Materials & Media Art Response: Self Image

This piece was created for a Clinical Art Therapy unit examining the strengths and weaknesses of various media when working with different populations in art therapy.  We were directed to create a self-image, post the image to our discussion board, and explain why we chose the particular media we worked with.

Media used for this piece: graphite pencil, watercolor, acrylic, stick pastel, pastel pencil, liquid ink with quill pen.  I tried to keep this piece "loose" and cheerful.  We are in depths of a horrible winter, and things are grim; right now the mode is survive rather than thrive.  I wanted to create a piece that touched the joy somewhere inside of me, hidden away from all this cold and illness.

I enjoy starting pieces on paper by taping them down, it's become a ritual for me that puts me in my "art space" mentally, even though I am still at home physically.  In this instance, I worked on soaked water color paper, so the taping part also prevented buckling as the paper dried.  I started with a loose sketch, the worked wet-on-wet watercolor trying to keep things loose and relaxed.  When the watercolor dried, I glazed over the image with acrylics, then added some loose stick pastel for additional texture.  I tried to keep the fine detail work with the pastel pencil and ink to a minimum.

Mock Client Sam: 3: Greatest Accomplishment & Animal Family

What is your greatest accomplishment?

SAM: My greatest accomplishment has been earning respect and a living as a professional sculptor, which is NOT an easy thing to do.   I provided for my family; my wife got to stay home and raise our son.  Sometimes I wish they would give me a little credit for that.  I probably should have been more focused on being a husband and father, but it is what it is.  I cannot undo the past.

Create a collage depicting your family as animals

SAM: My family is from the canine group, we may fight to protect you or be loud and dangerous.  I am the lone wolf, watching and protecting, but not always 100% there.  My wife, tireless foundation of our family, is an Australian Shepherd.  Our son, (in our hearts he’ll always be a pup) is a Pit Bull; fiercely loyal and stubborn.  Our home is a lovely mountain, recently damaged by fire.

Mock Client Sam: 2: Circus Animal & New Career

If you were a circus animal what would you be?

SAM: If I were in the circus, I would be the lion.  All I want is to lie in the sun with my family, enjoying some fresh meat once in a while.  Instead, I’m poked and prodded by the trainer, forced to jump through hoops.  Sometimes the hoops are on fire.

 What are your feelings about starting a new career?

SAM: The thought of starting a new career scares me to death.  I’m a sculptor, that’s all I know.  I would not even know where to begin.  I get butterflies in my stomach just thinking about it.  I do not have any other valuable skills, and don’t know how well I could work with others.

Mock Client Sam: 1: Clinical Art Therapy

For Clinical Art Therapy, we are given a bare bones description of a "mock client" (we have 3 choices, choose one) whom we then "flesh out" with our own details.
I chose Sam, male, 50, sculptor, has wife and a son he's estranged from.  Recently learned he has cancer, depressed.  I added details: was unfaithful to wife in past, family found out, hence his estrangement from son. Sam and wife worked it out, but marriage has been very strained since.  Sam has brain cancer, unusual behaviors, went to doctor, found out he has brain cancer.

Directions for first assignment: create an artwork of choice, and if you were a tree, what would you be?

"Precious" Mixed Media on Paper

This piece was created for Clinical Art Therapy class, 2nd semester of the MAAT program at St Mary of the Woods.  

The directive was general- create a piece that reflects your idea of art therapy.

The specific technique is new, one that I am really enjoying, mixed media with chalk pastels.  I created a sketch, then a foundation of values using acrylic paints.  Then I finished the piece using graphite, chalk pastel stick and chalk pastel pencils.  The piece was sealed with matte spray sealant.  

The title of the piece is "Precious".   The piece reflects client  / therapist interaction; large eyes and hands & small mouth symbolize my views of the therapeutic platform.  

MAAT St Mary-of-the-Woods January Residency Art Pieces

 These pieces were created during the January residency starting semester two of the MAAT program at St Mary of-the-Woods College in Indiana.  At the conclusion of our first gathering, we created small "stones" to carry with us through the semester and inspire us with a personal message or thought when things become challenging, stressful, etc.  (Not if, when).  My personal goal for the semester is to just Be in the moment, experience and enjoy the process.  This is something I've wanted to do since I graduated from University of Tennessee with my BFA in the late '90s. 

My "stone" shows a man blissed out in the moment of creating music, on the backside it says, "Dont Worry" and "Sheer joy"

During the second day of the residency, we had art creation time, and were given the directive to create a piece that reiterates or elaborates upon the intention of the stone.   

On the final day at the conclusion of our Clinical Art Therapy class, we created group art pieces.  Starting with an independent piece that we then tore into chunks, we shared out our chunks, then created another independent piece using the group's pieces.  My final work depicted a man sailing away on his journey.  All the little flying creatures are my cohorts flying off to their various corners of the world, from California to Florida to Hong Kong.  

"Now What" Pastel & Ink Self-portrait