Montrose, CA – February 13, 2025 – (USANews.com) — Creative Lounge, an art space led by Artistic Director Armineh Havan, offers a distinctive approach to art education, combining creative expression with personal growth. Focusing on Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy (PCEAT), the studio provides a supportive environment that allows individuals to explore emotions, gain insights, and express themselves through art, going beyond traditional techniques.
Armineh Havan, an experienced artist and educator, has focused her career on the potential of art for personal transformation. Trained by Dr. Natalie Rogers at Saybrook Graduate University in San Francisco, Havan is a certified PCEAT facilitator. This background influences the philosophy of Creative Lounge, which encourages participants to use art as a means for emotional exploration, self-reflection, and healing rather than just mastering artistic skills.
Havan's teaching journey began as an assistant professor at a prominent university abroad, mentoring students who later received recognition from organizations like UNICEF and Shankar’s International Children’s Competition (SICC). After relocating to Los Angeles in 1999, she continued to teach and incorporate expressive arts therapy into her workshops, which have been offered at schools, community centers, and cultural organizations.
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Notably, Havan’s collaboration with the Women’s Resource Center Armenia in Yerevan helped empower women through expressive arts, guiding them to explore their identities and emotions creatively. In Los Angeles, she has facilitated free art-based workshops in partnership with the Armenian American Mental Health Association at the Glendale Central Library, with funding from the County of Los Angeles. These workshops offer a space for participants from diverse backgrounds to express themselves through art.
Havan’s own artistic journey has evolved through three distinct stages. Her early works, collected under the title Women of My Time, address societal limitations faced by women. In her Modern Life in Katchkar Forms, Havan reflects on her Armenian heritage, while her Self-Realization Journey series highlights personal growth through abstract portraits of fading flowers and fruits, which symbolize the resilience of the human spirit and life's fleeting nature.
The focus at Creative Lounge is on personal discovery and emotional growth through art, distinguishing it from traditional art studios that often prioritize technical mastery. "Art has the power to transform," says Havan. "When we create without judgment, we create space for self-reflection and growth." This philosophy appeals to a diverse range of individuals, from beginners to seasoned artists, who seek more than just technical training.
Creative Lounge’s approach integrates art education with personal development and expressive arts therapy. Many participants report enhanced confidence and emotional release as a result of their time at the studio, gaining a deeper understanding of themselves. "Many students come here thinking they're just taking an art class, but they leave with a new perspective on their emotions and identity," says Havan.
As an artist, educator, and advocate for self-expression, Havan’s work continues to resonate with audiences in the United States and Armenia. Whether through her paintings or her workshops, she remains committed to helping others unlock their creative potential and develop a stronger sense of self through art.
For more information about Creative Lounge and its approach to art education, visit the studio's website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. Reviews and testimonials are available on Yelp.