Page 57 - ART FORM AND MENTAL HEALTH - Ingrid Pénzes

Results
Categories of material interaction
The participants agreed to discuss the categories of material interaction related to two-dimensional art materials (i.e. drawing and painting materials) as they were most used in art therapy assessment. Based on the analysis, twelve of the initial fourteen categories of material interaction were further specified (see Table 1). The category ‘handling the art product’ was not seen as strictly ‘material interaction’. The participants associated the category ‘intensity’ with a client material experiences during art making. Even though they found ‘intensity’ important in art therapy assessment, it was not a category of material interaction. Some categories were slightly adjusted: ‘contact’ became ‘physical contact’ and ‘line’ became ‘lining’.
Table 1: Final categories of material interaction
CATEGORY Movement
Pressure
Grip Structure
Tempo
Physical contact
CONTENT
Movement is described by the dimensions size (small or large motions), the direction of the movement (outwards or towards themselves) and the type of movement (curved or straight, vertical or horizontal).
Pressure is described by the dimensions amount of physical power that is applied (light or strong) and by the amount of focus (alert and attentive or non-directed).
Grip refers to the way a client holds the materials/ tools. This can be loose or firm from the wrist and fingers.
Structure refers to the way a client organizes his actions and
art product. Structure is described by the dimension amount of organisation (well-organized, systematic, thoughtful or chaotic, impulsive). Also by the dimension activity (passive, coincidentally or active, initiating).
The tempo of the action is described by the dimension speed (slow or fast).
Physical contact refers to the contact that fingers and hands make with art materials (to smear, squeeze, rub). It is described by the dimension extensiveness of physical contact (using the whole hand or more or using no fingers, or just the fingertips). Physical contact can be avoided, but can also lead to withdraw or increase.
table continues
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