Exercise “A series of drawings”

3-4 jobs are done at once. The sequence of selection is chosen by the author himself. One of the drawings is done on wet paper (it must be moistened with clean water using a sponge or brush before drawing). The second drawing is created on crumpled paper (previously we sin the sheet into a tight lump and straighten it). The third drawing is created on paper folded several times and, after that, straightened (the folds form cells). The fourth work is created from a torn and glued sheet (you can paste it on another blank sheet of paper), you can decorate, make any shape and volume.
When creating a work, let go of all thoughts, listen to feelings and sensations. You need to start from the background-task and against this background we depict our state. We do not analyze and do not criticize our drawings, we allow ourselves to do whatever we want. We will analyze only after the completion of the entire series of works.

Diagnostic interpretation:
Wet drawing actualizes the feelings associated with a person’s attitude to himself, his body, his sexuality. It also reflects a person’s ability to relax and “go with the flow”, without control, to accept life as it is. The preference for this pattern indicates a connection with one’s resource, the ability to recover, relax.

Drawing on crumpled paper actualizes the theme of relationships with loved ones (family, friends), the theme of growth and overcoming the conflict. Tactics of work convey the usual tactics of interaction in conflict: denial, fight, avoidance or cooperation. The therapeutic transformation is interaction with the background, taking into account the curves, complementing the background with a pattern, accepting unevenness.

Drawing on “checkered” paper actualizes the interaction of a person with the system, with society. It reflects the attitude to career growth, social development, finding one’s vocation. It is therapeutic in this case to participate in the structure, transform it at will, consider and accept.

Work from torn paper reflects a person’s ability to recover, survive periods of crisis, integrate, change. The presence of a crisis stage and a resource that helps to overcome it are diagnosed.

The resource of the drawing (its attractiveness for the author, energy) indicates the elaboration of this area. In the process of drawing and transformation, we can also come to acceptance and harmonization. In addition, it is very important to express the feelings associated with the work, whatever they may be.

*Techniques of art therapy from NATALIA KUZMINA*