Artist Statement 

My artist name is “Iveno.” I am a visual artist, musician, and counsellor. Before working in mental health, I worked primarily as an illustrator. My work often depicts our EnvironMental Health challenges. Working as a counsellor inspires me to illustrate and exemplify common psychological and emotional struggles that many people can identify with.

My motivation for creating EnvironMental Education stems from my childhood upbringing in the beautiful Black Forest region of Germany, as well as the realization that money is often valued more highly than forests that have existed for hundreds of years. My tree and Earth characters have human faces in an attempt to create emotional attachment and help restore the lost connection to Mother Earth. During workshops with children, I often asked the question: “Why do we call it Mother Earth?”

My career began in media design, creating flyers, character designs, and animations. My upbringing later inspired me to work in bereavement, grief, and loss support. My certifications combine mindfulness, expressive art and music therapy, addiction counselling,
and psychedelic integration support.

As a counsellor, artist, and musician, I am inspired to illustrate common psychological, spiritual, and mental health challenges to encourage self-reflection and introspection — what I call MedicineArt. MedicineArt can support mental health professionals in their work because it makes conversations about emotional and psychological struggles more accessible. Art and symbolism can communicate experiences that are often difficult to express with words alone, allowing insight and reflection without excessive intellectualization. Even viewing the artwork can initiate self-reflection about one’s own state of mind and the emotions or themes portrayed in the images.

Sellingmy art on the street allows me to receive honest and immediate feedback from a wide range of people. These spontaneous interactions help me evaluate my work and its impact within my practice and among mental health colleagues.

Since childhood, I have felt a strong connection to Mother Earth. I became aware early on of how consumerism and corporate decisions affect both people and the planet. My signature tree and Earth characters have human faces as an attempt to reconnect younger generations with nature and Mother Earth. Children often instinctively understand that short-term profit is not beneficial for their future or for the wellbeing of the planet.

From traditional paper illustration to digital animation using Adobe Flash, my work takes the form of YouTube short films, installations, and illustrations for sale. I also enjoy reusing cardboard and recycled materials as canvases and installation pieces in order to reduce my environmental footprint.

My own experience of using art as an emotional outlet inspired me to create imagery that addresses common mental health challenges. MedicineArt helps make emotional pain and psychological topics easier to approach without relying on too many painful words.

I continue to share and sell EnvironMental Health Education in public spaces to receive authentic feedback from strangers. These interactions provide honest perspectives on new creations and help confirm whether the artwork successfully communicates psychological, emotional, and spiritual themes. Selling MedicineArt publicly also allows me to connect with new clients and communities.

Somthing on your Heart Give it to the Art merchandise.

What is MedicineArt - TherARTy

My artist name is "iveno," I am a visual artist, musician, Expressive Art Therapist, and Counselor - TherARTist. I come from a family of doctors, therapists, and teachers. I was born in Mohawk territory. 

Before working as a TherARTist, I took commissions for animations, character designs, logos & flyers. Working as a Counselor inspires me to draw and exemplify common psychological and mental health challenges and pictures that create positive introspection. I find inspiration in music and visual art by looking at it through the psycho, spiritual, and mental health lens - MedicineArt. 

My motivation to create "EnvironMental Education" comes from my early Indigenous childhood inspiration and their connection to Mother Earth. That is why my tree and earth characters have human faces to attempt a lost bond with Mother Earth. Short term profit and the colonizer mindset is a disease. My children's workshops ask, "Why do we call it Mother Earth?"

I like to sell EnvironMental MedicineArt on the street to get honest and instant feedback from random people to review my product for my practice and mental health colleagues. You are helping me by reviewing my MedicineArt, sharing it on social media, buying it from me, or through my online redbubble shop - #iveno.

Therapy is challenging. Talking to a professional who is a stranger is where MedicineArt comes in as a tool. A picture says a thousand words; some are triggering and retraumatizing. This art creates safety by not having to directly talk about triggering topics. 

MedicineArt addresses complex social, psycho, and spiritual mental health topics in a blink of an eye. People often express how looking at MedicineArt makes them feel understood in their mental health struggles.  

My goal in music and visual art is to create tools for mental health professionals. My music is at home in meditation, mindfulness, yoga, healthcare, and hospital settings.