Day 2: The Brain

Today I was creating a new Webinar (Art Therapy and OCD) and I needed a picture of a brain showing the basal ganglia to describe the process of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder from a neurological point of view. Although it would be convenient to grab an image off Google, that would be unethical (wouldn't it?). So, I decided to draw the brain image myself.

 Killing two birds with one stone, I drew the brain on the iPad.

Torn Paper Collage with Ink

It has been awhile, but I am back and my promise to you is that I will post my art again on a weekly basis (more often if I am able to).  

This is a ripped construction paper.  Glued together and than enhanced with ink pen design. 

I began this piece while I was working with a client.  She is an adult female who I feel is very controlled and fearful. After several weeks of her drawing, I took away some of her control and told her that she could only tear the paper.  As she worked I created my own torn paper collage.  I have been making art along-side my clients more often these days.  I have abstained from doing this in the past, but recently I feel that I can watch my clients without staring at them.  Otherwise, I get bored and the client sometimes feels judged.

I completed this collage by adding repeating patterns (some of which I borrowed from Henna designs).  I liked the focus that these tiny designs required, but at times it was exhausting and felt very much like I was perseverating. I like this and I want to do more in the genre. It is really an interesting juxtaposition of letting go of control and almost OCD control.

Day 50: Peach

Well, I just HAD to draw fruit when I saw that today's color was "Peach". I really didn't want to.  It seemed too obvious, but the subconscious wants what the subconscious wants.  Ultimately, it's okay, because I like to draw/paint fruit.

I was sitting in a Parent Teacher Association middle school meeting while I was drawing this.  (Not the most exciting of meetings - needed something to keep my mind occupied).  I heard a podcast on NPR that quoted a study: People who doodle while in a class/lecture had 29% better recall than the non-doodlers. "According to a study published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology, doodling while listening to a message can actually help memory recall."  


So, what I am saying is... I can tell you 3 times as many details about what was said in that meeting than those who looked as if they were paying attention.  However, more details are not necessarily better - it was still dull.
  
I really like this drawing!  There are many different elements to it: The fruit, of course.  The straight-edged boarders with just the right amount of flair in the top left and bottom right corners.  The three dimensional quality of the stairs on the top and bottom. And the circles in the lower left and upper right corners.  My OCD really likes the symmetry and balance of this drawing.


Good job, Pammy!