Conscious Fun

Conscious Fun

6x12"

Mixed Media on Board

Painting #197 - This painting depicts a sensation-seeking adolescent but she has been raised in an environment that enhances self-regulation. She is still attracted to rewarding experiences but Mindfulness activities have helped her develop the capacity to control her thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Steinberg states that moving adolescents into settings that foster better self-regulation can make a real difference.

Feeling Good

Feeling Good

6x12"

Mixed Media on Board

Painting #196 - This painting depicts the plasticity of the adolescent brain, which transforms in levels that will never be reached again. The nucleus accumbens (experiences pleasure) is a small structure inside the limbic system and it actually gets bigger when approaching adolescence and then smaller again in adulthood. This remodeling means that adolescents are much more easily aroused and will go out of their way to seek rewarding experiences (social rewards, praise, attention etc.) and will even engage in dangerous activities. Did you know that research states that literally nothing will ever feel as good as it did in your teens because everything was more intense?

Enlightened

Enlightened

24x24"

Mixed Media on Board

Painting #195 - In Age of Opportunity, by Lawrence Steinberg, we learn that a fresh set of standards by which to judge the behaviors of adolescents are needed. Sadly, when I was working on this painting two teenage boys were killed because of their engagement in a thrill-seeking activity. I was shocked by the lack of empathy from people who were quick to judge the situation. Steinberg’s book helped me understand the science behind the teenage brain and why perhaps this terrible tragedy happened. This painting depicts an informed and compassionate society who worked together to help protect adolescents from themselves.