Art Journal Pilot Project | Connecting with your creative self...
Art Journaling is a creative well-being tool, where we put our internal selves onto the page, allowing honesty and freedom to explore emotions; giving yourself a safe space for self-care, discovery and helping your self-development. It allows us to have a visual conversation with ourselves, distracts us from negative thoughts and feelings, and offers an accessible and portable platform for us to escape, reflect, take stock and re-calibrate.
At a time of acute national anxiety, during the first lockdown of 2020, the pilot 'Art Journal Project', funded by Scottish Government Supporting Communities Fund, was a 'community well-being' focused programme of guided workshops, bespoke tuition and specialist support from professional artist tutors. Aimed at adults during lockdown who may be struggling to manage stress or to ‘make space’ in order to achieve balance and well-being, the project targeted carers, key workers, people suffering from physical or mental health issues, people struggling with loneliness, isolation, grief or trauma.
Through observation and application, participants explored their relationship with themselves, their environment and others - discovering new, constructive channels of self-expression and developing self-management tools to maintain their own well-being. A private Facebook page offered a safe space for the group to come together, share ideas, inspiration and access feedback and support - from each other and the tutors.
The project's web sessions were designed and delivered by experienced tutors with input from a well-being professional. Over twelve weeks, fifteen participants from in and around Langholm learned new skills such as drawing, painting, collage and printing; exploring key themes:
Flora & Fauna, Landscapes, Domestic Life, Composed Life, Portraiture, The Figure, Pattern & Texture
The project culminated in an exhibition, showcasing curated samples of the art journals and larger scale pieces that graduates had worked towards by developing their skills via art journal workshops and feedback sessions. The exhibition featured as part of a local 'Langholm Making' open weekend, linked to Spring Fling, and the response was overwhelmingly positive - both from visitors and participants.
By sharing, and celebrating their creative journeys, the participants' confidence levels were boosted significantly, and as a result, many of the graduates have continued developing their work - some professionally, with the aid of ongoing, informal OPA mentoring.
Art Journaling is a creative well-being tool, where we put our internal selves onto the page, allowing honesty and freedom to explore emotions; giving yourself a safe space for self-care, discovery and helping your self-development. It allows us to have a visual conversation with ourselves, distracts us from negative thoughts and feelings, and offers an accessible and portable platform for us to escape, reflect, take stock and re-calibrate.
At a time of acute national anxiety, during the first lockdown of 2020, the pilot 'Art Journal Project', funded by Scottish Government Supporting Communities Fund, was a 'community well-being' focused programme of guided workshops, bespoke tuition and specialist support from professional artist tutors. Aimed at adults during lockdown who may be struggling to manage stress or to ‘make space’ in order to achieve balance and well-being, the project targeted carers, key workers, people suffering from physical or mental health issues, people struggling with loneliness, isolation, grief or trauma.
Through observation and application, participants explored their relationship with themselves, their environment and others - discovering new, constructive channels of self-expression and developing self-management tools to maintain their own well-being. A private Facebook page offered a safe space for the group to come together, share ideas, inspiration and access feedback and support - from each other and the tutors.
The project's web sessions were designed and delivered by experienced tutors with input from a well-being professional. Over twelve weeks, fifteen participants from in and around Langholm learned new skills such as drawing, painting, collage and printing; exploring key themes:
Flora & Fauna, Landscapes, Domestic Life, Composed Life, Portraiture, The Figure, Pattern & Texture
The project culminated in an exhibition, showcasing curated samples of the art journals and larger scale pieces that graduates had worked towards by developing their skills via art journal workshops and feedback sessions. The exhibition featured as part of a local 'Langholm Making' open weekend, linked to Spring Fling, and the response was overwhelmingly positive - both from visitors and participants.
By sharing, and celebrating their creative journeys, the participants' confidence levels were boosted significantly, and as a result, many of the graduates have continued developing their work - some professionally, with the aid of ongoing, informal OPA mentoring.
Participant reflections:
'I was halfway through week one when I realised that I was getting a lot more out of the project than just a pleasant distraction. All the videos were very informative; I learned confidence building techniques, better ways to hold the pencil, drawing quickly so I wasn’t trying to take in all the details and I found myself becoming relaxed, tense muscles easing and headaches disappearing. It gave me something else to focus on, I looked forward to each new tutorial to see if I could complete it, sometimes with success and sometimes not so but it didn’t matter, I was in a better headspace.'
‘My heart is so grateful to this project as it has allowed me to have the space for self-expression and exploration from the continuing caring for elders/adults during this lockdown.’
‘I always enjoyed Art at school and whilst I have continued to enjoy calligraphy and recycling/making things, I lost my way with drawing. My husband suddenly passed away recently, and I wanted something where I could escape from the pain for a couple of hours. I wouldn’t have known where to begin without this project, in fact I know I would still be staring at the paper but this is guiding me step by step. I’m trying watercolours and acrylics, which never interested me before and my love of art is returning. I will always be my own worst critic but I’m realising I don’t have to be so harsh.’
‘This project has shown me that creativity is what keeps me moving forward from the stagnation of what became groundhog days. Its taught me that Art is as important in my life as eating, drinking & sleeping - supporting both my inner and outer well-being.’
‘I enjoy the focus of being part of a group and it helps give me a further focus to work on with the exercises and tutorials. Although a reluctant student when it comes to engaging with online learning, it has worked well. It means you can revisit aspects if you want to. It is also of real benefit mentally as you can 'lose yourself' in the activities. The project has also brought together folk who may not have known each other previously and we've developed a mutual bond as well as proving supportive to each other.’
‘My heart is so grateful to this project as it has allowed me to have the space for self-expression and exploration from the continuing caring for elders/adults during this lockdown.’
‘I always enjoyed Art at school and whilst I have continued to enjoy calligraphy and recycling/making things, I lost my way with drawing. My husband suddenly passed away recently, and I wanted something where I could escape from the pain for a couple of hours. I wouldn’t have known where to begin without this project, in fact I know I would still be staring at the paper but this is guiding me step by step. I’m trying watercolours and acrylics, which never interested me before and my love of art is returning. I will always be my own worst critic but I’m realising I don’t have to be so harsh.’
‘This project has shown me that creativity is what keeps me moving forward from the stagnation of what became groundhog days. Its taught me that Art is as important in my life as eating, drinking & sleeping - supporting both my inner and outer well-being.’
‘I enjoy the focus of being part of a group and it helps give me a further focus to work on with the exercises and tutorials. Although a reluctant student when it comes to engaging with online learning, it has worked well. It means you can revisit aspects if you want to. It is also of real benefit mentally as you can 'lose yourself' in the activities. The project has also brought together folk who may not have known each other previously and we've developed a mutual bond as well as proving supportive to each other.’
Next Steps | Art Journal Development Project
The impact of Art Journal Project was profound, with graduates developing creative enterprises and freelance practices, and creative self-management tools replacing medication. To advance and galvanise our creative wellbeing activity, we have embarked on a six-month research and development project to expand the project's reach beyond Langholm.
In partnership with SOSE, NHS Endowment Fund and Holywood Trust, OPA aim to use the momentum gathered to widen access points for participation and form a strong and effective creative prescribing art-for-wellbeing model for their locality; building relationships with partner organisations to create clearer ‘next steps’ for people wanting to continue their creative well-being journeys. They also hope to target young people living in rural locations facing mental health issues and other difficulties, with a bespoke art journal project that allows them to take greater ownership of their well-being, recovery, and self-development journeys by identifying personal interests and pathways, connecting them to wider local, regional, and national cultural and educational opportunities and potentially work towards creative accreditation/qualifications.
To expand the impact the Art Journal Project and strengthen the capacity of rural organisations to facilitate art-for-wellbeing projects in our region, OPA also seeks to investigate well-being training opportunities for artists and engage a wide range of potential partners and client groups to co-design a larger, more meaningful, and sustainable model that users can be referred into.
The development project is also scoping the potential formation of a regional art-for-wellbeing alliance to champion and support art-for-wellbeing activity by creating a platform or network for organisations and individuals from the creative, health and social care sectors to communicate, connect, share, learn and work together more easily. It's our opinion that a connected vision in D&G will truly enhance the lives of people and their communities, using art and culture as a catalyst for positive change in the way we support our region’s collective well-being.
In partnership with SOSE, NHS Endowment Fund and Holywood Trust, OPA aim to use the momentum gathered to widen access points for participation and form a strong and effective creative prescribing art-for-wellbeing model for their locality; building relationships with partner organisations to create clearer ‘next steps’ for people wanting to continue their creative well-being journeys. They also hope to target young people living in rural locations facing mental health issues and other difficulties, with a bespoke art journal project that allows them to take greater ownership of their well-being, recovery, and self-development journeys by identifying personal interests and pathways, connecting them to wider local, regional, and national cultural and educational opportunities and potentially work towards creative accreditation/qualifications.
To expand the impact the Art Journal Project and strengthen the capacity of rural organisations to facilitate art-for-wellbeing projects in our region, OPA also seeks to investigate well-being training opportunities for artists and engage a wide range of potential partners and client groups to co-design a larger, more meaningful, and sustainable model that users can be referred into.
The development project is also scoping the potential formation of a regional art-for-wellbeing alliance to champion and support art-for-wellbeing activity by creating a platform or network for organisations and individuals from the creative, health and social care sectors to communicate, connect, share, learn and work together more easily. It's our opinion that a connected vision in D&G will truly enhance the lives of people and their communities, using art and culture as a catalyst for positive change in the way we support our region’s collective well-being.
BELOW: Photographs charting the participant's creative journeys
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Our Tutors:
Frank Hayes
Frank is an experienced Artist and Tutor who, in recent years founded 'For Enjoyment CIC' - a company based in Dumfries but working across Scotland. For Enjoyment workshops have had a huge impact by creating an ever expanding creative community via regular drawing, photography and printing workshops. The For Enjoyment ethos is to empower and encourage the people that come to the workshops by creating a safe space to explore and experiment without judgement.
Frank regularly works with a variety of regional and national partner organisations to allow a wide demographic to access and harness their creativity and develop skills. www.facebook.com/drawingforenjoyment/ |
Lucy MacLeod
A commercial Illustrator, Artist and Educator for almost two decades Lucy was originally a painter, having graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a degree in Fine Art. She quickly discovered that her strong and expressive line-work, combined with her love of graphic composition, lent itself much more to visual communication. Lucy has created visuals for a huge variety of clients, exhibited internationally and taught at Universities and Colleges across the UK. A founder of OutPost Arts, she is extremely experienced in designing and delivering projects, workshops and courses for all ages and abilities in both academic and community settings. She is also a trained Arts Award Adviser.
www.lucymacleod.co.uk |
Liz McQueen
Originally from Wales, Liz McQueen is a painter based in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries & Galloway. Focusing on capturing the natural environment and landscape surrounding her new homeland, her work is both sensitive and painterly, with thoughtful compositions and expressive mark-making. Her painted landscapes are created on a variety of surfaces, most commonly depicting the woodlands and moorlands surrounding her home in Eskdalemuir.
Liz has experience delivering packages of learning in a variety of settings, most recently at The Look Out, leading a group in a landscape painting workshop following a successful solo exhibition of recent work. www.instagram.com/lizmcqueenart/ |
Sophie Jarzyna
Originally from Langholm, Sophie re-settled back in her hometown after studying and working in Edinburgh and London. A self-taught potter, Sophie was recently awarded an Emerge bursary from Upland CIC (who coordinate Spring Fling) in recognition of her promising early career and professional development. Sophie is currently exploring different forms and surface patterns with the use of mixed media, taking inspiration from modernist textile design, architecture, collage and print of the 1930-60s. Sophie has experience delivering a wide range of community art workshops, including leading the P2-4 Langholm Primary Arts Club in 2020 and is also a trained Arts Award adviser.
www.instagram.com/sophiejarceramics/ |
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Scottish Registered Charity: SC048764
Email:
hello@outpostarts.co.uk |
OUR SUPPORTERS:
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