Updated: May 19, 2021
Creativity is thinking of new ways to do things! It involves producing ideas or behaviours that are original. Therefore there are two essential components to creativity -originality and adaptiveness. A creative individual generate ideas or behaviours that are novel or unusual and these make a positive contribution to the individuals' life or the life of others.
Creative thinking is an act of making a random combination of associations that lead to breakthroughs and new discoveries, that add value to people's lives. It is a performance of an individual's attitude, knowledge, imagination and ability to evaluate interesting ideas and experiences.
Session aim:
To explore how the creative arts can be used to support mental health
recovery.
Session objectives:
Explore different approaches in which creative arts can be used to support recovery.
Explore the benefits of creative pursuits for recovery.
Provide an experience of using creativity in potentially beneficial ways.
WHAT 'CREATIVITY' MEANS TO YOU?
Meaning Activity/ Pathway
To provoke Films/ Paintings/Photography
Physical Dancing /Design/Fashion/ Flower arrangements/Drawings
Rhythm/Harmony Music/Dance/ Visual Arts
Trance Dreaming/ Day dreaming
Liberation Books, Art appreciation general
Energy( Heart) Mandala Art/ Zentangle/ Doodling
Expressive Painting/ drawing/Sculpture
Recovery Better life choices + Art appreciation/ Visiting galleries
Informative Infographics/Digital Design
Innovative Inventions
Vulnerability Personal Discovery
Social Relationships Making new connections
THE BENEFITS OF USING ART FOR RECOVERY:
What creativity means to you and provide an experience of using creativity in a potentially beneficial ways. The benefits of using art for recovery
Better or worsen communication tool
To see a different perspective of the worldview
Improve concentration
Improve self-esteem through achievement and participation
Creative pursuits
Ways of expression
Hope, Control, Opportunity
Empowerment
Inspire change and growth
Distraction
Relaxing and diverting in stressful times
Engender a sense of belonging in a group activity
Mindful and contemplative activity (flow)
Expression of anger
Art therapy ( Treatment)
Displacement (Sublimation)
Sociable( Engagement and empathy)
Avoiding Judgment such as self-criticism
Brainstorming ideas and thoughts
Increasing resilience
Not getting bored and feeling of aliveness (for me!)
Resources:
Core Arts:
https://www.corearts.co.uk/
Geoff Ashcroft Community Centre (Arts Therapies): 0207 197 1401
Idea Store Activity Directory:
https://www.ideastore.co.uk/community-information
Our Art Club (OJ Morreale)
https://www.ourartclub.com/
Creativity and Wellbeing Week
http://creativityandwellbeing.org.uk/
MIND:
https://www.mithn.org.uk/our-services/mental-health-services/connecting-communities/
Providence Row:
https://www.providencerow.org.uk/
Crisis:
https://www.crisis.org.uk/
Now it’s your turn.
Who is one of your favourite creative person in your life?
Share your thoughts, comments, and questions about your creative journey.
Updated: Feb 17, 2021
The display of 2D and 3D artworks by the Pritchard's Art Group. The group exhibition took place at the Idea Store Library in Canary Wharf. The exhibition consists of still life drawings, colourful landscape paintings, textured trees/leaves/fruits and handcrafted clay objects. The series of art workshops have been cultivated by the participants' artistic talents to be more intuitive and to drive their basic human needs of curiosity, self-expression, and creativity in visual arts.
The participants have practised with acrylics, oil pastels, mixed media and simple drawing tools to experiment with skills and techniques:
Simple drawing skills from natural forms, shapes and textures of trees, landscapes & leaves
Building tonal patterns to create visual form and value on paintings
Organising good composition by using the essential qualities of visual arts
Exploring, experimenting and investigating landscape painting themes
The fundamentals of understanding the colour wheel and colour theory
Building confidence in composing still-life paintings
Using colours effectively to create visual texture and harmony
Introducing basic clay crafting and clay building skills