Art Is a Way of Knowing

Rating:
Summary: Moving and effective
Review: A very moving and effective book with seamless ties between art therapy and personal experiences - this book easily reaches out to anybody, artist or not, therapist or not. It's for the common man and its honesty and fluent accounts make it extremely accessible.

Rating:
Summary: Good for Beginners
Review: Pat Allen gives an informed and moving account of her personal experiences and how art used therapeutically has helped her work through different life challenges. However, being an artist and pursuing the field of art therapy I found her approaches and explanations a bit simplistic and not challenging for those already initiated in the use of art materials and techniques. A section for those with art backgrounds, or a follow-up book, might be helpful in this regard. A good pick for beginners, but not for those already conversant and comfortable with techniques and materials. Her resourse lists are helpful and informative. I would have liked to see works by patients of Ms. Allen's also included, with comments. This might have made the reading more challenging and interesting.

Rating:
Summary: A fantastic exploration of art as therapy
Review: Pat's book is well written and full of personal and artistic exercises. She represents an oppertunity for art therapy to move out of the HMO structure and back to peoples every day lives. As an Creative Arts Therapy Masters student this book gave me more insight and hope about the field then anything I was told to read for class.

Rating:
Summary: a wealth of ideas
Review: The author reveals much of her own journey through painfull life experiences and how art expressions helped her to heal.
The book is filled with her own original artwork,and it is a very open,brave art indeed.
Her suggestions for the reader are very stimulating,and make one eager to begin to make art.She offers many examples of art activities and materials.,and even has an appendix for a music catalogue(she suggests listening to music while artmaking)and an adress for art supply catalogue...Everyone will feel like an artist,as well as getting to know oneself at a deep level through doing this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Life-changing Experience
Review: The author's own very personal story of healing & growth through imagery and the art process, combined with a very clear, present-moment style of writing was absolutely riveting to me! This is a living, pulsing and highly moving, inspired and inspiring work. I couldn't put it down.