over a mistake, or softening an image can mirror inner shifts, helping the artist metabolize and transform emotional pain.

Curriculum Summary: SEL Through Art and Expression

This social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum was designed and executed in collaboration with Michele Morrissey, M.A., CCC-SLP, founder of Lucidity Communication Consultants. The curriculum blends creative expression with evidence-based communication strategies to support emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and interpersonal awareness in youth.

Michele Morrissey brings over 30 years of experience as a communication skills coach, speech-language pathologist, and executive communication consultant. She specializes in interpersonal communication, neurodiversity-affirming practices, and emotional intelligence in leadership and learning environments.

 Her certifications and qualifications include:

·  Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

·  Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist

·  ADHD-Certified Clinical Services Provider

·  Certified DISC Personality Profile Analyst

With extensive experience coaching professionals, youth, and interdisciplinary collaboration with educators and related professionals, Michele integrates art-based strategies that foster both self-expression and self-connection. Her work is grounded in brain-based learning, communication science, and culturally responsive frameworks.

Through this curriculum, students are invited to explore and express their emotions, build healthy communication habits, and develop empathy and self-awareness—all while engaging in meaningful artistic experiences.

Objectives: Social-Emotional Learning Through Art: Making Art Therapeutic

1.     Identify and name emotions they are currently experiencing using colors, shapes, and symbols in their artwork.

2.     Explore how visual art can help express feelings that may be hard to describe in words.

3.     Practice using art as a self-regulation tool to calm the body and focus the mind.

4.     Reflect on the meaning of their artistic choices and how those choices connect to their thoughts, memories, or moods.

5.     Demonstrate empathy and respect by observing and responding thoughtfully to others’ creative expressions during a group share or gallery walk.

6.     Build confidence in emotional self-awareness by engaging in a creative process that honors internal experience without judgment.

Disclaimer:
Jesse Raudales Inc. and its Therapy Through Art Classes are not licensed therapists or mental health professionals. Our classes are designed to provide a creative outlet that encourages students to express their feelings and emotions through art as a means of relieving stress and promoting self-awareness. While our programs may have therapeutic benefits, they are not a substitute for professional therapy or mental health treatment.