This is a shot in the dark - Art forum?

This is a shot in the dark - Art forum?
Liam

Liam

Registrant
Hey, thanks again to all who keeps this site up and running. To all who post and to all who responds. I think various life's took a different direction once they found this site but i just noticed that we have forums for poetry, books, music, films- all for and by survivors but we do not have art for or by survivors. Art has always been a way of expressing your feelings, your views. I've heard of art therapy before but never used it. Anyone out there have links or ideas where i can find out more about this. Or is it true that most men just dont do art anymore?
 
Wow, you should get some responses to this one.

We have some very good artists. If they're not skilled enough to post some of their work here, they supply us with a site that is displaying their art.

Stay tuned, you should be hearing from some of them, any moment.

David
 
Hi Liam,

We had a similar discussion over on the Member forum a while back. Below is what I posted back then about my own artwork. Like you, I would really like it if there were an Art Forum here at MS where we could see others work - I'd really like to see the art expression of other members. Within the past month, I've taken up art again at the urging of a friend. I'm glad I did, because I'm enjoying it.



This is one of many things on my list of things to work on about myself: my self-esteem. My father pretty much destroyed it for me. I spent a childhood trying to measure up, trying to make him notice me, trying somehow to make him care for me. It never worked. Instead, the only time he noticed me was when I needed to be hit. The result is that I have felt worthless most of my life, cannot understand why anyone would want to get to know me, etc., etc.

During my childhood, I liked to do art, something my father saw as useless. My second grade teacher even wrote on my report card "Eddie shows exceptional talent in art and should be encouraged in it." Think the old man gave a damn? No. But still, I tried. When I was even into my 20s, I was still trying to show the old man that I had talent, that I could do something that was worthy. He never acknowleged any of it.

Below are some examples of my work. All have won awards in competitions at one level or another. But do I feel proud of the ability to do these? No. My wife doesn't understand that, and the only way I can explain it is that "it's just something I can do". It doesn't mean anything to me, because it was never acknowledged by the one person I was seeking approval from - my father.

I don't paint anymore, I haven't done so in probably a decade now. I hope that once I get my head straigtened out with therapy that I will feel the desire to paint again, but will do it for me, not my father. His approval won't matter anymore.


Blue Jar study - oil on canvas

Tulips and Apples study - oil on canvas

Jug and Grapes study - oil on canvas

Meagan (my daugther) - oil on canvas

Jazz Band - watercolor

Girl Playing Harp - watercolor
 
Oh, my Eddie, ya, if it's one thing that you've got to do, it's getting back to your painting.

My Dad couldn't acknowledge anything of mine, either. I wasn't an artist, painter, but I could sing. My sister always overshadowed me, especially when she won Miss Sacramento with singing as her talent. Ya, mine really took a back seat after that.
One of these days, I keep telling myself.
Good luck to you in dealing with all of this...you are one talented artist. Who is that guy that did all of that work with light, Rembrandt? Ya, that's who you remind me of.
Great work, yours, hope to see some later works when you're ready.

David
 
Eddie - I hope you don't mind, I've just saved your picture of the girl with harp as my desk top background. Now every time I boot up my computer, I will be reminded that not only do we have very strong people here, we also have very talented ones.

Thanks...Rik
 
Liam, my house is full of art material, and I keep telling myself to use it, and express it.

I had some good links, but I cant find them right now.

I got an A++ for one painting I did at school at 14yo, and it was so expressive, maybe I try to recreate it again soon.

Art hones your mind into seeing detail, and expressing how you feel, or how you see things, and it is greatly therapeutic.

PM Caetel, she does art therapy, and she will be able to point you in a direction on it,

take care,

ste
 
Thanks all for the kind words and encouragement. It means a lot to me.

David - the form or painting you're talking about with the use of light and dark to achieve a mood is called "chiaroscuro", which in italian means "light and dark". You're correct that Rembrandt was a master of it. I've seen some of his portraits where only the head is in sunlight, leaving the rest to the viewer to imagine. I enjoy painting in that mode as well, since it provides such a contrast and sets a mood. It also provides the opportunity to paint by "suggestion" - for example, the painting of the tulips in the black vase - I didn't actually paint a vase, but only applied highlights to suggest that the vase is there, since the vase itself is in shadow. The mind does the rest and "sees" a vase. Anyway, I know I'm rambling here.

RIK - I'm flattered beyond words....enjoy.

Ste - I agree completely with your views on how it is theraputic and hones the mind into seeing things as they are. Someone asked me once how I selected which color to use in my paintings. When I look at things, I look for the range of colors in it, not just the "surface" colors. A good example is the reflections we see in reflective surfaces like brass or glass, or reflected light back onto shadowed surfaces. Anyway, looking for these types of things causes you to think a lot more about what you're seeing - I can't help but think that that would be helpful in recovery as well.
 
Eddie,

I plead guilty to making the "Jazz Band" as my desktop background. To give you an idea how much I like it, it replaces a picture of my boys.

Don't know its dimensions in real life but the shadows and colors on my 17" monitor are awesome.

You have such a gift it'll be great if you can get back to it and share your talent with the world.

Hope I haven't just violated a rule of the board but if you ever decide to sell your work please let us know.

Regards,

Zipser
 
I have a few friends here who are very good artists, and I wish they would share more of their work. It is possible to add images to posts in some of the forums. Perhaps the poetry forum could be extended, as Andrei suggested, to 'Art and Poetry', and people could share their art in links there.

Leosha
 
Hello all,

It seems that there is a definite lack of available graphic arts type works aimed at educating and inspiring male survivors of sexual abuse.

This could be an area where we as male survivors could fill a definite need as we have people writing to us asking where to find it.

I'm talking about posters, postcards, slogans with pictures, bumperstickers etc.

Would there be interest in helping to create such things in order to be of service and contribute to spreading the message of hope and recovery to male survivors?

I've made a couple of basic poster type things with some photos and good old Adobe PhotoElements.

I think it could be the sort of thing we could all try our hand at, and could be a great way to express ourselves and help others too.

Let me know what you all think.
Maybe I'll link to the material I've made the last couple of days.

Thanks all,

Regards,
 
Brothers,

When I was an abused kid one thing that kept me alive was my ability to escape into great literature and poetry, and it was then that I discovered my passion for poetry. It has always helped me a lot.

I am sure the same applies to survivors who are artists, and I really agree with what Eddie says about the connection with self-esteem. A poem or piece of art expresses who we are, how we feel and what the world means to us, and it's a tangible proof that, despite how we feel about ourselves, we really are worthwhile and loveable.

I think an art forum would be a great idea. It seems to me that it should be separate from the poetry forum. Poetry, art and survivor stories, for example, are all different things.

Love to all,
Larry
 
i really want a place to post my art. i have been talking about it...so if it's possible, that would be really cool. thanks.
 
Kurt,

ask for access to image forum, you can post it in there if you have access.

ste
 
Kurt,

There is an images forum, but it's on the members' side. Perhaps you could speak to Scotty Todd about this.

Much love,
Larry
 
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