I regularly work as Art Therapist for Turning Point, the UK's leading social care organisation.
Painting murals as a group effort has allowed clients to be proud of something they
have created.
Italian landscape 2006
Working on the Italian landscape
On return from an outbound trip to Wales, the clients had many photographs from which we painted a mural 2 x 8 metres in the style of Van Gogh. We had been studying the artist's work for a couple of sessions and had been painting small pictures in his style. As a conseqeunce the mural only took three days!
Landscape of Wales in the style of Van Gogh 2007
Working with year 3 & 4 children on a mural for Hockliffe Lower School
Popart mural 2007
Working with artist Zenna Ellis, year 10 pupils from Vandyke Shcool were encouraged to design and paint a mural for Brooklands Middle School.
Below is a group painting "Liberation" inspired by the Sue Ryder fundraising campaign.
It was painted by addicts on the road to recovery.
It was exhibited and sold at the Mall Galleries
The Society for Art of Imagination, an international group of artists were invited to take part in
The Shanghai "Art Intrude" Exhibition an historical art event in China.
Artist Lizzie Reakes and I provided workshops to for clients to decorate and paint umbrellas.
These works were sent to the Shanghai Museum and formed part of the whole umbrella installation
creating a fantastic display!
The Shanghai Museum
A mural based on a painting by artist Patrick Woodroffe depicting the beginning of a quest. The clients were inspired by his HIS MAJESTESTY’S SHIP ‘GOLDEN’ LEAVES FOR THE WORLD’S END.
(More pictures to follow)
The clients were encouraged to write about the experience in the form of a group diary. Here follows a few extracts.....
"We decided on a painting by Patrick Woodroffe. This was chosen because it was busy, bright and colourful. On reading the synopsis about the picture we realized the painting depicts the beginning of a Quest, ‘Genesis’, Journey, which is how we all feel about this part of our lives. A new BEGINNING! "
Wednesday 23rd January
G has already drawn a magnificent jester, while A is drawing with great detail a dead crab and an upside down bus. One wanders what was going on in the Artist’s imagination?
DG has assigned herself to painting the sea. Cathy is calling her the ‘sea lady’. H has been really motivated. Couldn’t wait to start this morning and hasn’t stopped, its great to see her so motivated!
27th Feb
We came into today and we were told that channel five news was coming in today to do a piece to go out tonight on the news, so they were doing interviews and wanted us in the back ground so that they could see us working.
Cathy is really encouraging & I’m finding the painting quite theraputic – I have decided to buy myself a painting by numbers to do at home when I’m feeling anxious. Looking forward to next week already! Charlotte W
23rd April To day I realy enjoyed art I have had tremendous amount of encouragement from Cathy which has boosted my confidence so much I painted the end of the telescope with such a steady hand im so proud Sian h
Wednesday 4th June
When first asked to contribute to the Mural, to be honest I didn’t feel inclined to join in. However, once I started I didn’t feel inclined to stop.
John H. SDC.
“It was really beneficial to work in a team and have a final product that is your own achievement.” By 2.30pm, 5 squares completed! It was really fun to listen to music whilst drawing and painting. It’s hard to believe that I will only have one more day in art as I leave next week. Have really chilled through doing this mural. Will definitely do a mural at home for Macee. AJ.
Wednesday 06th Feb
A.J. I am pleased to come back for one day to finish my piece on the wall. It’s nice to see everyone again. I am feeling really positive leaving structured Day Care, now that I am in recovery thing can only get better!!!! Right now lets get on with this picture……………..
Building a Teepee....
