A Bench, a Brush, and the Freedom to Be
- Julie McVey
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
It wasn’t just a bench. It was a living art piece, designed for a four-year-old’s birthday and destined for a new garden in a new state.
We spoke with the family ahead of time, tailoring the experience to honor their daughter’s milestone and their upcoming move. She would be in charge of the colors - her tiny hands guiding the palette, her vision leading the way. Cousins, grandparents, and loved ones gathered around, each adding their own strokes in a final celebration before parting ways.
The bench became more than furniture. It became memory. Connection. A joyful sendoff wrapped in color and love.
And when they left, they took with them not just a bench, but a piece of themselves made visible.
Why We Say Yes to What Others Might Decline
Most studios have rules. We have values.
We believe:
Healing doesn’t follow a template.
Creativity isn’t one-size-fits-all.
People need space to bring their whole selves - grief, joy, weird ideas, garden benches and all.
That’s why we’ve had people paint shoes, wheelchairs, guitars, bookshelves, even a wedding dress. If it matters to you, it matters to us.
Turning Tragedy into Color: A Family’s Story
One family came in on the anniversary of losing their home - and their beloved animals - in a fire. They didn’t come to talk. They came to paint.
Together, they created pieces for their children’s new bedrooms. Bright, bold, full of life. The kind of art that says: we survived, and we’re still dreaming.
It wasn’t about forgetting. It was about reclaiming. About turning ash into color. About giving their kids something beautiful to wake up to.
We didn’t need to know every detail. We just needed to hold the space.
The Psychology of Permission: Why It Matters
When someone asks, “Can I paint this?” they’re not just asking about logistics. They’re asking:
“Is it safe to be me here?”
“Will my story be honored?”
“Can I do something that feels a little wild, a little sacred?”
Saying yes is powerful. It tells the nervous system: you’re not too much. You’re not too strange. You’re welcome.
This kind of permission activates what psychologists call felt safety - a state where healing, creativity, and connection become possible. It’s especially vital for trauma survivors, neurodivergent guests, and anyone who’s been told to shrink.
The Bench as a Portal: What Objects Can Hold
Objects carry memory. A bench might represent a childhood garden, a lost loved one, a place someone used to sit and dream. When people paint these objects, they’re not just decorating - they’re transforming.
We’ve seen:
A mother paint her late son’s guitar.
A couple splatter their moving boxes before a big life change.
A teen cover their old backpack in affirmations before starting therapy.
These aren’t art projects. They’re rituals. And we honor them as such.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need to Justify - But You Do Need to Ask
If you’re wondering whether you’re allowed to bring your story, your object, your emotion into our space - the answer is yes.
You don’t need to explain. You don’t need to be “artistic.”
But... you do need to ask, and the items need to be free of dirt and bugs. 😉
We’ll guide you through the logistics, make sure your object is safe for the studio, and help you find the perfect time to create - in the event you need to leave it overnight to dry (or a several days).
Come as you are. We’ll make room.
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