ART-FEELS is a collection of tasks or projects based on the principles and techniques of Art Therapy, and is for anyone who would like to be more aware of themselves, more in touch with their emotions, needs, fears or areas of their lives that they feel may need some work. Art and creativity has, throughout my life, been a vehicle for self-expression, a relief from stress and a way to communicate my idea’s not just to others, but sometimes to myself too, and I feel this is an experience that should be available to everyone. You do not need to have any major emotional problems or even be an “artisticâ€?person to enjoy using this book, just the desire IRU D EHWWHU PDQDJHG HPRWLRQDO OLIH DQG WKH ZLOOLQJQHVV WR DFFHVV \RXU RZQ FUHDWLYLW\ DQG ĆžQG HQMR\PHQW LQ LW 7KH SURFHVV RI FUHDWLQJ DQG ZRUNLQJ WKURXJK WKHVH WDVNV DUH MXVW DV LI QRW PRUH LPSRUWDQW WKDQ WKH ĆžQLVKHG ZRUN , FDQ RQO\ GHVFULEH WKH VDWLVIDFWLRQ RI ĆžQGLQJ D EHDXWLIXO SLHFH RI ZRUN DV WKH UHVXOW RI ZRUNLQJ WKURXJK WKRXJKWV DQG IHHOLQJV WKDW , KDG previously brushed aside or ignored. A huge sense of freedom can be gained from dropping your inhibitions and just making things for the sake of making things, creating images and loving them because they are yours and nobody else’s! So go for it - make your own ART-FEELS!
Read through the tasks and try them out starting with whatever catches your interest. The order of these exercises are not as important as your genuine enthusiasm, where you fully feel you can immerse yourself in the tasks. If one approach to a task does not excite or interest you, try it a GLƝHUHQW ZD\
Feel free to use this book in whatever way feels right to you. Make notes in the margins, scribble over the text and doodle whenever and wherever it occurs to you to do so. There are “Notes” pages provided for you to record your thoughts and musings on the tasks and the images you create, however if you feel it would be better for you to start a separate journal then do it.
If a task brings out a particularly painful or strong emotions perhaps take a moment for yourself and when you feel ready, take some time to look at and examine the image and note down any thoughts you have in the nearest “Notes” section or in your journal.
If after this you still feel distressed or worried, do no hesitate to contact a Doctor, Counselor or Art Therapist. This book is designed to evoke emotions and aid self-awareness and self-expression however cannot be an alternative to clinical help for emotional issues or mental health worries.
7U\ ZRUNLQJ RQ GLĆ?HUHQW types of paper, paying attention to the colour, weight, texture and size of the paper.
- Pencils Pencils are great for making quick rough sketches and are very easy and cheap to get a hold of, so are a great place to start. - Drawing Ink India ink is relatively cheap and makes drawing much more loose and free than with a pencil - don’t be afraid for your drawing to be a little out of FRQWURO &RORXUHG $FU\OLF LQN FDQ EH D ORW RI IXQ WR XVH DQG FUHDWHV VRPH EHDXWLIXO HĆ?HFWV - Paint Cheap poster paint or water colours are great ways of introducing yourself to painting, but for really vibrant bright colours and better control, try acrylic or oil paint. - Glue Hot Glue, Modge Podge, Glue Stick, Wallpaper Paste or PVA - there is a huge variety depending on your how you want to use it. - Scissors It helps to have a few pairs of various sized scissors about, for more control while cutting things out. - Collage materials 6WDUW FROOHFWLQJ ROG QHZVSDSHUV PDJD]LQHV ZUDSSLQJ SDSHU FDUGERDUG VWDPSV SUHVVHG Ć&#x;RZHUV DQ\WKLQJ \RX OLNH WKH ORRN RI RU FDQ be stuck down.
7KH $57 )((/6 EORJ VWDUWHG RĆ? MXVW DV D SODFH IRU PH WR XSORDG DOO P\ LQLWLDO DWWHPSWV DW HDFK WDVN , ZRXOG UHFRUG P\ WKRXJKWV feelings and analysis of each image. The blog records all the tasks I considered and tried out including some tasks that didn’t quite make the book. I also post various bits of my own illustration and personal work and inspirational work of art and illustration related to mental health and Art Therapy.
For most tasks in this book you will see a QR code like this, which can be scanned XVLQJ DQ DSS RQ \RXU VPDUW SKRQH DQG ZLOO EULQJ \RX WR WKH VSHFLĆžF SDJH IRU WKDW WDVN on the ART-FEELS website.
If you would like to share your ART-FEELS, see other peoples responses or ask any questions about this book, or the project as a whole, feel free to visit the website and blog at www.art-feels.com. Any feedback on this project, the tasks and your creative responses, would be greatly appreciated.
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Which of your images feel more intense - those for positive of QHJDWLYH HPRWLRQV" 'LG \RX ƞQG FHUWDLQ HPRWLRQV ZHUH KDUGHU WR GHSLFW WKDQ RWKHUV" &DQ \RX WKLQN RI DQ\ UHDVRQ DV WR ZK\ WKLV ZDV WKH FDVH" Can you see any connections between the emotion and the colours DQG PDWHULDOV \RX XVHG" Do any of these emotions seem contained to a certain part of the SDSHU RU KDYH WKH\ VSUHDG RYHU WKH SDJH IUHHO\" Do you feel proud, protective or embarrassed of any of your images DW DOO" Describe how you might feel showing these to someone and why. :KLFK RI WKHVH HPRWLRQ LPDJHV GR \RX FRQVLGHU WKH EHVW" 'R \RX WKLQN LWƅV DQ HPRWLRQ \RX IHHO YHU\ RIWHQ"
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Look at the item you have used to represent yourself. +RZ ZRXOG \RX GHVFULEH LW" ,V WKHUH DQ\ SDUWLFXODU UHDVRQ \RX SLFNHG WKLV LWHP" If there are other characters in your comic, what do you think your FKRLFH LQ LWHPV VD\V DERXW \RXU UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK WKLV SHUVRQ" ,V RQH LWHP HVSHFLDOO\ ELJJHU WKDQ WKH RWKHU" :KDW DUH WKH PDLQ FRORXUV \RX KDYH XVHG" $UH WKHUH DQ\ HPRWLRQV \RX SDUWLFXODUO\ ZDQWHG WR FDSWXUH WKLV ZD\" Write down a few reasons as to why you have chosen this particular conversation or moment to narrate in your comic. 'R \RX IHHO LW UHYHDOV DQ\WKLQJ DERXW \RX" Describe how you think a stranger might feel, reading your comic. :KDW VRUW RI HPRWLRQV GR \RX WKLQN LW PLJKW HYRNH" Do you feel you would be comfortable having people read your FRPLF"
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WHAT KIND YOU ENJOY
OF MUSIC DO WHILE WORKING?
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Describe how you created your favourite self-portrait. How does it make you feel? If you were a stranger looking at this portrait, what assumptions or thoughts do you think they might have about you as a person? Do you think your portrait depicts you as more or less attractive than you feel in real life? 'R \RX WKLQN \RX IHHO DQ\ GLƢHUHQWO\ DERXW \RXU DSSHDUDQFH KDYLQJ GHSLFWHG LW LQ GLƢHUHQW ZD\V" Which self-portrait (if any) do you like the least, and why? Do you think you generally have a positive self image?
What sort of emotions or messages do you feel your ART-FEELS FRYHU PLJKW FRQYH\" +RZ GR \RX IHHO DERXW WKLV" :DV WKHUH VXкаFLHQW VSDFH IRU DOO \RXU IDYRXULWH SLHFHV RI ZRUN RU ZHUH \RX IRUFHG WR EH HYHQ PRUH VHOHFWLYH" +DYH \RX HQMR\HG PDNLQJ \RXU RZQ $57 )((/6" ([SODLQ ZK\" Do you feel your cover appropriately sums up your ART-FEELS H[SHULHQFH" Do you have any of your own creative projects you would like to VWDUW"
WHAT NOW? Visit www.art-feels.com to upload and share your work, to try out additional tasks and for links to art classes and workshops in your area.
%RRNV WKDW KDYH EHHQ LQVSLUDWLRQDO RU LQƤXHQWLDO WKURXJKRXW WKLV SURMHFW ‘Wreck this Journal’ by Keri Smith
‘How to be an explorer of the World’ by Keri Smith
‘Picture This’ by Lynda Barry
‘What it Is’ by Lynda Barry
‘Explore yourself through Art’ by Vicky Barber
‘The Art Therapy Sourcebook’ by Cathy A. Malchiodi
‘Art Therapy for Groups’ by Marian Liebmann
‘Little Windows into Art Therapy’ by Deborah Schroder