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When Punching Paint Becomes Peace: The Neuroscience of Somatic Release Through Violent Expressionism
In the sleep lab, I learned the nervous system is a better historian than the mind. Electrodes don't lie - even when patients say they're fine, their bodies whisper otherwise. Fast forward: swap EEG leads for paint buckets. The truth remains: your body needs completion, not cognition. When you combine motion, creation, and consciousness, you don't just regulate - you reclaim. Sometimes peace isn't stillness. Sometimes it's the sound of a body remembering how to breathe - in c

Julie McVey
Nov 127 min read


🌧️ Rainy Day Reset - Seattle’s Best Kept Secret for Families
Seattle rain doesn’t have to mean boredom. At Wicked Rae’s, rainy days turn into laughter, color, and connection - a memory you can hang on your wall.

Julie McVey
Sep 71 min read


💕 Messy Love — How Sensory Art Sparks Connection on Date Night
Want a date night that lasts longer than dessert? At Wicked Rae’s, splatter art sparks laughter, romance, and connection that stays with you long after the paint dries.

Julie McVey
Sep 71 min read


🌱 Healing Through Chaos - The Neuroscience of Trauma & Messy Art
Trauma healing doesn’t always start with words. At Wicked Rae’s, sensory art offers a science-backed path to release, regulation, and rediscovering joy.

Julie McVey
Sep 72 min read


Welcome Fall: Rain, Adventure, and Scrapbooks of Kindness
Fall in Washington isn’t for hiding indoors - it’s for scrapbooking kindness. From salmon hatcheries to splatter art at Wicked Rae’s, here’s how to make rainy days unforgettable.

Julie McVey
Sep 72 min read


From Fractured to Flourishing: How One Team Rebuilt Trust Through Art
After layoffs and re-orgs, one Seattle team rebuilt trust through Wicked Rae’s 3-month art-based program - splatter painting, tactile workshops, and milestone-driven sessions that laughter, ownership, and lasting connection. Studio and onsite options across Washington. Discover Seattle’s most immersive team building experiences at Wicked Rae’s. From splatter painting to tactile art workshops, our trauma-informed sessions help corporate teams reconnect, rebuild trust, and spa

Julie McVey
Sep 22 min read


My Secret Superpower: How Childlike Wonder Changed Everything
What if the fountain of youth wasn’t a place, but a mindset? Neuroscience now proves what kids already know - wonder makes us more resilient, creative, and alive. Here’s how rediscovering play became my greatest superpower, and why the world needs your childlike wonder more than ever.

Julie McVey
Aug 275 min read


A Bench, a Brush, and the Freedom to Be
When a family asked to paint a bench for their daughter’s birthday before moving states, we said yes. The result? A joyful, memory-soaked masterpiece that now lives in their new garden. At Wicked Rae’s, we accommodate the unexpected - because healing and creativity don’t follow a template.

Julie McVey
Aug 213 min read


The Healing Power of Expressive Art: What Happens When Words Aren’t Enough
Expressive art helps people release emotion, reconnect with themselves, and heal - without needing words. At Wicked Rae’s, night-shift nurses, veterans, teams, and families find catharsis through motion and color. Whether it’s paint, clay, or collage, the process reveals what the body has been holding. This isn’t therapy - it’s soul work. And for many, it’s the first time they’ve felt seen.

Julie McVey
Aug 213 min read


Sunflower Coaster Projects for Unique Party Themes
When planning a party, every detail counts. From decorations to table settings, the little touches can make your event truly memorable....

Julie McVey
Aug 54 min read


Beyond Words: The Transformative Power of Visual Journaling for Mental Wellness
Traditional journaling has long been recognized for its therapeutic benefits, but what happens when we set aside the pen and pick up paintbrushes, colored pencils, and markers instead? Visual journaling - the practice of expressing thoughts and emotions through art rather than words - offers a profound pathway to mental wellness that speaks directly to our brain's most fundamental processing systems.

Julie McVey
Aug 14 min read


I wrote something that broke my inbox.
People losing jobs. Leaders losing sleep. Humans losing hope. But here's what nobody's talking about... You weren't fired. You were...

Julie McVey
Jul 292 min read


From Scarcity to Creativity: Breaking the Trauma Cycle in Corporate Leadership
Today’s leaders were shaped by the economic instability and arts education cuts of the 1980s, fostering scarcity mindsets and emotional detachment in corporate culture. This paper reveals how unprocessed childhood trauma became embedded in leadership—and offers a path forward through arts-based, trauma-informed practices that enhance empathy, creativity, and long-term organizational success.

Julie McVey
Jul 288 min read


Essential Insights for Seattle Art Studios
Seattle is renowned for its vibrant art scene, teeming with creativity and innovation. As local artists strive to carve out a niche for...

Julie McVey
Jul 274 min read


The Future is Neurosafe: How Wicked Rae’s Rewires Joy, Connection, and Healing Through Art
At Wicked Rae’s, art isn’t just creative - it’s neurosafe. Explore how sensory play, post-traumatic growth, and joyful mess can rewire connection, regulation, and healing. From family bonding to trauma-informed design, this is the future of art spaces.

Julie McVey
Jul 224 min read


Ditch the Screens. Pick Up the Paint.
Research shows couples who create together sync their heart rates and brainwaves. At Wicked Rae’s, date night means paint, presence, and a whole lot of laughter.

Julie McVey
Jun 202 min read


Painting with Punches: How Boxing and Art Collide at Wicked Rae’s
Words can’t always carry your stress - but paint can. Discover Action Painting at Wicked Rae’s, where boxing gloves, bubble wrap, and neon chaos create calm.

Julie McVey
Jun 203 min read


Ladies’ Night Reimagined: Why Grown Women Deserve Glitter, Glue Guns & Giggles
Unplug, uncork, and unleash your creative chaos. Wicked Rae’s Ladies’ Night is where grown women make art, laugh loud, and reconnect - no perfection required.

Julie McVey
Jun 192 min read


The Power of Texture: How Messy Art Helps You Regulate, Release, and Reconnect
Messy, tactile, and deeply human - texture art at Wicked Rae’s helps you regulate, release, and reconnect through sensory expression and play.

Julie McVey
Jun 192 min read


Why Splatter Painting Is the Most Fun You’ll Ever Have in a Room
Paint balloons. Wild laughter. Private chaos. Discover why splatter painting at Wicked Rae’s is Seattle’s go-to experience for fun, release, and connection.

Julie McVey
Jun 192 min read
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