Arts For Health
Phill Evans
Extreme Doodling, The Genesis...
In 2002 I was happily trudging along as a psychiatric nurse working
with street homeless people when I suddenly developed a bad
case of Multiple Sclerosis. Shortly after (and with indecent haste
in my opinion) the NHS retired me and I was left out on a limb.
Being suddenly impoverished my family and I were uprooted from
insanely expensive Oxford to merely expensive Shropshire. After
a couple of years composting and grieving for my career I pulled
myself together and went about retraining as an illustrator (which
is what I wanted to do in the first place, long story...), finally
graduating in 2008 and working as a freelance illustrator, teacher
and general creative for hire ever since. Apart from a couple of
glitches and a tory government I now seem to have more silver
lining than cloud.
One of the glitches of MS which directly affect my work is that
very often my hands will feel as if they are encased in gloves
which are WAY too tight, making me stiff and fumble fingered.
Not good when one is trying to draw! I developed a simple style
of doodling as an exercise which helps me to limber up my hands
before I start my “serious” work. It lets me start slowly and
deliberately to begin mark making and, placebo or not, it doesn't
take long for me to feel less like I am drawing with my elbows.
Over the years I have often been asked when I am going to colour
them in (I would rather stick pins in my eyes!!) and I have often
been told that they would make a good colouring exercise.
Interesting, the colouring advocates have always been women of
a certain age. I am making no conclusions from this, merely an
observation. However, in a recent article in the Telegraph1
seems that French women are using colouring in as a short-cut to
the zen like calm which most people find who draw or paint.
It has taken me three long years (even longer story...) but I have
finally produced a self published book of my Extreme Doodles2
to cater for this apparent interest. If you are a volunteer in the
VAN gallery in the Market Hall, there are copies on sale and also
a copy for volunteers to colour in in quiet moments :)
Extreme Doodling relies on a series of simple tricks
to develop a texturally complex image. Extreme Colouring, on
the other hand, is an application of patience and observation and
psychomotor skill of which I am completely incapable and I wish
all such colourists the best of luck, they have my absolute regard!
Phill shares his technique - click here
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1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/10868535/French-women-take-up-colouring-in.html
2 http://store4593315.ecwid.com/
Available on Demand
The use of art for holistic healing is an ages old practice.
Sessions are tailored for individuals, small groups, large group and community wide work.
VAN members offer a wide variety of approaches 'Arts For Health'.
Members are encouraged to update their practices by emailing details to visualartnetwork@gmail.com
VAN is forging links with The South Staffordshire & Shropshire Healthcare NHS FoundationTrust and The Shropshire Carers Association.