Workshop Three : Open Play Paint and Drawing Session
This week’s session was an open play paint and drawing workshop with the two adult non-verbal autistic men. The focus was on exploration rather than outcome — an opportunity to engage with materials freely, without pressure to produce a finished piece.
I set up an activity table with paints, crayons and stencils, alongside a variety of tools to experiment with: sticks, rollers, sponges and brushes in different sizes. I intentionally restricted the colour palette to oranges, yellows and reds, as these are colours both participants consistently gravitate towards. Limiting the palette created a sense of cohesion while still allowing for choice and variation.
The session itself was short but intense. There was a slow start, as there often is, but both participants are becoming increasingly familiar with the space and are moving more freely around the room. That growing sense of comfort is noticeable and important.
A particularly rewarding aspect is seeing their previous week’s work displayed on the wall. They appear drawn to it, and there is a sense that this continuity matters. However, I will need to devise a better hanging system — the builder’s masking tape I’ve been using, although relatively light, is occasionally lifting paint from the wall. This is something to resolve before it becomes an issue.
This session was intentionally open-ended. It was about mark-making, texture, movement and sensory engagement rather than product. After the initial settling in, there was a sustained period of focused engagement from both participants. That concentration — even if brief — makes the session worthwhile.
Each week, the space feels a little more established, and the confidence within it grows.
Nicola Neate 