# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
The purpose of this art helped us to focus on coordination and to 'be in the moment' as we coloured our mandala; our minds were focused on the task at hand, clear from outside distractions of life.
What I did
We were provided with a choice of different mandalas to colour, and I selected this one. We had options to colour the mandala from pencils to paints, crayons etc. I used colouring pencils because I enjoy the soft tones, which gives me nostalgia for colouring art pieces back in school.
Reflection on the activity
I have always really liked mandalas, so I was delighted to partake in this activity. I had been really stressed this particular week so being able to just focus on making my mandala look pretty provided me with a lovely moment of respite.
Application to practice
Colouring in a mandala; provides a means for a service user to focus on being in the moment, creating something beautiful and keeping their mind free from outside distractions or worries.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
In this activity,  We had to dip strings of yarn into different dyes and move it around the page to create the painting.
What I did
The tutor set out paper and different dyes and strings for us to use. I dipped multiple strings in different colours to create this art.
Reflection on the activity
I found this a fun experience as it really allowed me to get creative with colours, and the unpredictable flow of the moving string meant the patterns were not fully in my control, creating a nice sense of unpredictability as I attempted to move the string in the desired directions. The only issue with this activity was the dye was prone to splash, and I nearly got it on my pants more than once.
Application to practice
This would be a fun art intervention for young children and help them develop their fine motor skills while encouraging them to foster their creativity.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
Our tutor Caroline instructed us to walk around the college and try to photo an object or scene that is abstract in nature.
What I did
After spending much time searching, I began to think I could create an effect using motion blur if I moved my phone's camera at the right speed and angle, which created this spiral effect on one of the college's staircases. That drew parallels with the mental state of those suffering from mental health conditions like conversion disorder, formerly known as Hysteria.
Reflection on this activity
This task provided me with a sense of freedom to run around the college and try to seek out abstract or unique patterns I could find. I found this fun as I went all over, snapping anything that looked out of the ordinary in the hunt for the perfect image until I took this photo. I was very proud of this one and gave it a good title as a result.
Application to practice
This simple task proves that anyway has the potential to create art with some thought and awareness of their environment.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
I and Classmate Kristina had to present a creative arts intervention for a hypothetical group of teenage traveller girls.
What I did
We each shared a PowerPoint file and worked on the project together, each coming up with 4 activities that were linked with our Junkouture theme. Kristina presented the Beady pocket activity, in which the girls would create a traditional bag associated with the traveller community. This item would also be worn as part of their Junkouture outfits. I presented the activity of designing the Junkoture outfits, which are costumes created from reusable and recycled materials to promote positive climate change initiatives in youth communities. Then I also presented the 3rd activity, in which I outlined a simple fashion show in which the girls would wear their designs and use reusable materials to create the fashion show experience, for example, painting bits of red cardboard to design a catwalk. Kristina then presented the final activity, a dance-off where the clients would select the music and have fun dancing in their creations like pop stars.
Reflection on the activity
I enjoyed working with Kristina on this project as I knew from working with her in the past she always did her fair share of the work.  I felt we planned everything well and collaborated on our vision for the project to make changes where necessary, and on the actual day of presenting, I felt we both seemed in sync.
Application to practice
Although here, I outlined Junkotures application to this select group. It would work with many youths of different backgrounds, and even at present, over 800 schools in Ireland take part in this climate change initiative.

# data[].attributes.body
I took this photo of my girlfriend holding a warm cup of coffee as we both overlooked a snow-covered Dublin from the balcony. The beautiful view made us feel a sense of magic as the usually drab brown and grey buildings were now covered in pure white, like a Christmas movie scene.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
We were divided into groups and instructed to go out into nature and created a nice remembrance piece to show our respect for a classmate whose sisters tragically died on this day.
What I did
I along with several other students, helped to create this spiral of remembrance for our classmate's sister.
Reflection on the activity
I felt so emotionally heightened from hearing the very sad news about our classmate's sister. Our class was due to do a presentation on this day, but it was cancelled after what happened. I felt relieved as I did not feel in a focused headspace to take on the task but working with my peers on this spiral really helped to positively impact my mood and get me to relax.
Application to Practice
In practice, this activity gives clients a means to reconnect with the natural world and convey their feelings through nature.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
In this task, I was partnered up with a peer, and we each drew a continuous line that overlapped each other to create this unique formation.
What I did
Using black pens, my peer and I drew our lines in a continuous motion until instructed to stop by the tutor.
Reflection on the activity
I found this task duller than others, but I did enjoy talking with my peer and trying not to bump into each other's hands as we drew.
Application to practice
This very simple task encourages socialization as clients would work together on the task of creating the art

# data[].attributes.body
In early September, I visited the Museum of Asian Art Corfu. One of the pieces on display here was a series of theatrical masks used for Kabuki, a traditional Japanese form of drama with singing and dancing where the expressions on the masks can convey emotions through the drama performance. I found this a very interesting idea as we as people wear different metaphorical masks of emotions each day as we navigate life.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
To work with the subconscious mind and to reach deep into the human psyche of the person.
What I did
In 1st year as part of the Creative Skills one module, we were tasked with creating our own neurographic art. This was the final end piece of that task.
Reflection on this activity
I really enjoyed this one and still continue using it even to this day. I find the art style very interesting and engaging as I construct my own neural network of my psych to see the end result and try to analyse it for insights.
Application to Practice
This activity works as a nice calming art activity for the client to relax and can also be used to try and get an insight into their subjective world.

# data[].attributes.body
I went to the Wonderlights event at Malahide Castle just before Christmas, and it was filled with a wonderful display of art and lighting. This image I snapped was of a glowing global that highlighted the overwhelming disproportionate ratio of land to sea and how, if climate change continues, more land mass will be further lost. The pulchritudinous illuminating global contrasted magnificently with the dark warning of the current climate crisis.

# data[].attributes.body
One Saturday afternoon, as I worked away on an assignment for college and sipped on my matcha green tea, I noticed this bird on a branch from the window, just observing what I was doing. When I got up and walked closer to the window, the bird didn't appear afraid and seemed more curious. I found its presence calming, like a watchful spirit watching over me and I felt compelled to pick up my sketchpad and create this as a memory of the bird's visit.

# data[].attributes.body
Poetry is one of my favourite forms of self-expression. It also improves memory and helps people to creatively express emotions or perceptions. This could be applied to practice to help clients think creatively about their feelings and explore them through clever wordplay. Above is one of my favourite poems I have created, as cats have always held a special place in my heart.

# data[].attributes.body
Aim of Activity
To portray our life journey past, present, and how we foresee the future.
What I did
Our tutor Caroline provided us with a series of printed-out blank shoe drawings. There were shoe drawings of different types, and we each selected the one that resonated the most with us. Most of these drawings were a single shoe, but this one, in particular, had two and caught my interest as I felt I could highlight contrasting emotions and feelings on each shoe.
The Blood Shoe
This one represents all the fears, loneliness, isolation, bullying and determination to fight back against those that put me down growing up and made me feel so small and full of hate for them and myself. The bullying was quite bad in my younger years and forced me to fight back physically, which is what all the red blood on the shoe represents.  All the negative words represent those inside my mind back then and the feelings that accompanied them.
The Love Shoe
This shoe represents my present and my hope for the future. The yellow part is my emerging happier self as I grew happier and healthier. The pink heart represents two meanings. My passion for the gym, physical activities, and keeping my body and heart healthy. The second is the love I have received from my girlfriend, my local friends and my college friends, including Emma & Rachel, who made my time at university much more empowering and fun as a result of their support. The white shoelaces through the pink represent how I'm learning to love myself purely. The purple parts are my sense of pride and power, as purple was seen for many years as a colour of royalty. These sections show my strength and belief in reaching my goals and not allowing others to break me down as in the past. The final white part at the bottom of the shoe is the unwritten future, so it is blank for now.
Reflection on this activity
This was my favourite activity overall. I went into deep introspection and began to analyse my life now, in the past, and my hopes for the future. Even though the shoes were blank on the paper, my mind began to imprint images and colours onto them that represented the different aspects of my life. When I design the blood shoe, I could really feel the hurt from those painful memories and words, and in contrast, during the designing of the love shoe, I could feel all the support and love in my life now.
Application to Practice
This activity can help support clients to explore/tell their past, current and future journeys in a creative way.

# data[].attributes.body
This was taken shortly after our final class. Even though we still had exams, the following week and placement was still on the horizon. This day marked the end of attending classes in this college for me, so I wanted to create an image to portray the new found sense of freedom I had at that moment.

# data[].attributes.body
My partner is originally from the Philippines, and this is a common dessert consumed there around the Christmas period, so I worked with her to help create this dish for Christmas day. It was a fun experience creating a dish from her native land and integrating it with a more traditional Irish Christmas feast at my home.