Sinead Green

Project title: Blue Sky, Strained Eyes

I started in working in mental health while completing my undergraduate in psychology. While completing this degree, I was also maintaining my own art practice on the side. By sheer luck I discovered that art therapy existed and was beginning to be considered as an empirically validated form of therapy. I dedicated my time to understanding the science behind its use and endeavouring to become the most informed/qualified I could possibly be in this field.

Now I work with young people around Australia who are struggling with mental health, I use my art practice as a form of self-care and as a way to process the dark side of my work. My art making often appears with organs, eyeballs, and spooky subject matter – exploring the darkness that exists in us all, and what’s happening inside of us!

My research has worked to investigate the link between creativity and engagement in art therapy. In working with young people over the years, I discovered if a young person does not view themselves as creative, they often struggle to engage in any form of art making or creative activity. My research aims to give insight into whether young adults can benefit from art therapy, if they view themselves as non-creative. Exploring the influence of self-concept of creativity on engagement.

The artwork that I have created represents the tumultuous time of completing research. Investigating the underlying emotions, I felt every step of the way. An honest take on the physical, emotional, and mental demands that come with research. I took an almost surrealist approach to represent the inner workings of my brain, using oil paint to create spooky sentimental pieces. The art works are personal and representational of my last year of study and helped me process and accept the reality of the experience.