Obscure Emotions
Obscure Emotion is a phrase I coined in the summer of 2016. It is an emotion we feel deeply but cannot yet articulate or understand. The purpose of this project was purely personal: to draw my own unseen and complex emotions in the most simple way possible.
What began as a personal project soon took on a life of its own and I began to understand the power of shared vulnerability. By talking about emotions in an approachable way, I was able to create a space for people to share their own stories and heal themselves though art.
Evolution into a book and card deck
In time, this project evolved into a book, an exhibition and coaching cards. It has set the tone of my creative career and helped me realize that I want to create work that facilitates dialogue on emotional wellness and inspires us to slow down and examine our own internal life.
Praise for the Obscure Emotions Card Deck
As a therapist, I am always looking for different and new ways to connect to my clients. Some of my clients are very visual and art speaks to them so I knew this card deck would be super helpful for them. I also LOVE the question prompts. Sometimes as therapists, it can be hard to figure out the best questions to ask, the prompts do most of the work for you. "
— Addie Wieland
As a therapist, these cards have been a game changer in therapy sessions with clients. The prompts are written in a way that promotes in depth conversations by challenging thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. I recommend these to any therapist that is looking for unique therapeutic tools.
— Valerie Rivera
I love the Obscure Emotions cards! I can see them being really useful for conflict resolution, to connect more deeply with friends, during journaling sessions - in so many ways. Half of the deck is illustrations and the other half is prompts, so they’re really versatile.
— Vrinda Priya
Exhibition and Gallery
In the summer of 2017, I exhibited my Obscure Emotions series in a boutique gallery in New York City’s Lower East Side. The exhibition was designed to be interactive and immersive. The walls and ceiling were painted with various emotions and the audience was encouraged to participate by writing their own obscure emotions on the walls.
