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Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy

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Empowering Creativity with Computer-assisted Art

Therapy: An Introduction to Available Programs and
Techniques
a
Carol McLeod MS, ATR-BC
a
Lincoln City, OR
Published online: 22 Apr 2011.

To cite this article: Carol McLeod MS, ATR-BC (1999) Empowering Creativity with Computer-assisted Art Therapy: An
Introduction to Available Programs and Techniques, Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 16:4,
201-205, DOI: 10.1080/07421656.1999.10129480

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07421656.1999.10129480

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 Empowering Creativity with Computer-assisted Art Therapy:
An Introduction to Available Programs and Techniques

Carol McLeod, MS, ATR-BC, Lincoln City, OR

Introducing the Computer as a reverting to a previous version if an experimental technique turns

Medium for Art Therapy out “wrong.” The artwork, once saved, can be easily copied,
shared, and stored. Collections of client work can be viewed
With all the wonderful materials available for art therapy, is through a presentation program as a slide show for review with
it necessary, or even desirable, to add computers to the list? Are clients or in staffings.
they user-friendly enough? Do the old familiar techniques work? The best part of computer-assisted art therapy is the
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Do clients open up to the process? To these often repeated ques- empowerment for clients who find natural dimensional media
tions, I offer a resounding, YES! Put away your objections, jump limiting. Clients concerned with an inability to create straight
in, and give it a try! lines will enjoy drawing tools that create lines and shapes (Figure
When I first started singing the praises of the computer as a 2). On the other hand, special effect tools, designed to simulate
medium for art therapy 10 years ago as a student in art therapy, brush strokes, smeared pastels, and air brush spatters, give clients
the most common concerns were the coldness and separation without confidence the ability to explore techniques that often
associated with putting a machine between the client and the art. discourage beginners. Often, clients incorporate both rigid and
Drawing with a stylus or a mouse seemed to present an awkward free form tools in their work (Figure 3). On paper, a mistake is
barrier to art production for therapists trying the medium for the forever. On the computer, if you save regularly and remember to
first time in workshops I presented, sponsored by the university hit the Undo button the moment a mistake happens, nothing is
and the local AATA chapter. Today, it is apparent that people who lost and you’re free to experiment in another direction without
grow up playing video and computer games have few problems having to start over. The novelty of using computers helps break
making the transition between dimensional and computer art barriers in working with adolescents and other reluctant, non-
activities. What comes to the surface with traditional art materi- communicative clients.
als comes out with electronic media, as well (Figure 1), and the The process of computer art is no longer restrictive or diffi-
process has also become affordable. Only a few years ago, com- cult to master. Programs are set up in a very intuitive manner,
puter systems capable of running graphic design software cost with recognizable icons representing tool functions available at
thousands of dollars. Today, a more than adequate system should the edge of the screen. Tools are selected with the click of a but-
be available for less than $800. ton. Many software tools mimic dimensional media functions.
The computer, when seen as one of many media available to For instance, pressure-sensitive functions allow the crayon and
art therapists, offers unique possibilities for practical application. chalk tools to add thicker color each time the mouse to stylus
The keyboard can be sanitized for use in hospital settings. scrubs across the screen. Texture tools add canvas, sandpaper,
Secured to a cart, the computer can be rolled to a bedside or even snakeskin patterns underneath the soft drawing tool marks.
recreation room, then stored in a closet. There is no mess to clean Smear or smudge tools add a fantasy-like quality, softening edges
up, no supplies to assemble. Clients can save their work in stages, like working with dimensional pastels.

Figure 1 Expressive computer-drawn self-portrait Figure 2 Drawing using rectangle and straight
line tools
201
 202 EMPOWERING CREATIVITY WITH COMPUTER-ASSISTED ART THERAPY

Kid Stuff: How the Human/Computer

Interface Begins
Crayons are no longer the most accessible gateway to visual
expression for our children. Young people learn at an early age to
manipulate images on a screen with a joy-stick or mouse while
playing video and computer games. Their participation in these
games becomes a communication: They choose characters,
weapons, and strategies to fit certain personalities which express
their fears and fantasy reactions to their environment. Computer
programs have been designed around the characters in video
games and cartoons which allows story lines to be developed
using predrawn characters and backgrounds. The resulting story
can then be printed as a booklet.
A moderate (less commercially oriented) example of this
kind of “create-a-story” software is Storybook Weaver Deluxe by
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Figure 3 Drawing incorporating free form and MECC Software. Offering hundreds of predrawn characters and
geometric shape tools scenery items and plenty of background and foreground combi-
nations, the program operates rather like an electronic sandtray.
The client selects a setting, which can be anything from a tropi-
cal rain forest to a city street or a frozen wasteland, then popu-
Perspective drawing and shading options produce depth lates it with selections from the thousands of character and object
with a few mouse clicks. Three-dimensional programs turn line files, categorized for easy access. At the bottom of each scene is
drawings into simulated dimensional objects. Animation pro- room to write the action sequence. Text color and style can be
grams move objects across backgrounds to create movement. changed, and a spellchecker is included. A text-to-speech feature
Virtual reality programs combine animation and dimensional reads the story back on request. Scene after scene can be built,
programming to create worlds where client and therapist may saved, viewed, and printed.
interact within the client’s artwork. The potential for developing PrintShop, by Broderbund Software, offers clip art and the
techniques using the computer for art therapy is limited only by ability to make signs, greeting cards, and banners in preset for-
the therapist’s creativity and understanding of the process, just as mats. Many similar programs are available. Like the create-a-story
in any other art medium. programs, these simple publishing programs operate from huge
clip art files, organized by category. Images and text are selected
What equipment is necessary? and placed in backgrounds ranging from simple colors to com-
plex themed designs. When printed, they can be folded into cards
Any computer with a mouse, old or new, can become a or taped together to make posters and banners. I have found
medium for art therapy. All you need is a compatible art PrintShop to be an effective introduction to communicating
program and a willing client. These days, the necessary pro- wishes, dreams, and fears for adolescents reluctant to draw. Using
grams are readily available. (See suggested resources at the end the poster-creation tools, I suggest designing something to repre-
of this Viewpoint.) sent what the client wants others to know, something that can be
You may find other computer components useful. Not every- “posted” like a KEEP OUT sign or a WELCOME mat. In a few
one is comfortable drawing with a mouse, so graphics tablets have key strokes, a colorful exclamation can be assembled from clip art
become available. Instead of clicking and dragging, you draw files, saved, and printed. I have the saved version for my files; the
directly on the tablet, which takes the place of the mouse. The client has a product to enjoy, talk about, and post.
Creation Station, by CalComp, provides both a graphics tablet Techniques gleaned from these children’s programs can be
and a cordless mouse, so you can go either way. applied to other software for work with older clients. Corel
Scanners allow you to copy a drawing, photograph, or text Corporation offers several clip art collections with thousands of
predrawn images in many varied categories under the general
into the computer where it can be stored, edited, or copied into
title, Corel Gallery. In one session, the client selects images from
reports or presentations. Many are available for under $100.
clip art collections which are then saved in a personalized file. In
Digital cameras, priced around $500-$700, take pictures that are
subsequent sessions, I ask clients to select an image (or two or
stored in the computer, no processing required. This allows you three) from their files. Opened in an art program, these images
to check on the photo’s quality while the client and the artwork can be manipulated in a variety of ways—arranged on a page,
are still in session. enlarged, shrunk, flipped, turned, and colored in many ways.
If you use video, computer editing programs are available. With a scanner, a client’s natural media artwork can be entered
Studio 400 Plus, by Pinnacle Systems, allows you to add special into the mix, along with photographs or illustrations from mag-
effects, voice-overs, and background music, while editing from azines or books. This becomes a type of collage effort. (Be sure to
your camera, through your computer, and into your VCR. As you save the scanned images and clip art files in a format accepted by
acquire more advanced software and techniques, you will need a your art program.)
“zip drive” or other storage device because graphics files can take Another collage-like option is Photo Fantasy, an image edit-
up a lot of space inside your computer. But all you need to get ing program by Arc Soft, which allows your client to combine a
started is a computer and a computer art program. personal photograph with a wide selection of magazine covers,
 McLEOD 203

works of art, and various sport and entertainment posters. The the cursor around the screen, then drawing in a selected color.
client selects a famous event or person to identify with, then Some clients prefer the multiple line tool, which results in
merges his or her photograph into the selected picture or maga- straight, sharp shapes (Figure 4). Blank areas can be flooded with
zine cover. Suddenly your client is the first human on the moon colors or sprayed with the air brush tool. Colored areas can be
or subject of the Mona Lisa, providing an entertaining entrance changed by painting over or flooding areas with other colors or
for further discussion. with the use of eraser tools. Clients can add text to label or iden-
tify their work (Figure 5). A simple example, Paint, is available in
Photo-collage, Scrapbooks, and “Accessories” on any computer running Microsoft Windows.
Image Manipulation Many paint programs offer a variety of simulated natural
media—charcoal, pastel, colored pencils, felt pens, oil paint, and
If you buy a scanner or a digital camera, the software includ- watercolors. Textures, patterns, and the ability to apply special
ed will allow the photo or scanned image to be manipulated with effects to smear, warp, or turn an image into a mosaic may be
special effects and tools geared to improving the quality of the available. Smear is particularly soothing, being the electronic
image. You can adjust the tone and contrast, add fancy edges or equivalent of fingerpaint. The mouse becomes an extension of
borders, change the background, or filter the image through spe- the client’s finger, blending colors, smoothing rough edges, and
cial effects like the ones in the paint and graphics design pro- creating interesting depth and phantom shapes. In PC
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grams. It is possible to create albums, posters, calendars, and col- Paintbrush Designer, by Softkey Multimedia, the client can
lages using images from saved files. A client could create a family choose a variety of textures to place behind a drawing so that pat-
album from scanned photos, drawings, and artifacts, adding terns emerge when areas are colored with the pastel or colored
fancy borders and text. While the most popular professional level pencil tool. If the “Seurat” option is selected with the paintbrush
photo-editing program, Photoshop, by Adobe Software, takes tool, instead of a line, dots appear on the screen. With the special
photo-manipulation to its highest form, these simple programs effects option, an image can be processed in a variety of ways. For
mimic enough special effects and creative options to satisfy most instance, it can be pulled, melted, crystallized, embossed, or
client needs, at considerably less expense. Corel Corporation’s turned into a mosaic with a few clicks of the mouse.
Photo Paint arrived with my scanner and provides a tutorial to
explain basic and intermediate image manipulation. Mechanical Drawing Programs
If you don’t have a scanner or digital camera, you can still get
photographs into your computer. Most photo-development serv- “Computer-assisted design” (CAD) programs are used by
ices will put 35MM prints on disk for about $4.00 per roll. You architects and engineers for precise mechanical drawing or draft-
will still need software to work with the images. Basic photo- ing. The programs are more complex than “paint” programs and
editing programs are available through the electronic depart- less useful for spontaneous art activities. They offer the most pre-
ments in discount stores for under $10, while the professional cise drawing tools and appeal to those who are uncomfortable
software is priced around $500. with unpredictable results. Expert Software, a leading “copy-cat”
company, offers a reasonably priced CAD program, Quick and
Art-specific Software Programs Easy CAD, available at discount office supply stores.
Wire-frame figures, drawn with special CAD programs, are
There are several kinds of computer art programs on the the basis for “3-D” programs used in computer animation and
market. The easiest to use, and most amenable for work with virtual reality, and might be useful for long-term projects with
clients, are the “paint” programs. In these programs, the mouse is hospitalized or incarcerated clients. In this process, you build
used to draw freehand or to create circles, rectangles, and lines. I images with geometric shapes (wire frames) then add “skins” of
often start clients off with squiggle drawings using the freehand various colors and textures. Special “3-D” tools calculate how the
tools, first without holding the mouse button down, just rolling shape will look from every angle, projecting the appropriate

Figure 4 Geometric-style “free form” drawing with Figure 5 Drawing with text added
flood-filled areas
 204 EMPOWERING CREATIVITY WITH COMPUTER-ASSISTED ART THERAPY

reflections off the surface, adjusted for the chosen theoretical around the viewer/participant. A recent (10/17/99) nationally
light source. Once the shape is complete, it can be viewed from televised news story reported virtual reality being used at the
any angle, with the computer doing all the necessary changes in Atlanta Veterans Hospital, helping clients re-experience battle
shape and shading. Because the process of designing wire-frame scenes under therapeutic conditions. The Star-Trek “holodeck,”
figures is time-consuming, programs are available with precon- with realistic, actual dimensional interactive characters and
structed figures and objects. Poser 3, by MetaCreations Software, scenes, is not far away. Therapists and clients of the future could
supplies human and animal models and props ready to be incor- meet and interact inside the client’s creative vision. Imagine
porated into an animation project. interacting with a client’s phobias or perceiving reality from
inside your client’s mind!
Animation
Getting It All Together:
Animation programs range in scale from the ones used to
make special effects in movies to the kind used to animate the
Presentation Programs
advertisements on an Internet page. Children’s programs may use A major benefit of computer art is the ease of storing and
clip art based on favorite cartoon characters. Professional anima- cataloging the artwork. Even if the client works in dimensional
tion programs combine 3-D shapes from a wire-frame program media, a scanner or digital camera can save the image into a com-
with backgrounds from a drawing or painting program.
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puter file. Once there, you can create directories to store files on
In either case, movement is created as shapes are copied onto your hard drive or on diskettes. Complex graphic files may
different places in a series of background “slides,” which are then require additional storage space. Portable hard drives, which con-
“run” in sequence. In children’s programs, sounds and music are nect to your computer to provide additional storage space, are
added and keyed to the movement of specific characters. Some
available for under $200.
programs offer the option of printing “thumbnail sketches” of the
If your computer came with an “office suite,” such as
slides to create “flip books,” animated as a person thumbs
Microsoft Office, you will find a presentation program, such as
through a stack of images, each drawn with a bit of movement
PowerPoint, which will help catalog your client files. A presen-
from the previous image.
tation or “slide show” program consists of groups of pages
A simple animation program, Expert Animator, by Expert
(slides) which can be flashed in sequence to present informa-
Software, provides the basics in an easy-to-use format. The back-
tion, as during a conference or client staffing. Graphics can be
ground is drawn in one side of the program and characters, called
pasted onto pages and viewed as a group or in sequence. In the
“sprites,” are created in the other. Once the operation of the pro-
“Notes pages” function, case notes can be added to the space
gram is learned, a client can create a simple object, for instance,
a butterfly, in a matter of minutes. Copied and pasted several under the graphic and appear only if you view pages in that part
times on the working area on the computer screen, some part of of the program. You can print the notes pages, complete with
the original is changed in some way. The butterfly’s wings are the graphic.
moved up and down; the feelers, forward and back. Or, the but- If you ask your clients to save their work in stages, using
terfly could be merged in stages into another form. Each image is “Save As” and adding numbers at the end of the file name,
captured, in turn, to create a series of flapping or morphing slides. there are two useful advantages. First, if a client experiments
Pasted on a previously drawn background within the program with a new tool and “ruins” the picture, there will be a fresh
and given a flight path, the object will move across the screen and start waiting at the last place the artwork was saved. Then,
seem to fly or change form. Both drawing the background and since you end up with a series of files showing the development
animating the butterfly can easily be done, at a simple level, with- of the finished piece, you can paste them onto slides and use
in a half hour or less. The animation can be saved in a stand-alone the “slide show” function to slowly animate the progression.
format and played back on other computers. This way of reviewing artwork with clients is hard to duplicate
Professional wire-frame, three-dimensional animation takes without a computer.
a long time to produce, limiting its usefulness in therapeutic set- The process of creating a “slide show” is quick and easy to
tings. A great introduction to the process is 3-D Movie Maker, by learn and use. Gathering information from a client’s files and cre-
Microsoft Corporation. In this fascinating CD, clients select ating a “slide show” for reviewing the work can be done in a mat-
backgrounds, characters, and props, much like in Story Book ter of minutes. A client working at home could prepare the slide
Weaver. Only this time, all the parts are created in professional show to share in a session. Client and therapist could create a
quality, three-dimensional renderings. Each person or object can slide show in a session as a process of closure.
be lifted or turned in any direction. Characters can be made to
walk, jump, stumble, or fly, change expressions, and talk. There Conclusion
are numerous backgrounds, characters, objects, and sound effects
to set the scene for many creative journeys. Computer-assisted art therapy offers opportunities for
enhancing the client’s creative experiences and for organizing
Virtual Reality (VR) the therapist’s collection of artwork and notes. If your client
works with computers, art can be done at home (or at the
Although still expensive and time-consuming to produce, office) without having to take the time to assemble materials or
VR animation programs add depth and the ability to interact clean up afterwards. Children, adolescents, and computer-
within an artificial environment that simulates dimensional minded adults enjoy exploring the creative possibilities of their
space. Wire-frame 3-D characters and shapes are brought electronic companions. Viewed as just one of many media avail-
together in a unique kind of space, simulating reality. Viewed able to art therapists, computers are a great addition to the ther-
with special headgear, a VR sequence projects the animation apeutic environment.
 McLEOD 205

Suggested Software and Suppliers

Adobe Software Mac Warehouse
1-800-492-3623 1690 Oak Street
www.adobe.com Lakewood, NJ 08701
1-800-255-6227
Photoshop
Catalog for Apple Computer products
Broderbund Software
P.O. Box 6125 Microsoft Corporation
Novato, CA 94948 www.microsoft.com
1-800-474-8840
www.broderbund.com/education Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Office: PowerPoint
PrintShop 3-D Movie Maker
Also:
Kid Pix Studio Deluxe MECC Software
Many creativity tools, simulated rubber stamps, slide-show option 6160 Summit Drive North
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Orly’s Draw-A-Story Minneapolis, MN 55430-4003

Introduction to story-making process plus create your own stories 1-800-215-0368, ext 788
The Amazing Writing Machine www.mecc.com
Illustrate stories which, when printed, fold up into books
Storybook Weaver Deluxe
Corel Corporation Also:
1600 Carling Avenue My Own Stories
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1Z 8R7 Same as Storybook Weaver, with fewer options (which can be useful)
1-800-772-6735 Opening Night
Create-a-play with built-in theater personalities, scenery, props,
Corel Photo-Paint lighting, sound, etc.
Corel Gallery Clip Art Easy Color Paint
Adequate beginning painting program
Expert Software
P.O. Box 144506 Tiger Direct
Coral Gables, FL 33114 8700 W. Flagler Street 4th Floor
Miami, FL 33174-2428
Expert Animator (currently out of production) 1-888-999-3600
Quick and Easy CAD www.tigerdirect.com
Also:
Great Presentations Catalog for discount prices on PC hardware and some software
A cheap presentation program

The Learning Company/Soft Key

One Athenaeum Street
Riverview Building
Cambridge, MA 02142
1-800-852-0052
www.learningco.com

PC Paintbrush Designer
Also:
Key CAD Complete
Beginning CAD program
Paint, Write & Play
Create-a-story program for very young writers
Ultimate Writing & Creativity Center
Like PrintShop but includes a presentation program