Every child loves to draw and therefore we can state that every single person has been an artist at some point of time at least. While dealing with the rigmarole of life, if the creative spur is left behind, one does not call himself an artist.

An artist is considered a highly sensitized person with a polished talent or developed skill to create what is considered art. This art in turn casts its spell upon viewers and art having a long history interestingly records its varied impacts on man’s life.

Art therapy on the other hand is a term used clinically to discover the latent dispositions of a person, to give vent to or elevate to treat the problem of an individual through the employment of art. Therapeutic Art, often used synonymously, indicates the use of art for therapeutic purposes.

It is well known that Art Therapy is more of a necessity practiced abroad and yet to find strong foothold in India. Art therapy is generally associated with hospitals, cancer societies, adult and child mental health organizations, family or social welfare centers, Rehabilitation Homes, de-addiction centers, prison service and so on. This clearly indicates that Art is used not only as a means of detecting the tendency, damage or pain in the patient’s mind but also serves as an agent or a medicine to ease, normalize or strengthen the affected individual.

To a trained eye the quality of lines in a drawing indicate specific qualities of the individual drawing them. Similarly colors are deeply connected to various emotional and subject-object associations. The repeated choice or avoidance of certain lines or colors can help reveal links to deeper issues.

Does this instantly give a kind of morbid association to Art therapy? Give it a closer look and see that Art can offer a catharsis or a cleansing after which it can become a vehicle of pure feelings, childish delight or romantic beauty too!

I wish to bring to notice the role of the thumb and the forefinger in the exercise of art. It is called the Chin mudra and often found as a gesture for meditation. It is seen with deities in Indian and Buddhist art and indicates the activating of consciousness or intellect. While painting or drawing one employs these two fingers mainly and it is believed to kindle the acupressure point related to the brain. Similarly, the Japanese Shiatsu, meaning pressure with fingers, is a massage technique where the fingers are used in various ways to create well being in a person. Thus, besides through acupressure points, Art Therapy offers an individual a means of escape from physical or mental stress and pain through the intense concentration and involvement it calls for.

A client or patient of Art Therapy need not know to draw or paint, nor learn or understand its high fundamentals. The patient on the other hand responds and performs better if s/he only follows the basic instructions of the therapist besides his/her instinct.

Since Art Therapists need skill and sensitivity it calls for mature and flexible people. Theoretical and experiential work besides a first degree in art and some experience in social work comprises Post Graduate trainings offered at training centers. They are required to maintain standards and uphold the professional body. Like Drama and Music therapists they too can be State Registered under professions supplementary to Medicine. There are several forums or societies too besides books, journals and online groups. (try www.ArtTherapyForum.com)

However, it must be stated here that not all art used therapeutically needs the constant involvement or guidance of the therapist. In fact the role of a therapist is primarily to observe and facilitate suitable self-expression in an apt environment. All other factors vary from case to case. The relationship between therapist, patient and image and the guidelines are variable in nature. In some cases the client never gets to see the therapist but only receives instructions and is reviewed under strict secrecy as in the case of psychiatric examinations. It can also be a general class with common instructions for all or it could be a personal one to one relationship.

The working of Art therapy can be broadly explained as follows. Art serves as abridge between the inner and the outer, the private and public experience that reveals a spontaneous moment of the psyche just as with dreams. This imaginal activity is observed on the basis of Aesthetic, Jungian and Psychoanalytic theory. It provides a means of developing associations with dreams that lead the psyche further in to the imaginal realms (characterized by multifaceted and evanescent non-linear narrative) and then back into the real (i.e. a recording of the imaginal activity by fixing it in tangible material). Therefore, all art therapy outcomes cannot be made visible to the public. Various practitioners hold various opinions. However, the outcome can be used in a group to initiate a discussion, a dialogue, to tell a story or to solicit explanation in order to assess the individual or as in the case of this exhibition to simply share a conviction.

Finally, the efficacy and effectiveness of art may often be subtle rather than explicit. Evaluation and measurement tools may be borrowed, created or derived. Qualitative research encompassing subjectivity and quantitative objective methods help refine and validate existing theories.

All the challenges and achievements of the therapist and patient are finally resolved if there is a positive response, an ethically desired change and improved self-expression; and in the event of public sharing – a vocal response of the viewers.