The Arts in Psychotherapy, Vol. 24, No. 3, 307-308, 1997 pp. Copyright 0 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd

Pergamon Printed in the USA. All tights reserved 0197-4556/97 $17.00 + .oO

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BOOK REVIEW

Drawing and Coloring For Your Life

Julia Nichols and Avis Garrett, PhD, ATR-BC Illustrations by Elizabeth “Grandma’ ’ Layton

(Overland Park, KS: Gingerbread Castle Publishers, 1995, 200 pages, $29.95)

The prevalence of self-help books in today’s book market has made an excellent climate for the publi- cation of Drawing and Coloring For Your Life. Julia Nichols and Dr. Avis Garrett have made a fine con- tribution to this genre by utilizing the drawings and words of one of art therapy’s most well-known cli- ents, Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton. The contour drawings of Grandma Layton are accompanied with narratives by both herself and her daughter, Julia Ni- chols. Dr. Garrett also contributes by giving an art therapist’s perspective of each drawing’s theme ac- companied by an art therapy directive. The dynamic and expressive drawings of Grandma Layton, together with her rich quotes, are enough in themselves to make a worthwhile book. With this publication we get the added bonus of her daughter’s viewpoint as well as the useful and insightful ideas of Dr. Garrett.

The book is divided into 14 sections. The Intro- duction describes the illustrator’s final freedom from depression and her eventual national acclaim as an artist. Layton had suffered from depression for 40 years. At the age of 67 she took a class in contour drawing and after six months declared that she was finally cured of her depression. Within her lifetime she was recognized as an accomplished artist by win- ning many art awards and by having her works tour the country, an accomplishment not many living art- ists can proclaim.

The section, Defining Contour Drawing, is written by Dr. Garrett and it describes both Pure Contour Drawing and Modified Contour Drawing. In the ex-

planation for Modified Contour Drawing, she also de- scribes the technique called “contour-mirror-image drawing,” which was used by Layton and is now taught by Garrett. It is in this section where the thesis of the book is found. Garrett states that,

There are two reasons for drawing this way. First, and the most important reason, is that it heals. Secondly, it leads to self-acceptance. Grandma Layton called this process “the magic prescription to health.” (p. 1)

The reader is then encouraged to draw- by coloring in the pictures of the book as a way to start slowly, and eventually setting up a mirror and doing contour- mirror-image drawing. Garrett also suggests playing healing music during the drawing process and joum- aling about the work if one cannot discuss it with another person.

The next section is a description of Modified Con- tour Drawing by Layton. She lists the materials needed and describes how to utilize the method. In the previous section, Garrett recommends the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards for those who want a more complete expla- nation of contour drawing methods.

The next 11 sections are divided into different cat- egories, which are: Relationships, Fear, Grief, Aging, Anger, Prejudice, Tyranny, World Agony, Strengths, Healing, and Celebrating. Within these sections are the wonderful drawings by Layton, most accompa-

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tried by her writings about them. It is here where the reader observes the incredible depth and wisdom of this woman. Each drawing can hold its own audience, but, with the added compliment of her words, the reader gains a deeper understanding of her world, her feelings, her energy, her life and her healing.

Layton’s daughter, Julia, also gives her perspective for each drawing. It may be on the drawing itself, the things that were going on in her mother’s life at the time or what was then being played out in her own life. It is both insightful and interesting to hear the daughter’s take on her mother’s drawings. Julia was coerced by her mother into contour drawing and she, too, proclaims its healing powers by both witnessing her mother’s healing and her own. The love and re- spect she has for her mother is quite evident in her writings. She says about the drawing titled, Noah’s Ark:

Mother was such a free spirit. She loved the simple things in life. It didn’t take much to make her happy. I think that’s because she loved herself. She was content to just sit on the porch. Wouldn’t it be nice if we were all enter- tained so easily. (p. 46)

Dr. Garrett then adds her own perspective and direc- tive to each drawing though the reader may have a different view of the drawing then the theme Garrett describes. It is important that the reader have an un- derstanding that not everyone sees things in the same way and that this is just as well. We all come from different backgrounds, with different views and dif-

ferent issues. The reader should be open to Garrett’s ideas, contemplate them and see if they are useful for their own personal growth; otherwise go with their own initial feelings and thoughts on the pictures and draw from these.

I found Drawing and Coloring For Your Life to be a worthwhile book. I love the illustrations by Grandma Layton and will cherish this collection of her works. The commentary by Julie Nichols added to the understanding of the life and the healing of her mother. Dr. Garrett is both insightful and stimulating to the self-instigated process of drawing for healing.

The book may also be useful to art therapists with an open mind who like to refer to others’ works for confirmation and possible new and interesting in- sights. For the non-art therapist it is also inspirational. The effect that drawing and coloring had on the lives of Elizabeth “Grandma” Layton and her daughter is a strong testament to the healing power of drawing. Here is a woman who never drew in her life and who, at the age of 67, took a drawing class that changed the remainder of her life in a most profound and positive way.

Laura Stewart MS candidate in Art Therapy/Special Education

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

Reference

Edwards, B. (1979). Drawling on the right side of the brain: A course in enhancing creativity and artistic confidence. New York: J. P. Tarcher.