Negotiated Learning Plan - ART281

NEGOTIATED LEARNING PLAN (questions to be addressed) 

(1) Outline of current concerns 
Reflecting on the work you have previously made - outline the concerns/ideas that you wish to develop in this module. You might plan to continue and further develop a personal project begun in Stage 1 or develop additional and/or new ideas/concerns 

My work typically deals with marginalisation, abjection, and viscera, such as with my previous project called ‘Filth and Squalor’. This mixed media artwork explored comments found in public vandalisation, with the intent to give these disenfranchised voices a place in the public eye. The overall theme was to force the audience to recognise these groups and their mental wellbeing, even allowing audience members to add any further comments directly onto the artwork. This unfortunately could not be achieved due to the current global circumstances, so the audience participation had to be cancelled. 

 

I would like to develop my research abilities as well as my awareness of art’s placement in society this year, by writing an in depth proposal for a participatory mental health art workshop. It will focus on expression, where the participant is given protective equipment and paint, and they are to exert a single emotion on a canvas without intent to ‘paint something’. The room will be dimmed however, allowing the participant to express themselves without being aware of their work. This will then repeat two more times with separate emotions being explored. Afterwards, the participant will have a discussion with the host, where they will reflect upon the work. 

 

I feel as if this experience will allow people to become more objective about themselves, and by acting as both a meditation and a release. I also want it to be accessible and safe at all times, so there is a stress on the fact that this workshop is one-on-one. This is in consideration of those with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and agoraphobia, who might feel uncomfortable in group situations. I would like to make it accessible as a lot of current mental health support involves forcing the groups to go through rigorous, stressful social scenarios just to get some help. 

 

The expressive aspect stems from my previous work, which could be described as disorderly and chaotic. This is because I feel as if a n important aspect of art is the distinctiveness of each individual's mark making, as no one can truly copy a brushstroke from another artist. With participants pouring their emotion subconsciously into their work, some fascinating art will be created, assisting people in their healing process at the same time. 

(2)Studio practice/working methods 
What working processes or strategies do you intend to use to develop your personal project? What new processes/strategies/studio practices do you intend to try/‘test out’ during this module? 

In order for the research proposal to be successful, multiple strategies and processes will be explored such as:  

• Library research practice strategies: Finding information that is relevant to the proposal, which will support the credibility of the document. 

• Expressive practices: Exploring expressionist approaches to art making through both abstract works and studies. The studies will focus on environments and architecture, as well as self portraits, to greater understand art as a representation of self. This will allow me to reflect upon environments I experience as well as my personal emotional experience with art, which will support the proposal. 

• Consideration of my role as an artist in society: Reflecting upon my own practices and relevancy in the wider world of art, providing me with perspective on how I could apply and develop those skills. 

• Documentation processes: Rigorous photographic and portfolio documentation will improve my presentation skills, as well as helping to put all work in perspective to identify its relevancy to the project. 

 
(3) What do you need to do, to help achieve your personal project? 
For example: What areas of research are needed to support your project? How will you expand your knowledge of the context(s) are you working in? Which artists, writers, critics, gallery/museum/exhibitions/site visits do you need to be knowledgeable about? What skills do you need to acquire or develop? For example; Welding, printmaking processes, painting skills, illustrator or Photoshop. 

I will need to research studies into group and one-on-one art therapy sessions, and the results obtained from them, as well as looking at participatory art performance works. By looking at performance work from different artists, this will expand my horizon into how particpants could express themselves, what could be discussed, the approaches to be considered, and the most appropriate artistic medium. The artists will also help inform me as to what expressive art making methods I could employ in my own practice, to enhance my own artistic ability. 

 

These are the following artists that will be researched: 

• Paul McCarthy 

• Bruce Nauman 

• Hermann Nitsch 

• Alberto Greco 

• Jackson Pollock 

A combination of extreme performance artists and expressionists will be researched. 

This is further reading material that needs to be explored and considered over the course of this project: 

 

• Integrative Art Therapy and Depression: A Transformative Approach -  Skov, Vibek 

• Art Therapy Research: A Practical Guide – Betts, Donna and Deaver, Sarah 

• Art Therapy Techniques and Applications – Buchalter, Susan L 

• Jackson Pollock: Psychoanalytic Drawings – Pollock, Jackson 

• Expressionism In Art – Warren Cheney, Sheldon 

 

Outline of skills that will be developed over the course of this project: 

 

1. Gestural painting techniques on a large scale. 
2. The ability to research different sources to support one overall point using a variety of materials. 
3. Library research practice. 
4. Proposal writing ability. 
5. Presentation and speaking skills. 
6. Exploring drawing methodology in regards to expressing emotion, from an abstract viewpoint. 
7. The ability to discuss my own work, and the relevancy of it in today’s society. 
8. The ability to reflect upon challenges faced during experimental research stages, and how to relate these techniques back to the proposal. 
9. To understand what makes a successful participatory art workshop in terms of planning what could happen, assessing risk factors, and considering art’s ability as a tool for people to heal. 

 

(4)Personal Development Goals. This could be particular skills that you would like to develop e.g. the ability to write about own work with greater clarity; it might be to investigate a volunteering or placement opportunity related to your career ambitions; it might be a technical skill; or to develop ways, (with the help of the module leader or your personal tutor) to increase your confidence when speaking about your work in a group situation.  

I would like to investigate the pathway towards a career in art therapy and psychotherapy. I find this field fascinating, and I feel as if this mental health workshop will help me become more aware of common practices in this sector, giving me perspective into the importance of art in our society. The group tutorials will develop my confidence with presenting, which is a necessary skill for the field. 

The academic research approach needed to write the proposal will also support this career decision further, as it is good writing practice. This will greatly develop my skills in discussing my art, comparing it to other artists, considering the most efficient ways to research, and planning skills. 

 

I would also like to practice more expressive art practices and approaches, such as with mark making and sculpture. I will discuss how different mediums affect my ability to have freedom in my gesticulations, and which I felt were the most successful in being meditative artistic practices. I feel as if this would make my art hold more meaning, as it is going to be a learning experience.