Art's way of becoming

Why do we so often live by values, fears, and expectations we never fully chose?

Artonomy grew from this question. It explores how making art can help us work with the forces that shape what feels natural, necessary, or possible. In making art, these forces can become part of what unfolds between the person, the materials, the image and the choices being made. A mark can be repeated, covered or interrupted; an image can resist what we intended; something can become important that was not there at the beginning. Art creates a space where familiar ways of responding can be repeated, encountered, unsettled or taken somewhere unexpected.

This is where art meets autonomy. Artonomy is about using art to explore how we become who we are — and how we might begin to take part in that becoming.

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ABOUT Me

I am Faye. I am a Registered Art Therapist (AThR), art educator and doctoral researcher in art and education. I have a particular interest in self-exploration, personal values and how people make sense of who they are and how they want to live. My approach brings together art-making, reflection and mindfulness across therapeutic, developmental and creative settings.

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OUR SERVICES

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Art Class

Small-group creative experiences that support exploration, reflection, connection and personal growth through art-making.

Art-based Personal Development

Art-based sessions for exploring identity, values, self-understanding and life direction for young children

Art-based mindfulness workshop

Mindfulness and art-making combined to support present-moment awareness, stress reduction and reflective self-awareness.

Art therapy

A therapeutic approach using art-making and conversation to explore emotions, experiences and psychological wellbeing.

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Embracing Intuition: The Balance of Yin and Yang in Art Education

Language and art have both served as tools for communication. As human society advanced, language became a type of art—the "art of...

Faye Z

2 min read

The Hidden Function of Art

China-born and China raised, I have some understanding about why Chinese parents send their kids to art classes. Some of the most common thoughts around it are: Most painters spent their lives in poverty and only became famous after they died—some even went crazy and cut off their ears. But it's useful, as it could help the kids get into a better university with less-than-ideal academic results. “I've never thought about this thing called art, but other people's kids are doin

Faye Z

6 min read

When Children’s Art Becomes Imitation

Picasso famously said, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Yet the sad reality is that lots of art teachers spend their time teaching kids how to draw like adults. One especially notorious practice—widely criticised by art educators is the so-called “stick-figure drawing” method. In Chinese, there's a distinct name for it "简笔画”(Jian Bi Hua), which simply means simplified drawing. It's quick and easy as ABC, and was developed to

Faye Z

4 min read

Childlike Creativity and the Eastern Brush: What Picasso and Matisse Say about Art

Speaking about Picasso, most people think about his famous paintings, such as Les Demoiselles d’Avignon , Guernica , or The Weeping...

Faye Z

3 min read

The Problem With Teaching Imagination

“I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality.” Frida Kahlo A while back, a parent told me she was worried about her daughter’s artistic abilities. “I feel like she lacks imagination,” she said. This parent isn’t alone in her concern about her child’s creativity. Many parents seem to share the same misconception about what imagination means for children. To me, a child’s imagination isn’t necessarily about creating something fantastical or surreal. Unlike adults

Faye Z

2 min read

When Life Took a Turn, Art Led the Way

"Life really does begin at 40. Up until then, you are just doing research."— Carl Jung I’m Faye. I’m a mother, a cat lover, and someone who has spent much of her life searching for what truly gives life meaning. I was born and raised in China, and since 2008, Australia has been my home. Cozy Study Session with Roxy, Sapphire, and a Pile of Books, 2023 In 2019, I lost a dear family member. This traumatic experience made me rethink what truly matters in life. In search of mea

Faye Z

2 min read

Teaching Art in the Age of AI: Guiding Creativity Beyond the Algorithm

In Aboriginal Australian languages, there’s no direct equivalent for the word "art," because art isn’t just something they create; it’s how they live. It is woven into storytelling, traditions, and daily existence. The impulse to create is deeply human. Poets often describe writing as something that just happens—an unfiltered response to emotion or experience. Similarly, W.H. Auden called art a "rite of worship," something instinctive rather than learned. Malcolm Ross, on th

Faye Z

3 min read

Good Art Teaching Doesn’t Begin With Technique

One of the most common questions I get from parents is, "What course do you offer? Do you teach watercolour, oil painting, or sketching?" If I had to name the kind of art course I offer, I’d call it an art nurturing class. It’s not structured around teaching specific skills, or a particular theme—instead, it’s about providing inspiration, and allowing kids to explore their own interests, discover their preferred styles and materials, and develop organically. When they reach a

Faye Z

4 min read