Art Through Your Flesh Suit is a structured group program that combines somatic skill development, psychoeducation, experiential exercises, and visual art-making. 

The program explores and exploits the relationship between bodily awareness, perception, thoughts, and creative practice.

Each session introduces a psychological concept, followed by guided somatic experiential exercises after which a basic visual art exercise related to the experiential practice is proposed. Participants are invited to observe their own experience, learn and apply artistic devices, as well as experiment with different ways of paying attention.  

No previous art experience is required. Commitment : 4 sessions · 2 hours each

What the program explores

Art Through Your Flesh Suit uses visual art as a practical way to explore and deepen understanding of ideas introduced through psychoeducation.

Sessions include:

• Somatic awareness and attention

• Observation and perception

• Patterns of attention and thought

• Self-observation

• Group and dyadic discussions

• Selected visual art principles and devices

The emphasis is not on producing technically accomplished artwork. Instead, art-making provides a concrete, experiential way to notice, experiment, and reflect. The focus is on the experience of the activity rather than on artistic skill or aesthetic achievement.

How it works

Each two-hour session follows a consistent structure:

1. Welcome & Review

A brief introduction to the session and an opportunity to review observations or experiences from the previous session.

2. Grounding Exercise

A short guided exercise to bring attention to present-moment bodily experience and prepare for the session.

3. Psychoeducation

A short presentation introducing a psychological idea or concept.

4. Somatic experiential Exercise

A guided exercise that allows participants to explore the concept through direct experience.

5. Visual Art Device Exploration

An artistic device is presented, discussed and practiced.  

6. Somatic and Artistic Exploration

Participants explore visual representation of their somatic experience through the use of the discussed visual art device. 

7. Reflection and Application

A brief closing reflection and discussion of the session. Suggestions on how to further incorporate and practice the session's teaching.

What you may take away

By participating in the program, you may develop:

• Greater awareness of bodily sensations and physiology

• Greater familiarity with practices for observing your own experience

• Greater knowledge of concepts related to cognitive flexibility

• New ways of approaching observation and creative decision-making

• Greater familiarity with selected visual art principles and devices

• Experience using art-making as a practical method for exploring ideas

Who is it for?

Art Through Your Flesh Suit is intended for adults who are curious about psychological concepts, somatic awareness, visual art and the relationship between them.

The program may be particularly interesting to people who enjoy learning through doing, are curious about their own experience, or want to explore familiar psychological ideas from a different perspective.

The facilitator provides structured information, guided exercises, and opportunities for discussion and art-making. Participants remain responsible for deciding what they wish to share and how they participate in the experiential activities.

The program is not intended to replace individual mental health care where such care is needed.

Next steps before the program starts

Prospective participants are required to attend a free information session before registering. The information session provides an opportunity to understand:

• The structure and format of the program

• The types of exercises involved

• The role of art-making

• The expectations for participation

• The boundaries and limitations of the program

• Whether the program is an appropriate fit for you

This is also an opportunity to ask questions before making a four-session commitment.

Email dnadon@eastendps.com to register for the information session or send any question you may have. 

Schedule

Monday evenings · 6:30–8:30 pm

• December 7 2026, December 21 2026, January 4 2027, January 18 2027

Location

Cost

$125 per session, a four-session commitment is required.

Total program cost: $500

about the facilitator

Daniel Nadon is a registered psychotherapist and visual artist. His interest in bridging somatic experiences and visual art has been simmering since 2023. As he explored the relationship between bodily experience, perception, attention, and their visual representation, the role of mindset found became a third component that could facilitate or hinder the visual expression of somatic states.