A music video featuring original electronic music and digital artwork.
Read MoreCreativity for Brain Health
The Arts for Recovery by Rick McVicar
Drawing and Playing Toward Health
Brain Health
Creativity Helps Heal the Brain by Rick McVicar
0 Comments
0 Comments
Original digital paintings and music by Rick McVicar. The paintings celebrate this season of family vacations.
Read More
2 Comments
Original paintings and music by Rick McVicar, along with an update on book project with columnist M..
Read More
0 Comments
Letting everyone know I am feeling all right, after a stretch with strange symptoms.
Read More
2 Comments
After being plagued with headaches, I'm now waiting on doctors.
Read More
0 Comments
Research studies demonstrate the therapeutic benefits of clay sculpting.
Read More
1 Comments
An organization in Canada is using woodworking as therapy for disabled veterans.
Read More
0 Comments
Several faces I've painted with the use of a Wacom digital art tablet and Painter software.
Read More
0 Comments
A research study shows how drama therapy benefts senior citizens.
Read More
1 Comments
Art therapy helps students with disabilities communicate and express themselves.
Read More
Amelia's (M.'s) Words of Wisdom
2 min read
1 Comments
Amelia Willows (formerly M.) provides an update on the progress of her vegetable garden.
Read More
2 min read
4 Comments
M. has started writing a book on mental health along with Rick McVicar.
Read More
1 min read
0 Comments
Announcing a new book project being launched by M. and Rick McVicar.
Read More
3 min read
2 Comments
Personal responsibility is a key ingredient for self-care and personal growth.
Read More
2 min read
2 Comments
Columnist M. celebrates new life brought by mental health recovery.
Read More
2 min read
2 Comments
Planting a vegetable garden can have calming effects while nourishing your body.
Read More
2 min read
2 Comments
M. writes about learning how to wisely use her gifts, or pearls, to help others without hindering.
Read More
3 min read
3 Comments
Columnist M. writes about her faith and how it helps with mental health recovery.
Read More
2 min read
2 Comments
Columnist M. writes about living with challenges brought by a mental health diagnosis.
Read More
1 min read
0 Comments
Columnist M. says words of thanks while adding that viewers are invited to submit material.
Read More
Guest artists, Writers
0 Comments
Guest artist Ian Webb describes the meaning of a dragon he drew.
Read More
0 Comments
Ian Webb displays his artwork and adds a time-space travel short story to go with the picture.
Read More
0 Comments
Ian Webb finds art to be uplifting and a cure for the blues.
Read More
1 Comments
Ian Webb writes about the early life of Alexandra Nechita, an artist who began as a child prodigy.
Read More
Contact
- Mansfield, Ohio, USA
- mcvicarrick@gmail.com
- Mon-Fri. 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
I welcome any comments you might have about any posts. I am also interested in the artwork, poetry or music of my readers. Send me a note and I'll be glad to reply.
Hi! I'm Rick McVicar
Welcome to my blog. I've been on a long journey of recovery from mental illness. The technical name for my illness is schizoaffective disorder. It is a kind of a catch-all diagnosis, as it is a mixture of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As you might guess, the diagnosis is not the easiest concept to understand.
Recovery from the disease has been a mixed bag. I've had wonderful successes and tremendous losses. One of my biggest successes was to spend about 10 years as a reporter for community newspapers. Most of that time was with a news organization serving a rural area near Columbus, Ohio. Another success was working as an archive assistant for Disciples of Christ Historical Society when it was located in Nashville, Tenn.
For the past few years, I have been focused on the arts for my recovery, mostly poetry and instrumental music. I recently finished a class in poetry at The Ohio State University in Mansfield.
That brings me to the point of this website. I would like to promote the use of the arts for recovery from brain disorders. I invite readers to submit their poetry, essays, short stories and pics of their artwork. The website currently has one weekly columnist and there is room for another.
My academic background includes a bachelor's degree from Ohio Northern University, a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and graduate studies at The Ohio State University School of Journalism. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.