A descriptive survey examining the compared experiences of non-artist adults working with collage and with drawing materials in an initial art making session

Abstract

This study examined the experiences of non-artist adults making a piece of art about themselves using two popular art therapy approaches, collage and drawing, with the purpose of understanding how the characteristics of each approach might affect the anxiety experienced in initial art therapy sessions. The study used a descriptive survey design in which eight volunteer student participants, ages 18-27, responded to their experience by rating their anxiety level before and after each task, by choosing which approach to start with, and by describing their experience. Clinically significant findings were that drawing evoked significantly more anxiety than collage because of:(1) preconceptions about what constituted an acceptable piece of art(2) concerns that meaning could be lost or misunderstood when an idea was translated onto the page because of limited drawing abilities(3) concerns about facing the challenge of the blank page and coming up with ideas for the artwork, and(4) concerns about the challenge of having to communicate using the unfamiliar medium of drawing materialsFindings also indicate, however, that drawing:(1) can be more personal, because the imagery produced is unique to the creator(2) is not bound by rules or structure(3) promotes creative problem-solving to address artistic limitations, and(4) can provide a positive sensory experience that collage does not seem to offer. Collage was approached with significantly less anxiety than drawing because:(1) the process itself was perceived as being easier(2) it provided structure in the form of visual stimuli, and(3) it involved a controlled, cognitive process that allowed for the safe exploration of self, insight and self expression, and for the depiction of strengths. Limitations identified when working with collage were that:(1) it required the individual to work with someone else's selection and someone else's imagery, and(2) it required a level of organization that seemed to exacerbate anxiety in some individuals. While drawing seemed to evoke the fears of failure, being misunderstood, shamed or revealing too much of oneself too soon that many clients new to therapy often experience, collage seemed to address these concerns. Seven participants used collage to make pieces that were considered more revealing of emotional content. At the same time, there were limitations imposed by the collage-making process, in that it compelled the artist to choose from images selected and prepared by someone else. Four of the drawings depicted feeling states, while the collages primarily addressed self-identity. This may have been due to the directive, but also could be due to the nature of collage, which involves selecting disparate images and words and assembling them into one piece. Findings suggest that collage can help address the anxiety of new clients because of its non-threatening nature, while drawing can be used to exacerbate that anxiety when needed. Collage can also act as a bridge to creativity by taking the familiar and askingindividuals to use it in a new way. Collage can also be used as a basis for the incorporation of less familiar materials. Directive and selection are important considerations. Once the client has gained some familiarity with drawing materials, however, and a therapeutic relationship has been established, it would appear that drawing is more effective as a tool for the expression and examination of emotions.

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