People who have high functioning autism can be taught at an early age to express themselves through different forms of therapy. In order to lead relatively normal lives, a high functioning autistic requires a certain level of social skills. The development of these skills can be accomplished through a number of therapies including play therapy, social skilled classes or groups, psychotherapy, social stories and expressive therapies.

One expressive therapy that has proven to be quite beneficial is art therapy. Art therapy can help an autistic develop social response by allowing them to express their emotions through art. This form of complimentary therapy may be an ideal way for an autistic to develop social skills.

What is art therapy? It is a therapy that involves using a number of various art materials such as paints, batik (a way to dye fabric), clay, etc. as a method of expressing thoughts or feelings through visual representation. Art therapy is based on psychological research and theory that art is naturally therapeutic. This therapy takes into account the behaviors, thoughts and feelings experienced by those with high functioning autism and other disorders.

Art therapy allows an individual to explore various issues including those that involve family, relationships, life change, loss, abuse and overall development. It may be carried out as a group process or individual counsel. The artwork that is created during therapy may be of spontaneous creations or based on suggestion provided by a therapist.

What are the benefits of art therapy? Art therapy has many benefits, especially for an autistic because it doesn’t rely on verbal or language skills, is a fun activity, and does not require any art skill or experience. The following is a list of other benefits -

• Increases self awareness

• Develops social skills

• Changes behaviors

• Develops problem solving strategies

• Allows an individual to engage in creative thinking in a safe environment

• Allows an individual to focus solely on the activity at hand and shut out other thoughts that may be intrusive.

Keep in mind that all of the above positive outcomes of art therapy may not be experienced by someone with high functioning autism. Remember, not every autistic functions the same.

Where can I find and art therapist and what should I look for? If an individual with high functioning autism is interested in art therapy, an art therapist will need to be sought out. An art therapist can practice in a number of environments, but can usually be found in psychiatric or general hospitals. They may work in oncology or geriatric wards, schools, rehabilitation centers, and counseling centers. The best way for you to find an art therapist locally, is to speak to your child’s health care provider or call your hospital.

When choosing a therapist, keep the following in mind:


• Find out about their education background and where they received training

• Find out if they have previous experience with high functioning autism patients

• Ask what types of therapeutic approach do they use

• Ask what to expect during a lesson

By: Rachel Evans

The question is, is Art affordable? I guess the answer to this question can vary depending from whom you ask? The affordability of Art is only relative to the pocketbook of the person who appreciates Art. 1 million dollars for an artwork could be affordable for a person who can buy it with ease, and $200 for an artwork can not be affordable for a person who needs that money to put food on the table for his or her family.

For this reason Art can not be looked at as an affordable or unaffordable commodity, Art is really a subjective commodity that accumulates value relative to it’s desirability. It’s price is formed in the eyes of the beholder. The one who can buy Art does not think whether he can afford it or not, he buys it because he likes it, because he has to have it.

If you notice, most people who buy Art, live in abundance. Once the affordability of something comes to mind, that means you are thinking in terms of lack, not in terms of abundance. The people who buy Art usually live in abundance, and continue to live in abundance. They get what they want and do not worry about whether they can afford it or not. They buy it because it is pleasing to them, and having it makes life more pleasing and enjoyable to them, thus the universe gives them more pleasing and enjoyable objects to appreciate and surround themselves with, another words, more abundance.

So Art is really subjective and it’s possession is a state of mind. Art is an essential dynamic or urge that makes life more abundant in beauty and love, and provides harmony to the environment.

By: Mike Samii

Art encompasses a wide range of human activities, creations, and expressions that are a direct reflection of human emotions and experiences. Traditionally, Art Techniques include Music, Painting, Sculptures, and Literature to name some. In addition, if anything is done technically well, owing to innate skills, or learnt by study and practice, it is said to be an Art such as, Cooking, , driving, or even Grooming. In effect, we can say that Artistry is a sum of Art Techniques employed to bring out the Beauty, Taste, and the Symbolism of an artwork. Art also illustrates abstract thoughts and expressions. Aptly put by Leo Tolstoy, “Art is not a handicraft. It is the transmission of feelings the artist has experienced.”

As mentioned above, you need to employ the right Techniques of Art to bring out the complete objective if an artwork. The ensuing discussion explores Arts Techniques in Chronological Order.

Paleolithic Era Arts Techniques were being used since the Paleolithic Era (Stone Age – 40,000 years ago). Several Sculptures, Cave Paintings, Drilled Snail Shells (from S. Africa) were found in excavations. The Technique of Art used during that period were, Carving (mainly on bones & stones) and Paintings (on the walls of caves). The colors used in those days included Blood, Charcoal, Soil, Juices of Flower Petals, and Leaves.

Mesolithic Era In the Mesolithic Period (Middle Stone Age), art forms changed owing to environmental developments and people’s adaptations to these changes. Poetry was seen, but it was severely practical than artistic. As Arrowhead was invented, most of the art works were in Carving. Pointed Tools made from Flint, Obsidian, and other Minerals were used. Cave Paintings moved out of Caves to the surfaces of natural Rocks.

Neolithic Era New Art Techniques emerged in this era. These include Weaving, Architecture, and the construction of Megaliths to mention a few.

Middle Age In the Middle Age (480 to 751 A.D.), Art evolved drastically. These art forms are now gracing various museums such as, Kimbell Art Museum, Russia’s Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts and Berlin’s Museum for Pre and Early History. In the purview of this age, Art can be categorized as Early Christian Art, Migration Period Art, Celtic Art, Byzantine Art, Islamic Art, Pre-Romanesque & Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art. Many of these Art Techniques are lasting until date. The Art Techniques used in this period were:

• Ceramic (use of traditional Clay for Pottery, Bricks, & Tiles)
o Mosaic (creation of Small Images using the small pieces of Colored Glass)
o Pottery (Clay Objects of required shape, heated to give strength. Materials used – Earthenware, Stoneware, & Porcelain)
o Lusterware (a type of Pottery with Metallic Glaze that gives iridescent effect)

• Manuscript (a Handwritten Document, not allowed to reprint)
o Book Binding (a process of assembling the sheets of Paper to form a Book)
o Calligraphy (the art of Writing, described as Scripts & Alphabets)
o Illuminated Manuscripts (Manuscripts, which include text along with decoration)

• Prints
o Engraving (incising hard flat surface by cutting grooves into it. Silver, Gold, Glass, Steel & Lacquer surfaces were engraved)
o Metal cut (an Art Technique in Print Making in which an image is embossed on a Metallic Surface)
o Woodcut (an Art Technique in Print Making in which an image is carved on a Wooden Surface)

• Metalwork

• Sculpture
o Niello (Black Metallic Alloy of Sulfur, Copper, Silver, & Lead, used as an Inlay on Engraved Metal)
§ Jewelry (Personal Ornaments made of precious Metals and Stones)

• Painting

o Fresco (Painting done on the Plaster of Walls or Ceilings)

• Textiles
o Carpet
o Medieval clothing
o Chaperon (a kind of Hat worn in Western Europe in the Middle Age)
o Silk
o Weaving

Modern Age Modern Age (751 A.D. to Present) offers enormous Art Techniques, which include some of the continuing art forms of previous era. The best part is that the present times offer many display options to show up the artworks. Televisions, Magazines, Computers, Radio, Music Players, and many such technology forums have provided a huge platform for the present day artists to show their talent. The Modern Art is a combination of New Age Art and most of the Middle Age Art. The exploration of newer Art Techniques continue to be invented every now and then. Some of the most popular Art Techniques of Modern Age include but are not limited to Animation, Printing Techniques, New Age Architectures, Performance Art, Video Art, Multi-Media Art, Photography, and Abstract Art, to name just some.

By: Annette Labedzki