What are ‘Glimmers’ and how do they relate to my art collection?

Written By Jenna Ferguson

My new painting collection is titled ‘Glimmers’, and I wanted to take the time to explain the meaning behind this title, and how it came to inspire my paintings!

So first of all, what are ‘glimmers’?

Glimmers are small moments that spark a positive emotional response. They are when we experience moments of joy or happiness, which can help make our nervous system feel safe or calm. The term was first coined by clinical social worker Deb Dana, who specialises in complex trauma. In a book she published in 2018, Deb writes;

"We're not talking great, big, expansive experiences of joy or safety or connection. These are micro moments that begin to shape our system in very gentle ways."

Glimmers are described as being the opposite of ‘triggers’. Triggers are widely understood as when things (e.g. memories, objects, or people), spark a negative emotional response that dysregulates our nervous system. Few people yet know about the term glimmers - which are said to be the opposite of triggers.

Glimmers can often go unnoticed, but experts say becoming more aware of them can be beneficial for your mental health. They might be connected to something you smell, taste, touch, hear, see, or experience. They are little sparks of wonder, love, appreciation and joy in your day. As they have a calming effect on our nervous system, when we intentionally take the time to notice and appreciate our glimmers throughout the day, we strengthen our ability to self-regulate.

Embracing glimmers can create a powerful mindset shift . The more you acknowledge glimmers, the more you’ll feel them!

What are some examples of glimmers?

  • That first, mindful sip of tea or coffee

  • Going to bed in freshly washed sheets

  • Listening to your favourite music

  • Taking a deep, nourishing breath in nature

  • A hug from a loved one

  • Watching sunlight dancing on water

  • Being in a creative ‘flow’ state

These are all examples of glimmers I experience in my own life, and you can start to get an idea of how some of these influence my art!


My background in understanding emotional wellbeing and art

A lot of my life used to be focussed on understanding trauma. I have a Masters degree in Art Psychotherapy, and prior to becoming an artist I worked as an art therapist. As an art therapist, my job was to support children with trauma recovery by helping them to use art for emotional expression. I left my art therapy job when I had my two daughters, as I wanted to be around more for them and to pursue my work as an artist. But all the learning and training I did as an art therapist has had a huge influence on my work as an artist. I have an awareness of how art can be hugely supportive of emotional wellbeing and mental health.

In my practice as an artist, I’m always drawn to creating art that feels calming and soothing, and to art processes that ease my anxiety as I work.


So, how do glimmers connect to this art collection?

Something that often sparks glimmers for me is watching sunlight glistening on water. When I take my dog Maggie for a walk by Loch Lomond, it’s a beautiful day and I have some time to myself in nature, I just absolutely love it! It’s moments like these that inspired this series of artwork.

But it’s not only about recreating the beautiful visual of water glimmering in sunlight, my aim for this collection is that it might spark the feeling of glimmers in others too.

The most common feedback I get from people who purchase my art is that they find it soothing and calming to look at. This is one of the things that brings me most satisfaction from my work as an artist.


And it’s also my main goal for my ‘Glimmers’ collection.

I want you to look at the painting and feel the sense of calm I experienced in creating it. Not only that, but I hope that viewing the artwork sparks a reminder for you to look for glimmers in life and to become more intentional in noticing them. I want these paintings to bring you joy!

Thank you for reading this blog post! If you’re interested in learning more about glimmers, I’ve included some references below. And if you would like to be kept up to date about the release of my Glimmers collection and future artwork, you can sign up to join my mailing list at the bottom of this page.

Jenna Ferguson
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