Painting

Examples of Paintings done using the technique of Facilitated Communication. This technique utilizes the volitional movement of the student. The therapist offers support in the form of resistance. This resistance helps the student become more aware of his/her movements. The amount of resistance offered depends on how the student feels at the time of the session. An example of resistance would be feeling the water against our bodies as we swim. The adolescent spotlighted here calls it tension. For anyone who uses a sewing machine, knows when the tension is too loose or too tight. It is important for the therapist to offer have just the right amount of tension.

The girl in green has gold hair on a blue background

"Girl in Green" 8.5 x 11 watercolor. Painted by an adolescent male, 14, with Autism. This painting appears in the book: Childhood Revealed . . . published by Harry Abrams, 1999. The artwork in this book is on a national tour for the year 2000.

This was painted after a summer vacation at the shore with his family.

This is a picture of a black horse grazing in a blue field.

"Horse" 12 x 18 watercolor painted by the same artist, 15.

Using FC handwriting or FC typing, he would talk

with a friend about their love for horses. He was interested in taking riding lessons.

This is picture of two red poppy flowers on a blue background. The one on the left is slightly taller then the other.

"Poppies 12 x 18 watercolor painted by the same artist, 15.

During a time of flower studies, he painted 4 versions of these poppies. One for each of his grandmothers. One for his mother to hang in their house. And the one you see here. Each one with subtle changes specific to the recipient.