Abstract
Personal art making and self-introspection is essential for art therapists in order to expand
consciousness while providing authentic art experiences to both clients and themselves. This
heuristic study explored the use art-making and journal writing for purposes of self-care,
personal growth, and creative development. The researcher engaged in spontaneous and open-ended
journaling and art making on a daily basis for four weeks using Moustaka’s (1990) six
phases of heuristic inquiry, as well as dream art reflections. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale
(RSES; Rosenberg, 1965) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS; Lovibond &
Lovibond,1995) were completed at the start of and upon the conclusion of the study. Results
yielded a significant increase in self-esteem in regard to art making but only a slight increase in
general self-esteem. Creative flow was increased by the end of the study. Anxiety and stress
levels decreased while scores in depression slightly increased. This study also provided self-discovery
and insights for the researcher which included additional emerging themes of creative
flow, self-doubt, intuition, and increased self-awareness. Upon completion of this study, it was
determined that self-doubt was the driving force and major overarching theme, supporting the
need of this heuristic study.
