# Therapeutic Acrylic Paintings American Artist Jim Houser Uses Painting as a Therapeutic Medium By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2015-06-06 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jim-houser References: [beautifuldecay](http://beautifuldecay.com/2015/06/05/jim-houser-narrates-life-experiences-boldly-symbolic-paintings-installations/) & [jimhouser](http://www.jimhouser.com/) Self-taught artist Jim Houser has made a career out of creating incredible [acrylic paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/customdesigned-painting-kit) that symbolically depict the ups and downs of life. Whether he's painted a severed head with a surprised, yet resigned, expression, or several bottles of prescription pills floating in the ether, the Philadelphia-born painter always manages to evoke strong emotion with his work. That emotion is often anxiety; in fact, each of Houser's portraits are humming with sense of unease and disquiet that's easily relatable. He explains, "I like that my art-making is therapeutic for me. What is inspiring to me is that it contains a problem that never completely solves itself: me. From childhood on, I’ve used art to escape my reality, to help me define or explain my reality, and to meditate on my reality." Houser's [latest exhibit](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flowchart), HUSH, will be featured at the Andenken/Battalion in Amsterdam. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.7/10 - Popularity: 92% | Activity: 72% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Symbolic Art:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the use of symbolic art in therapy and self-expression to enhance emotional healing and personal growth. - **Emotional Art:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop new artistic techniques and mediums that evoke and explore specific emotions to promote psychological well-being. - **Therapeutic Expression:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create platforms and spaces that encourage therapeutic expression through art, providing mental health support and personal exploration. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art Therapy:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate technology and art therapy to create accessible platforms for remote therapy sessions and artistic expression. - **Mental Health:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with artists and therapists to develop art-based interventions and programs for mental health treatment and support. - **Art Exhibitions:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore innovative ways to curate and showcase therapeutic art exhibitions that engage and connect with diverse audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Human Duality-Themed Abstract Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/passive-aggression.md) - [Leftover Househouse Paint Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paint-drop.md) - [Vibrantly Colorful Dynamic Artwork](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kayla-rumpp.md) - [Glass Beaded Intricate Artworks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/painting-exhibition.md) - [Abstract Geometric Solo Exhibitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/impermanent-state-of-being.md) - [Apocalypse Post Pandemic Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contemporary-urban-art.md) - [Engaging Paint Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paint-vibe.md) - [Oil Painting-Inspired Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/antonio-santn.md) - [Creative Space-Enhancing Companies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bespoke-artworks.md)