Hoping to integrate a piece of her childhood into what she loves doing best, art teacher and integrative arts therapist Prachayaporn “Pat” Vorananta, converted an under-appreciated rooftop area of a 30-year-old building into Studio Persona, a space where individuals can explore their artistic inclinations without fear of judgment.
Pat, an only child, spent most of her childhood with art and books. The idea of Studio Persona was planted in her mind when she was only eight years old, and got to experience a sense of comfort and her first taste of self-expression at a homey and welcoming art school. Pat determined since then to put up something similar, where people can come, feel safe and be themselves, one day.
The art lover strongly believes in the healing powers of creative therapy. At Studio Persona, Pat hopes participants can address and reflect on experiences, memories or even trauma by creating art. A bit of positive psychology at the end of each session, given by Pat herself, may even help them find a solution to personal issues.
Participants can also come for nothing else but to have a good time. “People may not necessarily want to reflect on anything. They can just come and have a great time and carry that good feeling back home with them,” Pat says. She wants Studio Persona to be a space for both art expression and play. “Play in terms of exploring and experimenting with art. Somehow, being an adult distances one from the creative experience, so I want them to reconnect with the art process again.”
The workshops explore a wide variety of media, including visual arts, music, sand play, puppetry, poetry, and clay work. You don’t need previous experience to join a particular class; the only thing required is imagination. “Some people, like movie directors or writers come here to find inspiration since they get to know themselves better and even another dimension of themselves they didn’t know existed,” Pat says.
Private room is also available for clients who prefer to do one-on-one workshops. “In a private session, I will see how a client feels, then help them find a solution. For instance, if one says he’s feeling pain during a watercolor workshop, I would ask if there is a color that he can paint to relieve the pain or if tearing up paper will help,” Pat explains.
Offering these workshops can be very fulfilling for Pat, but they can be challenging, too. Trying to make people feel comfortable with creating art is something that she has to deal with on a regular basis. “Most people are so used to having a proposition and direction, and tend to visualize the final result even before they even start. So the challenge would be how to make people enjoy the journey even if they don’t know the end result yet. Because sometimes, an experience becomes better during the creative process."