Art Expressions by Emily Lasinsky

Meet Emily Lasinsky of Art Expressions by Emily Lasinsky! She combines art and wellness and we’re so excited for you to get to know her! Check out what she shared with us below:

I grew up 30 minutes outside of Johnstown. Art has played a critical role in my own journey. As an undergraduate at Saint Francis University, I took studio art classes alongside my psychology classes. As I continued my education in psychology and counseling, art remained a close partner.

I currently serve as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown. Outside of this role, I create my own art and offer art and wellness workshops. There is much research that supports the wellness benefits of artmaking. Too many people shy away from creating art because they have convinced themselves that they are not good at it. The truth is, creating is part of being human. You don’t have to be a professional artist to make art. My art and wellness workshops include art activities, psychoeducation about wellness topics (e.g., coping with stress, dealing with uncertainty, establishing work/life boundaries), and community building. Through these workshops, my hope is to offer a non-judgmental space where people can feel free to explore their creativity while learning wellness strategies and connecting with others. No prior art experience is required. So far, I have worked with college students, educators, mental health professionals, healthcare professionals, and artists.

For me, creating art is a way to express myself and make sense of the complexities of the world. One of my favorite art quotes is by Picasso— “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” I work with various mediums including acrylic paint, marker, pyrography, photography, and mixed media. Sometimes my art reflects a deeper meaning or psychological concept, which I usually blog about. Themes within some of my recent work include insight, identity, resilience, hope, and diversity.

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