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.

supported by Creative Scotland.

I have just had a consultation with Corinna Krause in her purpose-built bookbinding workshop at Sollas Books. It was a well organised and inspiring space to be in and talk through ideas.

We discussed my plan to create a collaborative book bringing together the work I’ve been developing with the lovely participants from Craigard Day Care Centre. From the outset, Corinna was incredibly helpful — intuitive, thoughtful, and very much on the same wavelength about what would best honour the spirit of the work.

Together we decided on a concertina folded book format. The structure feels perfect — it will allow the work to unfold gently, giving each piece space while still holding everything together as one continuous visual conversation. It feels important that the book itself reflects the collaborative nature of the project: a flow of individual contributions connected within a shared structure.

This will truly be a collaboration on several levels — between the service users and myself through the making of the artwork, and then between Corinna and I in shaping how that work is held and presented. I’m especially excited about this partnership, as bookmaking is something I’ve always been drawn to. It feels like this could open up new ways of thinking about how I make and display my prints in the future.

I’ll be making a small edition of six books — each of us will have two copies — and I can’t wait to tell the group at next week’s workshop. It feels like a meaningful way to celebrate what we’re creating together.

supported by Creative Scotland.

This week marked the second session of the phase II workshops – Collage, Layering & Surfaces.

Collage is a new technique for the men, and it adds another layer of choice. I prepared some backgrounds for them to respond to, alongside cut out printed imagery that they could use to make collages. From there, they began building their own pieces — mixing the prepared images with drawing, painting and stencils. It felt important to introduce something new while still anchoring it in more familiar ways of working, so they could experiment without feeling overwhelmed.

There’s a noticeable shift happening. As this is new territory, I’ll be repeating the process in the next few sessions to help build familiarity and confidence. I’m trying to gently expand their visual language — introducing new techniques while encouraging the freedom to make spontaneous drawings and paintings. That sense of permission to play is starting to grow.

We’re working in the beautiful Activity Room at the Grimsay Community Association — a peaceful, well-equipped space that feels perfect for these workshops. The room has a calm energy to it, and I think that’s contributing to how comfortable everyone is beginning to feel. They clearly enjoyed walking in and seeing their work displayed — that quiet sense of pride matters.

I’ve also started experimenting with some of my own photopolymer gravure printing processes, and I have a few exciting ideas brewing for where this could go next.

It feels like something is gently unfolding.

supported by Creative Scotland.

Workshop session I Valentine’s Ice-Breaker

I began with a relaxed, Valentine’s-themed workshop, where participants painted plaster horse heads that I cast from a beach object (I think it was part of a dog toy). They also made some valentines cards using stencils and did some drawings. This was a light, confidence-building reintroduction to materials and mark-making class.

The session flowed really well, and it was lovely to see how focused and absorbed the guys became in their work. There was a calm, concentrated energy in the room as they worked with colour and texture. At the end, I hung some of the pieces on the wall so they’ll be able to see their work up when they arrive next week.

Massive thank you to the day care service providers from Craigard who support and help each of these workshops to run smoothly and safely 😊

supported by Creative Scotland.