Drawing as Therapy: English Edition

Understanding yourself better through art. According to our founder Alain de Botton, this is possible because, in addition to its aesthetic aspect, art also has a therapeutic effect. During this event, you will experience the therapeutic value of art in a creative group session with art historian Timea Lelik.

This is a session for people who can’t draw and don’t necessarily want to get better at drawing either. The purpose is to get everyone drawing again, to rehabilitate the playful act of drawing as a valid act of self-expression that has not only a relaxing, but also therapeutic value.

When we’re young, all of us draw; as we grow older, most of us stop. We come to see drawing not as a type of play, but as a craft or skill; one that we can do either well or (more usually) badly. But to see drawing in this way is to deny ourselves one of life’s great pleasures, and to miss out on its profound psychological benefits. By allowing us to express ourselves creatively, and capture our thoughts and ideas on paper, drawing can be a form of therapy.

During the session we will use the book “Drawing as Therapy” to go on a journey of self-discovery through playful creative exercises that introduce us to the curative powers of drawing. Together we will delve into different sections of life such as play, self, mood, calm, love, and, perspective in order to investigate the meanings behind our intuitive drawings. In so doing, we will discover hidden byways of our minds, find new perspectives on our difficulties, summon a state of calm and begin a process of self-recovery and healing. We will look at drawing as an act of self-care — releasing stress, boosting creativity, and promoting mindfulness, all in a playful manner.

Host or Publisher The School of Life Amsterdam