Overview

Drawings are everywhere. Daubed on ancient cave walls and projected on screens. Drawings helps us describe science, depict emotions and discover. Yet many of us laid aside drawing - or more simply, mark-making - in childhood, thereby losing a rich and varied way to tell our stories. This book gathers research evidence to demonstrate the substantial value of drawing for health, healthcare and improving wellbeing. It is for anyone interested in engaging in drawing - the low-cost, low-tech, and flexible process which is easily tailored to clients, parents, carers and professionals. The activities featured in the book are distilled from the author's experience of two decades facilitating drawing. Drawing is easily integrated in health and wellbeing contexts and benefits both our mental and physical health. Practically, it can record observations, make visual notes, invite the telling of important stories, improve stress and anxiety, express feelings, and explain complexities. This important book encourages readers to enjoy mark-making once again and learn that thinking through drawing is a powerful life skill that enriches health and wellbeing.

Full Product Details

9781838673284

Table of Contents

Reviews

This immensely practical and readable book is a significant contribution to thinking about how drawing can be used for a variety of practical purposes, and also emphasises the extent to which drawing can be a positive agent for wellbeing. It is underpinned by sound scholarship, but wears its erudition lightly, so we as readers will learn not only how to use drawing as a creative process but can also gain confidence in drawing ourselves. -- Sally Brown, Independent consultant and Emerita professor of Leeds Beckett University This inspiring book is a gift to readers who thought they had left the pleasure of drawing behind in childhood. Packed with examples and ideas, it demonstrates and encourages the potential for cognition and wellbeing that is unlocked simply by picking up a pencil. Educators and professionals of all kinds will find numerous resources within its pages for creatively enriching their work with students and clients. -- Professor Charlotte Sleigh, Department of Science and Technology Studies, UCL, and author of The Paper Zoo: 500 Years of Animals in Art (British Library, 2016) As a self-professed 'person who can't draw' this book was very liberating - showing the deep connection as humans we have to drawing, and that we draw for many reasons and in different ways during our lifetimes. Drawing can help convey often complex ideas and emotions in a more meaningful way than plain text. Curie highlights how we can use drawing in our personal and professional lives, and I would recommend it to health and social care professionals and students in training as well as anyone with an interest in rekindling or developing their interest in drawing. I commend Curie for writing (and drawing!) such an accessible book that can be read sequentially or dipping into chapters of interest depending on your mood. -- Professor Inam Haq, Associate Dean Education, faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Australia This book gives examples of skills that can be used and developed by novice and experienced 'sketch makers'. By expanding drawing methods to include different senses and methodologies the author is able to engender a spirit of freedom to explore and personalise mark making and drawing for different purposes both at an individual level and in collaboration with others. Her experiences as a medical practitioner, teacher and artist give her a valuable insight into the practical application and many uses and purposes of drawing. -- Jenny Wright PhD, Independent artist researcher Curie Scott offers readers an engaging and well-crafted account of the significance of drawing in practice. As a researcher who incorporates visual, creative, and participatory modes in their own work, I have developed a deep appreciation of the value of drawing to engender reflexivity, organise thinking, and generate different ways of seeing and representing everyday worlds. This book is important as it brings together different histories, traditions and methods which foreground the usefulness of drawing. -- Dr Dawn Mannay, School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University I am just so thrilled that Curie has written this lovely book. She shows us how and why we all need to be reintroduced to the joy of drawing - surely the first and most universal of arts. Its therapeutic, soothing qualities and ready ability to make and record meaning make drawing more important than just mark making. It prolongs our focus and gives us time to reflect more deeply on the small beauties around us. -- Dr. Jonathan Barnes, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Canterbury Christ Church University, National Teaching Fellow 2015

Author Information

Dr Curie Scott is an independent Education and Arts and Health consultant, coach and artist. Qualified in medicine, science and education, her knowledge and research span Arts and Health. She is an award-winning teacher, having taught hundreds of health professional students. She featured in 'Make Craft Britain' (a BBC programme on the joy of making).

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