ANNA PARKER 08005092


As you can see from reading my blog there is a huge need for this activity in my life. It brings happiness, skills, creativity and accomplishment to my life. I cant imagine my life without painting, its who I am. And I can see why leisure activities have such a huge role in Occupational Therapy because its what we enjoy and a way of expressing ourselves and taking that time out just for you. 


BLOG FINISHED!!!!
ENJOY READING

REFERENCES

Caulton R., & Dickson R. (2007). What’s going on? Finding an explanation for what we do. In J. Creek & A. Lawson-Porter (Eds.), Contemporary Issues in Occupational Therapy (pp. 87-114). Chichester.

Daniel, H., (1995) "Encyclopedia of Themes and Subjects in Painting; Mythological, Biblical, Historical, Literary, Allegorical, and Topical". New York, Harry N. Abrams Inc.

Hobbies, (2011). Hobbies for Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthbrights.com/healthbright_007.htm

John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Ergonomics. (2011). Retrieved, 6th October, 2011 from http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/ergonomics?show=0&t=1318544896

Reed JK, (2011). Artworks: Watercolors and oils by New Zealand Artist John Keith Reed. Retrieved from http://www.artworks.co.nz/.

Wikipedia (2011) Painting: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painting

Comments on other BLOGS

Gracie Prisk

I enjoyed reading about your experiences with coffee and it seems as though it is a big part of your social life.

What I learnt from reading your BLOG is that Coffee falls under category of food, as it is something we consume and therefore an occupation as you can spend a lot of time carrying out the activity.  I found your BLOG really well organized with good descriptions and references towards ergonomics, affordances etc. I also found your stories really interesting and easy to read.  After reading your blog I realized the importance of how going out for coffee can bring people together and off coarse enjoy the wonderful pleasurable taste of coffee. 

I can’t really think of anything to improve on. I found your BLOG really well organized however if I was nit picking maybe put some more pictures up as it sort of breaks up all the writing and are nice to look at. But other than that there really isn’t anything you have done a fantastic job well done!!!

Heather R

I enjoyed reading about your experiences with cooking. I understand that cooking is an occupation that we need in order to survive and is such an important activity for humans. I can see that cooking is a passion of yours and creates a lot of excitement and pleasure when you get to enjoy the meal and taste what you have created.

 I think you have done an amazing job on your BLOG however if I was nit picking I would say some of your posts are a little hard to read with all the tables etc but other than that I enjoyed reading your BLOG.

Matt

I have enjoyed reading your BLOG on playing guitar, I myself have an interest in this instrument so it has been fun to follow your posts and read your stories. I can see creating music and performing your favorite songs provides happiness and a sense of accomplishment. I like how you said you can create something beautiful or disturbing it shows the different variety of music you listen too. I understand what you mean when you want to escape, like playing is just for you and a way of getting away from the other hectic stressors in life.

I can’t honestly find anything wrong with your posts, they may be to long haha but I liked reading them anyway, I am glad that you have found something that brings so much happiness to your life and I hope it leads to bigger things in the future.

Katy

I enjoyed reading your BLOG on Paper Craft and how by engaging in it mindfully and achieving your desired outcome lead to a sense of fulfillment for yourself. The only improvement maybe would be to make your BLOGs a little more colorful.. maybe put some pictures of your crafts on your BLOG. 

AFFORDANCES OF PAINTING

This week in class we continued to look at affordances in relation to our activities. In particular, we broke down our activities into three new and different headings, aesthetics, spirituality and health. These three aspects contribute to the meaning of and help to shape the way we view our activities.

Aesthetics according to Wikipedia (2011) is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty.

The Philosopher Hegel wrote that Painting is one of the three "romantic" arts, along with Poetry and Music for its symbolic, highly intellectual purpose. (Daniel, 1995)

Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface (support base). The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is also used outside of art as a common trade among craftsmen and builders. Paintings may have for their support such surfaces as walls, paper, canvas, wood, glass, lacquer, clay, copper or concrete, and may incorporate multiple other materials including sand, clay, paper, gold leaf as well as objects.

Painting is a mode of expression and the forms are numerous. Drawing, composition or abstraction and other aesthetics may serve to manifest the expressive and conceptual intention of the practitioner. Paintings can be naturalistic and representational (as in a still life or landscape painting), photographic, abstract, be loaded with narrative content, symbolism, emotion or be political in nature.

Most people think of spirituality as religion however it is much broader than this it could also be an individuals thoughts and beliefs about an activity. Spirituality in relation to painting could be how someone gets their inspiration and how it makes them feel to accomplish something beautiful.

Kandinsky a philosopher wrote in his essay maintaining that painting has a spiritual value, and he attaches primary colors to essential feelings or concepts, something that Goethe and other writers had already tried to do. (Daniel, 1995)

Lastly we need to consider our health and painting has been shown that developing our creative side is so valuable for overall health as art allows us to de-stress and to express ourselves and provide a sense of accomplishment. (Hobbies, 2011)

References:

Wikipedia (2011) Painting: Wikipedia the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painting

Daniel, H., (1995) "Encyclopedia of Themes and Subjects in Painting; Mythological, Biblical, Historical, Literary, Allegorical, and Topical". New York, Harry N. Abrams Inc.

Hobbies, (2011). Hobbies for Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthbrights.com/healthbright_007.htm

ERGONOMICS of PAINTING

Ergonomics is defined as “an applied science concerned with the characteristics of people that need to be considered in designing and arranging things that they use in order that people and things will interact most effectively and safely” (Webster, 2011). An understanding of ergonomics underpins the ability to “constantly make slight invisible adjustments to an activity to adapt to the needs of those taking part and ensure that it continues to work for its intended purpose” (Caulton and Dickson 2007).

So in this sense Ergonomics is the science of designing a person’s environment so that it facilitates the highest level of function for the particular activity. It’s about how the activity can be made to fit the ability of the person and the resources available in the environment.

In relation to my activity of painting there are an enormous number of factors to be taken into consideration when analyzing the ergonomics, but these basically can be broken into interrelationships of person, activity and environment.

In regards to both person and activity one of the main things that the individual needs to consider is money to go out and buy all the Art Supplies, as artists will need paint, brushes of varying sizes, a paint pallet and paper/canvases. Other things to take into account with painting are preferences such as what type of paint to use, the time you want to spend on painting and the environment where you will paint.

When looking at ergonomics in regards to the environment, one of the main things to consider is where you want to paint. Whether it is inside in a room, in a studio with others or outside however this will depend on the weather. It could also be a social experience where you take art classes and meet other people will similar interests.

Another thing to consider is whether you will stand or sit down at a desk. Painting can often be a hunched over position so it is important to have regular breaks and try to adopt a more comfortable posture.

Other factors that influence the activity are the price of the paints; the nicest brands are often the most expensive. The activity itself has no time limit; it can take as long or as short as needed, as it is the people involved who have the time limits they have to stick to, not the activity.

 It is essential to understand ergonomics to be able to make sure there is a good fit between the activity itself, the person and the environment.

References:

Caulton R., & Dickson R. (2007). Whats going on? Finding an explanation for what we do. In J. Creek & A. Lawson-Porter (Eds.), Contemporary Issues in Occupational Therapy (pp. 87-114). Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Ergonomics. (2011). Retrieved, 6^th October, 2011 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ergonomics?show=0&t=1318544896

My Painting of Signal Hill

STORY

Yesterday I decided to start a painting; I had taken a picture at the top of Signal Hill as it has an amazing landscape and will be an amazing challenge for me. I love to go for long walks and signal hill is definitely a walk I love to do at least once a week so this time I just took my camera up with me and took a few snaps before heading back. I wanted this picture to have a lot of emotion in it that is why I have chosen Dunedin, as this city has been such an important part of my life for the last 3 years. I am going to choose colures that bring happiness and excitement and add a lot of tone and texture to the picture to make it stand out and look realistic. So anyway it was Sunday afternoon and I was in my room with some music playing and started tracing on the hills with pencil first.

Later that evening I began to paint, there were a few distractions going on in the next room as the all blacks were playing… well I think it was the all blacks, I am not a huge rugby fan myself but there was a lot of cheering so I assume it was.

I was thinking about how one of the greatest qualities of art is the way it "speaks" to each one of us. People may share opinions about a work of art and even feel similar emotional responses, but ultimately our reactions to art and our interpretations of it are as individual as we are.

Anyway I managed to do the sky and the hills in the background of the painting before getting too hungry and tired to continue however have made a plan to do more this week. I will defiantly put the finished product on my BLOG for you all to see and if I may have time to complete another painting before the end of semester. 

PAINTINGS FROM JOHN KEITH REID

My Favorite of his paintings:

Wet Day, Wellington

Otago University

Lake Hawea

Saturday Market Stalls Christchurch

REFERENCES

Reed JK, (2011). Artworks: Watercolors and oils by New Zealand Artist John Keith Reed. Retrieved from http://www.artworks.co.nz/.

POST 2

What does painting mean to me? Painting has been a passion of mine that started at school and it is something I do almost everyday. I find it peaceful yet exciting at the same time. When I have finished it gives me a sense of accomplishment and something new to hang on my wall. Painting isn't something I have to force myself to do. For me painting gives me an escape from the real world and just for a moment I can forget all about the other stressors in my life. When I paint I get to express my creative side and further develop my artistic skills. I love mixing the different colors, experimenting with different types of paints like oil, acrylic, water colored etc. I particularly like painting landscapes or a pretty flower or butterfly, basically anything outside where I can add texture to the painting. However I also like painting famous quotes and then hanging them up on my wall to help motivate me to achieve my best. Painting is something I love and I will happily continue doing this throughout the course of this paper. It will be very beneficial for me to set aside some time to paint as it is simply for the purpose of self-enjoyment and will help me to relax and reduce the stress in my life. 

Practical considerations: I definitely will be able to paint for two hours a week, in fact once I get started it is hard for me to put the paint brush down. All I will have to do is stay organized and on top of my study and then I will easily find time to paint. Other considerations I will need to take into account are money and where I am going to paint. Being a student and constantly on a budget I definitely have found it hard to afford all the different types of paints, varying sized brushes, canvases and paint pallets that painting generally requires. However I have found buying things online and in bulk can be a lot cheaper, also birthdays and Christmas’s are always a good opportunity to ask for new paints and brushes.  Currently I have enough supplies to paint for the rest of the semester however I will have to purchase some canvases from the warehouse, as I prefer painting on these. I will be using acrylic paint as it is cheaper, versatile and can be mixed with water to look very much like watercolor paints.  I have decided to paint in my room or outside our flat when it is a nice day. I will have to put down plenty of newspaper otherwise I am not sure how happy my landlord will be if he finds paint all over the carpet. 

Used in OT? Occupational therapy practitioners have been using expressive arts as therapeutic modali- ties since the turn of the twentieth century. (Lynch, 1996). Such modalities have been used for the “management of pain during recuper- ation, the redirection of the wandering minds of elders, and the diversion of self indulgent thoughts of depressives”(Levine, 1987). The main purpose of expressive art therapy is to contain the client’s self-identity in the product, as well as, “help individuals interpret images for insight, problem solving, and conflict resolution”(Malchiodi, 1999). Studies have shown there can be a direct connection between painting and a reduction of stress levels. Clinical art therapy is commonly used by therapists to encourage self-expression and improve communication between the therapist and a patient who is suffering from a severe mental health condition. Similar benefits can also be gained by individuals affected by anxiety or stress by expressing their creative side and developing painting skills. 

The Positive Effects of Painting 

One of the main reasons that art therapy has proved to be successful is due to the accumulative effects of several well known key benefits associated with the act of painting. These benefits include self-care, distraction and flow: Self-care means taking care of yourself and taking part in activities purely or partly for the benefit or your own well-being. Merely the act of finding new a hobby can make a person feel more well-balanced in their lifestyle. It is sometimes easy to forget – with all of the responsibilities in life – that most people need and should have some ‘me time’. Dedicating some time on a regular basis to painting can help this to be achieved. Painting and creating art is a good way of distracting your thoughts from whatever is causing your stressing or anxiety. The distraction is of course only a momentary effect, but many people find that the relaxation gained during a painting session enables them to have a clearer line of thought, which later helps them deal with problems and help put them into perspective. One further benefit of painting to relieve stress, as it can often enable a person to achieve a positive state of mind known as “Flow”. This is a state of mind, which occurs when an individual involved in an activity is totally immersed with strong feelings of involvement and focus.  (Reso, 2009)
REFERENCES

Lynch, R.T., Chosa, D. (1996). Group oriented community-based expressive arts program- ming for individuals with disabilities: participant satisfaction and perceptions of psychosocial impact. Journal of Rehabilitation. 62, 75.

Levine, R.E. (1987). The influence of the arts-and-crafts movement on the professional status of occupational therapy. American Journal of Occupational Therapy. 41, 248-254.

Malchiodi, Cathy, A. (1999). Art Therapy, Arts Medicine, and Arts in Healthcare: A Vision for Collaboration in the Next Millennium. International Journal of Arts Medicine. 6, 1316.

Reso, K. (2009). 

Relaxation Haven: Painting to Relieve stress. Retrieved from: http://www.relaxationhaven.com/tips/painting-to-relieve-stress/

POST 1

This semester I will be looking at an activity that I do in everyday life. The activity I have chosen is PAINTING.

For this BLOG I am going to reflect on my personal experiences with PAINTING and I will comment and make references to all aspects of the activity in terms of ergonomics; ambience; affordances and practical considerations. I will also be reviewing other students Participation in Occupation 2 BLOGS and make suggestions to improve posting. 

Hope you enjoy reading my BLOG and hopefully it will provide an understanding into why painting is such and important part of my life.

Below is an artwork from one of my favorite artists John Keith Reed and it is a painting of one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world... PARIS. 

John is regarded as one of New Zealand's leading landscape water-colourist.

PARIS STREETS John Keith Reed