ABOUT ME

Hi! My name is Catlin Humes and I am a serial creative based out of Central Indiana. My mind is always moving, always imagining—and often causing trouble. Photography has always been the main way I pay my bills. I photographed events all over the Midwest for fifteen years as soon as I graduated high school but I have since “retired” to become a Central Indiana real estate photographer and love getting to see so many interesting and beautiful properties.

But Photography is only one facet of this chaotic creative diamond. I have used Art Therapy to help regulate my busy brain ever since I was a small child.

I grew up poor. My earliest memories are set in a home that would later be condemned and my favorite place to play, the local dump. My parents were not able to break through the poverty that so many in my area experience. They self medicated their shame, depression, and trauma with alcohol like so many others. After my father passed in 2012, I bought a duplex so that my mom could live with us (without living with us) and that began my caregiving journey that would last fourteen years as my mom went from functional alcoholic to nonfunctional, and eventually, developed dementia.

My mom is in a facility now and I find myself with no one to take care of but myself for the first time in thirty six years. So, what am I to do?

Honestly, I don’t know.

I’m kind of figuring it out one day at a time.

The first step is combing all of my creative endeavors in one place; the second might be profound.

Follow Along if you Dare :P

MY MISSION

I was raised by the church. And although I consider myself Agnostic now—with beliefs that fall in line more with Pagan and Indigenous ideas of The Divine being the world and people around us—those principals I learned from reading about Jesus heavily shaped my morality and sense of responsibility. I was taught to Love Thy Neighbor and flip the tables of Churches when they care more about money than the people they are supposed to serve. Some call it Social Justice. Some call it “Woke”. I call it Living Like Jesus.

Given my background, I have a strong empathy toward people struggling with poverty and mental health, and I prefer to help people as directly as possible. Many charities require proselytizing or those reaching out to meet certain criteria before getting access to their help. I prefer a more Boots-on-the-Ground approach based on Mutual Aid initiatives that meet people where they are.

I got the idea to start The Church of Art Therapy shortly after having a small mental breakdown. I’d processed enough of my trauma to have room in my brain to step out of survival mode just enough to start really looking at the world. I wrote (and continue to write) whole novels featuring women who embrace their power to help those in need…and I finally decided to take my own advice. No one is coming to save us. WE have the strength to change the world.

It starts small.

I don’t have magic—but I do have ADHD and Conviction—which, when harnessed can be used in a similar way.

So, no, I am not going to run for political office or try and climb the municipal social ladder. I am going to use creativity to do more of what I already have experience with: helping those in need.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

MATTHEW 25:35-40