Wellbeing

I managed a two-year arts and wellbeing project funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Paul Hamlyn Foundation researching the impact visual arts have on participants' sense of wellbeing. This led me to conclude that the visual arts have a particular role to play in supporting wellbeing. The visual arts encourage participants to quieten the verbal reasoning side of their brain and strengthen their visuospatial abilities. In doing so they experience calmness, mindfulness and increased self-efficacy. My programmes support the underpinning of Five Ways to Wellbeing; particularly in relation to connecting with others, learning new skills and attending to the here and now. The techniques that can be used are endless, here are a few.

Printmaking

The printmaking techniques I incorporate into my printmaking programmes are designed to be accessible for complete beginners. No previous experience is required.

Drypoints are created by scratching a texture onto a clear acetate sheet. Participants trace their selected image with a sharp scribe. The texture and lines created are filled with ink and non textured areas are polished off. This basic technique is then developed using a range of techniques for manipulating ink.

Salt-etch is a technique that utilises the reaction between aluminium and copper-sulphate solution to create textures on the surface of a printing plate.

Photo-intaglio is a process in which the texture that holds ink is created using a light sensitive gel

Book-making

All the above techniques, or other techniques such as drawing and painting can be incorporated into a simple book structure.

Drawing and Painting

My drawing and painting programmes are designed to gradually build participant skills and confidence. No previous experience or ability is required.