Art Therapy: 

An Exhibition of Paintings by David W Jones 

This show represents a year of painting under the teaching of Kitty Harvill. I met Kitty after my partner Teddy commissioned a painting for my birthday. Who knew it would become my main coping skill and lead to this show and the positive feedback I get from my fans. Even though Kitty moved to Brazil a little over a year ago we stay connected. Each Friday, Kitty, Teddy and I come together on zoom to ease our stress doing what we call “Paint and Play." Kitty and I paint while Teddy plays the harp. It’s pretty special. Kitty brought out the artist I never knew was inside of me. I use my art and creativity to distract myself from the pain and anguish I feel about the state of our country and the World. Instead of watching the news and suffering over things I can’t change, I paint. My recovery coach has been encouraging me to use my art as therapy for years. I have now found that it really works. Kitty has a degree in Art Therapy so our mee ng and work together is multi-layered. I did postgraduate art education on at The Corcoran School of Art in 1985. I discovered I had skill as a Photographer and spent the next two decades enjoying a successful Photography career. A er moving to Middle Tennessee 23 years ago, I put down my camera and began my Yoga journey. It has grown me and kept me well, mentally, physically, and spiritually. My primary job is teaching trauma-sensitive yoga at Milestones, a mental health residential treatment center. I wrote a book that came out of my trauma work there, I Say Yes to Life: The Affirmation Project. It is the story of my recovery, told through Affirmation memes. This exhibition represents a year of working with Kitty and focusing on my mental health through Art. I want my audience to experience the multi-faceted expressions of my creativity and what a year with a paintbrush, a desire for healing and good guidance looks like. Thank you Kitty. Enjoy the show!