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Bringing play into painting
Sandrine Denier, a leading trainer of Play of Painting from Paris says the art programme can make a person more confident, articulate and happier. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 6, 2015.The art displayed on the Escape The Box studio’s walls may not seem particularly artistic to a critic's eye, but that's precisely why a new creative art form called Play of Painting is growing in popularity.
The art programme, which has only recently been made available at this studio in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala lumpur, is unique in that there are no rules, no judgements and painters are guided on how to truly express themselves through their work.
“Like all art forms, the benefits are tremendous," Sandrine Denier, a leading trainer of Play of Painting from Paris who was recently in town for a two-week training programme.
"Play of Painting makes a person more confident, articulate and happier,” she asserted.
Conditions in the studio are created so participants can express themselves safely and away from prying eyes.
In the middle of the room, which is known as the “Closlieu”, is a colour palette of bottled paints, arranged in a straight line, for participants to use. Participants will find that their art may “expand” from the paper they are given initially, and are encouraged to ‘grow’ them on the walls. This is what is known as a “paper trace”.
To allay the fears of participants, none of their art pieces are allowed out of the studio, even when the programme is over. This is so they and their work are not judged, and almost all the participants appreciate this private space.
Play of Painting is unique in that there are no rules, no judgements and painters are guided on how to truly express themselves through their work. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 6, 2015.Denier said Play of Painting was open to people of all ages who wanted to explore their creative, expressive sides, and while therapeutic, was not quite a form of art therapy.
“With Play of Painting, we are introducing the element of old and young painting together," said Pam Guneratnam of Escape The Box Studio said.
"The presence of children allows the adults to be more free and spontaneous and to play, and the presence of the adults help the children to learn to share a communal space with sensitivity and consideration of the other."
Benefiting from art
Pam said many parents of her younger participants have told her that their children opened up and developed a greater sense of themselves after a few sessions.
For Dr Dolly, a practitioner who works with dyslexic students, the Play of Painting training has been appropriated into her work, and she has found that not only did it benefit her students, but also herself.
She said her students' parents have seen the children taking charge of their learning disabilities, become more vocal and confident.
“I have a child who used to hate reading, and would read a book only once. Now, he takes the initiative to read a book or a script three times, without prompting.” she told The Malaysian Insider.
“And he enjoys it!”
Her students also have become less rigid with their movement. They express themselves with their hands, they move about and laugh more. Painting this way has encouraged them to be more at ease with their bodies and themselves, she said.
“They used to approach reading rigidly, fearing that they would fail at it and be scolded. With Play of Painting, they look at life like it is play.”
For more information on the Play of Painting programme, please visit Process Paint Studio. – December 6, 2015.
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