AuriolB | Ravensbourne Access \ Design

Initial proposal aims The project set out to explore the (non-clinical) therapeutic effects of creative practice.  Analysis of process and outcomes I have devised and followed a six week programme of expressive art activities. Over the course of that time I have experimented with a wide variety of media and explored and taken inspiration from the approaches of different practitioners ― from art and colour therapists, to ‘the great’ artists, and contemporary ceramicists, artists and textile artists.  Critical review of approaches and processes I set myself free to experiment without focus on outcome. The Mandala exercise in particular evolved from a process of copying through to a recurring use of circular, decorative forms that is visible in the final outcome for the ‘comfort cards’ pack. Challenges faced My greatest challenge throughout the project has been my own perfectionism and creative block ― and this is what the process was specifically designed to address. Soluti

  It’s the final week, of finishing touches and finessing, testing and selecting ― and most importantly,  SUBMITTING . . . The nature of my project ― to spend six weeks exploring my creative practice as (non-clinical) therapeutic self expression ― means that I have a lot of work, in a variety of media and styles. So this process has been one of seeing which pieces spoke most strongly to me, and to my theme of finding comfort in creativity.      I’ve found myself revisiting a couple of things: my ‘ creatrix ’ aspirational self-portrait now has a blue dress in my signature paint-dipped style; ‘ What is creativity anyway: i ’ takes inspiration from a sketch I did on the back of a flour-sack a couple of years ago, exploring the Oxford English Dictionary definition of ‘Create’; ‘ What is creativity anyway: ii ’ reworks the Riso print poster design I created in the first term, paying much stronger visual homage to Milton Glaser’s distinctive brightly-coloured design as well as his words.

With a week to go before the submission deadline, it seems like a good moment to check my progress against the assessment criteria . . . INDIVIDUAL PROJECT ― PROCESS AND REALISATION What is my project theme? How does it express individual perception and expression? My theme is ‘the comfort of creativity: a personal exploration of therapeutic, expressive art practice’. By its very nature, it is highly individual and the focus throughout has been on self expression. What are my processes, methods and materials? How will they enable in-depth exploration of my theme? At the beginning of the project, I mapped out six weeks of ‘self-coaching’ process. I researched art therapy exercises to incorporate into my own practice and this gave me a structure to follow. I had no set final outcome in mind: the process itself was the purpose. Each week brought something new to explore and my materials have ranged from pencil and paint through digital illustrating and photography to book-binding a

The penultimate week of the course, suddenly! A patchwork of design, photography, test printing ― and literal patchwork . . . Theme of week six in the ‘comfort of creativity’ self-coaching program is ~ Give yourself permission to make what feels right; create without judgement. It’s a challenge with a Final Major Project deadline looming, but I’m sticking with it! What’s been feeling right is to keep exploring a number of things that speak to me: A booklet of the phases of the moon, ‘self compassion’ cards, a ‘comfort blanket’ stitched from fabric I inherited from my mother. I began the week in a tumble of memories: scraps of material I sorted by colour, texture, meaning before narrowing down my selection for this project. At its heart offcuts from the dress my mother made me when I was about three years old; Soft cottons and silks. I layered photographs in Procreate and played with patterns inspired by mandala shapes. I researched textile artists whose work I saw at the V&A’s

  The Easter holidays ― a time for family, chocolate, and illuminating letters . . . Theme of week five in the ‘comfort of creativity’ self-coaching program is ~ Map your circles of influence ― set your boundaries & intentions I revisited notes I had made over the Christmas break, exploring the foundations of what it means to live a good life: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ‘simple, uneventful life’ of the Shakers. I printed out the very rough first draft of what I’ve been calling my ‘wonder-book’ (inspired by childhood compendiums of facts and stories) and while I liked a lot of the visuals ― the blue of the cover, the beautiful effect of printing flower photographs on the soft grey hue of the recycled paper ― as a whole it isn’t working. I sat and thought back to that phrase which shone out from last week’s tutorial: what would it be to make ‘a hug in a book’? Something a lot simpler than this bulky collection of writing. A hug is

This week has been about identity ― from selfie-portraits to the multiverse and various points between . . . Theme of week four in the ‘comfort of creativity’ self-coaching program is ~ Analyse with compassion your ‘labels’, skills & experience. It was good to have some work in progress (angel illustrations) to show at tutorial and explore the book idea some more ― the idea of ‘a hug in a book’ emerged strongly and has informed my practice in a positive way this week. It also helped me find an entry point for my creative development this week ― as always I needed a straightforward project to ease my way past the challenge of the blank page. Recalling little ‘hug’ cards I had made during the pandemic when hugs were impossible, I developed last week’s theme into a hug mandala. I then used the mandala patterns as a gentle entry point to a therapeutic art exercise to explore the ‘masks’ I wear. I had printed out several template outlines of my face shape and features (sketched in pr