It was great to start life drawing again.. albeit a lot different to the life drawing sessions at Camberwell College of arts! BAAT offered a more chilled out drawing experience.
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Monday, 6 January 2014
Using technology in art therapy
I’m quite disheartened that most of my research on art therapy and new
technologies lies in America rather than the UK (as art therapy varies around
the world I would ideally like to find research from the UK). This must be
because it is so current but it could be incorporated into the future of the
profession. I find the limited research available slightly frustrating however
on the bright side this could appear as an advantage as I can, once I qualify,
take part in advancing the profession in terms of research. This is an
inspiring thought!
I found this article that has opened my eyes in terms of who can benefit
from art therapy. So far on the course I have learnt that anyone can benefit
from this as long as they can engage with art materials, leading me to think
that only people who can physically pick up a pencil reach the benefits. From
reading this article however, Parker-Bell (2011) reviews computer programs that
enable children who are physically challenged to engage in visual material,
meaning that people suffering from disabilities can benefit from art therapy.
This hasn’t been mentioned so far in the course but I think it is an area I
would like to research into further. If computer programs enable therapeutic
communications why can’t the use of a tablet?
I am more interested in the range of materials used by art therapists in
more general terms but I would like to research the use of tablets further, as
this is a developing area.
Parker-Bell, B (2011) Embracing a Future with
Computers and Art Therapy, Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy
Association, 16:4. 180-185. Available at:https://uhvpn.herts.ac.uk/doi/pdf/10.1080/,DanaInfo=www.tandfonline.com+07421656.1999.10129482 [Accessed 5
January 2014]
Thursday, 2 January 2014
More Kindle experiments
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| Drawing 6 |
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| Drawing 7 |
I find I am thinking more about drawing during the last few days as I’ve been working on my Kindle. I think this is because working via Kindle rather than traditional art materials is ready to go whenever the moment chooses however the prospect of rummaging through my art box seems too slow. I usually work at a fast pace, as I’ve mentioned before but now I feel I want to do everything now. Right now. Upon reflecting on this idea I feel it is because this full time course is very demanding. I feel as though I am being stretched from researching art therapy techniques, to working with my placement group, working with the school as an institution, keeping up with the University assignments and doing self exploration each Monday with my personal therapist. It is a lot of work that varies however blogging about all these different elements is bringing it all together for me. It does make me think what I would be like without the blog! At the beginning I didn’t necessarily see the benefit but now it is drawing to an end I want to keep it up. A thought I did not anticipate previously.
Perhaps my reluctance to ‘finish’ the blog highlights
my reluctance to bring matter to an end.
Do I find endings difficult?
I guess I do to some level. Even ending a
job is difficult for me, I find it hard to say goodbye in these situations. For
instance, I was a Christmas temp working in retail (I left just before
Christmas) and I found it hard to say goodbye to the people that I slipped off
without mentioning it was even my last day.
This is another thing I must take to my
personal therapy sessions, as this will inevitably impact my therapeutic work
with children. How will I be able to end therapy? This is an ending I cannot
avoid! I wonder how I will cope with this. I know it isn’t solely about my
issues with endings but also that of the client. How will they cope with ending
therapy? Will they lash out? Will they be upset? …Angry? …Frustrated? These are
all questions I’m considering currently. People are all different so I cannot
predict how the ending will go. I will have to again sit with the unknown. The
ever so familiar unknown!
I must add that although my work with the Kindle is at the forefront I am still continuing to make paper on the sidelines.
Wednesday, 1 January 2014
Kindle drawings
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| Fig. 2 View of living room |
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| Fig. 3 View of bedroom |
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| Fig 4 |
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| Fig 5 |
work very fast. And that's something every draftsman is interested in." (Hockney, 2013) The slow pace of working with paint and canvas is a disadvantage that deters me from using the medium altogether; I want to use ‘paint pad’ further in the future because of it’s swiftness oil/acrylic paints lack. I have reflected on why I like to use this app and have come to the conclusion that I tend to use materials in a fast paced approach. Leaning towards charcoals, pencils, when I make 3-D artwork I usually work with media that’s fast so I can experiment quickly. I have always chosen materials I can use at pace so I can produce more work in order to work more efficiently. I’m not sure why this is exactly but I like to make as much as I can. It’s like I’ve got a lot of ideas racing in my mind that I have to create them to decide what works and what doesn’t, then move on to the next thing. I’m finding the way I work is beginning to change on this course mainly because I don’t have the time to create all my ideas; being on the course full time I only have one day a week for artwork which is a completely new way of working. I would usually immerse myself into my art making. I feel making on the Kindle is a step towards my previous way of working because I can literally paint on the Kindle anywhere with no worries on if I’m going to make a mess or not. Additionally, the Kindle has a small screen meaning what ever I make will be quicker than my usual work (normally a scale of A1 when working 2-D).
Reflection on drawings
The subject matter of the drawings look very voyeuristic. This is something I did not think about too much as I drew them as I was concerned primarily with familiarising myself with the Kindle app. Upon reflection it makes me wonder who is behind the image and who they are watching. It looks like I as the artist is looking from the outside in. I am not involved in what I am drawing, it is like I am on the outside documenting the setting of the living room or bedroom. I guess this is a direct reflection on my life at the moment and how I generally feel with a group of people. Like I am on the outside observing. This is probably why I am drawn to the profession of art therapy, because I am a watcher rather than a participant.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
New media drawing
.png) |
| My first Kindle Fire drawing |
I
decided to give new media a chance and create my own 'drawing' on my Kindle
Fire.
Having
researched David Hockney's ipad creations I felt inspired to create a new media
image of my own to see how it feels to paint on a device rather than using art
materials. It felt surprisingly refreshing to make artwork on a kindle. I felt
like I was playing rather than making and serious art, which felt, playful and
fun. I enjoyed how mark making was more primal than I imagined it would be. I felt
connected with what I was doing which was a surprise as I mentioned before I thought
this new process would loose something from using traditional paints, however, I
felt very much attune to the marks, forgetting I was even using my Kindle.
I
felt a lot of freedom when making this image although this is usually how I feel
when presented with a blank sheet of paper and paints. I am used to making
larger scale work so I did feel limited in what I could make when drawing on a
7inch screen. Overall I was impressed with the results of the kindle! The disadvantage
for me personally was that I feel like the artwork was not entirely created by
me. I feel ownership has partly shifted bearing in mind the brain of the Kindle
made it.
I
want to use my Kindle in a therapeutic situation but feel it is unsuitable for
my current placement in a primary school however I may use it personally in my
training group. I want to feel what it’s like to use new media in this context
in order to consider it in a real therapeutic setting.
One last addition... I must mention the magical feeling I experienced when finishing the image then emailing it via my Kindle to my Hotmail address then downloading it to my laptop. I am comfortable with modern technology however this did leave me feeling very satisfied with the ease of connecting these devices.
Andrew Marr on art as healing
'Knowing I was able to draw made me realise I was going to be OK': How art aided Andrew Marr's recovery
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| Marr's drawing after he suffered a stroke 'Leaning to walk' (2013) dailymail.co.uk |
I read Andrew
Marr's article on the Daily Mail website about his experiences with art making
after suffering a near death stroke. His speaks of his experience with mark
making and how this helped his recovery, which I found very inspiring. It
gave me a sense of hopefulness in art as therapy in a very real situation. As
I’ve only begun one of my placement days I am yet to experience my own
therapeutic experiences therefore I am relying on the experiences of others at
this moment.
I have chosen
this particular image from the article as it shows his innate vulnerability as
he makes his recovery. The marks show instability, exposing him as he re learns
to walk. I notice how the legs that we rely on to be stable and strong are
shown here by Marr to be small and thin in comparison to the rest of the body.
The figure in red, said to represent Marr looks top heavy, looking like it
cannot physically stand no matter how hard it tries. The figure appears to be held
by the bodiless hand from the left hand side of the image, I notice the hand
looks unrealistically large for the red figure. The hand, which I assume is
guiding Marr, too looks unstable and weak, unable to stabalise the damaged
figure. This is heightened by Marr (2013) ‘I felt very vulnerable and quite
scared. Drawing my vulnerability helped… I’m the object in red, at the centre…
wobbling’.
Reading about
Marr’s recovery from a stroke inspires me as a trainee art therapist that I can
make a difference and that art can be such a powerful source.
Monday, 30 December 2013
Art therapy, new media and working with young people
Having still not heard from my second
placement, I await with anticipation. There are significant disadvantages in
waiting a long time for my placement to start for one I am filled with ideas on
what it could be like without having any realistic experience in what it will
necessarily be like.
I am very much interested in new media at
the moment specifically David Hockney’s exhibition named, ‘me draw on ipad’ in
Copenhagen and his exhibition in San Francisco. At first I was quite against the idea of using an ipad to
paint as I thought this would take away from the important physical process of
painting but the more I reflect on it the more I want to try this out myself.
Hockney has used a combination of using his fingers and stylus when creating
his ipad paintings. I have researched into Hockney’s ipad exhibitions but I am
yet to find anything where he comments on the process of ipad drawing in
comparison to oil painting for example. I am interested in the differences here
for Hockney considering painting or drawing is such a physical journey for me
as an artist I feel without feeling the paint or feeling the pressure of the
lead on paper an element must be missing. I must try it for myself although I
do not have an ipad I will try a similar app on my kindle fire, this way I can
test out my preconceptions.
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| Fig 1. David Hockney Installation view of the iPad (2011) http://www.designboom.com/art/david-hockney-me-draw-on-ipad/ |
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| Fig 2. 12 foot high views of Yosemite National Park by David Hockney in San Francisco exhibition. (2013) http://www.toledoblade.com/Technology/2013/10/30/iPad-artwork-on-display-in-major-sweeping-David-Hockney-exhibit.html |
I have also thought about using new media
in a therapeutic context. As I am anticipating work within a secondary school
this seems like a logical idea. I know from the visiting art therapist lectures
at University that teenagers are less willing to engage in art making in
comparison to younger children. I immediately thought of using an ipad for
instance if drawing with a pencil and paper might deem too daunting, too permanent.
The beauty of the ipad is that the marks can be deleted instantly, freeing up
any anxiety of not feeling good enough to draw. This however has it’s own
complications. Perhaps making it easier in this way for young people (or any
age) negates the point of therapy? Maybe they need to get over not feeling good
enough by using the art materials rather than going for the easier option of an
ipad.
But I also feel using an ipad is a move in technology which one as a trainee
art therapist cannot ignore when working with young people. New media is used
currently in teaching so why not use it in therapy?
I will research working with new media in art therapy and if this has been done before. I'm curious to find out whether this changes work as an art therapist because they are not using conventional art materials and what this means for the profession. I found an online book where Malchiodi speaks of using digital art therapy with hospitalised children, she wrote an encouraging line, 'Art therapists, play therapists, and other health care professionals who work with children in hospitals or medica settings are already applying various forms of digital media in their sessions.' (Malchiodi 2013:106)
To be continued...
Bibliography
Malchiodi, C. A (2013) Art Therapy and Health Care. [online] The Guilford Press: New York
Available at http://books.google.co.uk/books?hl=en&lr=&id=IktwddZWp4MC&oi=fnd&pg=PA106&dq=art+therapy+ipad&ots=UOisY9P9H-&sig=vx8NPMvmt9JI-G-Y_q_oppd-siQ#v=onepage&q=art%20therapy%20ipad&f=false [Accessed 30 December 2013]
Mendoza, M (2013) 'David Hockney exhibit highlights iPad art'. mydesert. [online] Available at: http://www.mydesert.com/viewart/20131228/LIFESTYLES0104/312280031/David-Hockney-exhibit-highlights-iPad-art [Accessed 30 December 2013]
O'Brien, C (2013) 'How the iPhone and iPad transformed the art of David Hockney'. Los Angeles Times. [online] http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-how-the-iphone-and-ipad-transformed-the-art-of-david-hockney-20131024,0,1766325.story#axzz2j9gk9VFG [Accessed 30 December 2013]
Images
Fig 1. David Hockney Installation view of the iPad (2011), (2013) [Image online] Available at: http://www.designboom.com/art/david-hockney-me-draw-on-ipad/ [Accessed 30 December 2013]
Fig 2. 12 foot high views of Yosemite National Park by David Hockney in San Francisco exhibition (2013) [Image online] Available at: http://www.toledoblade.com/Technology/2013/10/30/iPad-artwork-on-display-in-major-sweeping-David-Hockney-exhibit.html [Accessed 30 December 2013]
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