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Plot “n” Blot

Creating meaningful dialogue between clients, their family, and staff

PLOT "n" BLOT, is a process, combining the tradition of sentient art, and the revival of faux painting.  Throughout the making of a painting there is dialogue between staff and student/client and the finished product is an interpretative activity where family members are encouraged to join in.

 

This technique was developed while working with one particular adult student who was referred in an effort to modify the non-compliant, often aggressive behaviours directed toward peers and staff in an established adult day program.  Given the life transition of a father’s death, which after a year appeared to be unresolved, and the decline in using verbal skills to express his thoughts and feelings, we entered into the treatment phase assuming our adult client could be experiencing “complicated grief”, though not ruling out an early onset of dementia as a contributing factor.  During the initial assessment it became quite evident, this individual was a highly creative spirit who sought a high level of tactile sensory experiences, but required a one to one therapeutic encounter.

 

I observed, he would often dismiss the steps or directions in a particular art technique and proceed immediately to engage with a viscous substance like wet clay, fun dough, or thick paint seemingly lost in the creative process and the visceral sensations of the material.  The student I have referred to was someone who came with a history of producing some very interesting pictures that were valued by others and often found their way to friends' homes.  His personal work was accomplished by using pastels, markers and crayons and resembled primitive attempts at drawing himself and others often with detailed and decorative ornamentation. The work was impressive.

 

However, when water colour, and/or acrylic paint was introduced he was unable to keep colours separate and would after a short time swirl them together into a mud pie consistency proceeding to use only that colour in great globs.  One day acrylic paint spilled all over the table and it was a rush to blot the ever expanding sea of colours.

 

We grabbed whatever was handy-cotton cloth, textured paper, newsprint, and blotted up the excess. When this had dried we recognized an interesting technique had developed - one in which colours emerged with extraordinary intensity, emotional tones and shapes which could be recognized as human forms, flowers, animals and even angels.  When mom arrived she engaged spontaneously providing additional interpretation to the now "art work".  This provided an additional function:

• to encourage the understanding of nonverbal symbols and metaphors as a bridge in supporting her son’s creative process and development
• use each picture to design a narrative story furthering an understanding of a sequencing of events
• provided an additional technique for the learner to gain confidence in  

 

Creative intervention and the question of "what is age appropriate activity?
Sometimes a parent will question the value of “playing" with art and/or handicrafts... of it being “childish” or not an “age appropriate activity” for their adult son or daughter with developmental disabilities.

 

At "Teaching Hands" the question to ask is,
"What activity reduces anxiety and calms the student/client/learner so the discipline and the culture of adult life will emerge"
If engaging in the creative process provides a space for an individual to feel safe and confident to manage the demands of developing socially appropriate skills such as cooperation and compliance, and brings a measure of joy and empowerment, then the use of the phrase "age appropriate" needs to be considered in the context of mental health. For in times of stress and hopelessness, we all need to access our inner child to find a sense of place and peace.