It’s all behind me (6′ X 6″ Acrylic with collage)

Canadian contemporary expressionist artist and clinical herbalist, Deborah Catton, uses the techniques of Intuitive Painting and Touch Drawing to create artwork that facilitates personal healing.  Both of these techniques are used as forms of expressive art therapy for those afflicted from trauma as means to explore and process difficult feelings.

At the early age of four, Deborah`s mother was killed in a car accident. “As a child and growing up there was no discussion of the event and therefore no way to process and heal my loss.  For me, art was the only avenue I had to process my feelings and I spent a lot of time exploring my way through it all by drawing on a chalk board with coloured chalk. Even as I became older, and a teenager I felt most comfortable when I was engaged in some art process. I eventually made the choice to study Fine Art at the University level”.  Deborah graduated from the University of Calgary and holds a Bachelor of Fine Art’s degree in photography and drawing.  “It has always been a desire to bring my two interests (art and healing) together.”

Recently, Deborah has created a method to bridge this gap.  “My current work is from a series that I am working on as a part of a card deck (depicting Jungian archetypal images) that is to be used as a transformative dialoguing process with clients in my clinical practice”.  She currently has 530 images that form a collection called “On The Inside of a Life”.

Since implementing the technique of Touch Drawing, an organic painting technique where fingers take the place of pen or brush, Deborah has witnessed some of the most profound changes in her clientele.  “Some have been clients of mine for years and have struggled to really find a way into the depths of themselves”.  Deborah’s work demonstrates how people can use art to increase self-awareness and cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences.

To learn more about Deborah, her projects and techniques, visit www.deborahcatton.com