Art as Language: Access to Emotions and Cognitive Skills through Drawings

Forward by Cathy Malchiodi. Acknowledgements. Contents. Part 1: Stimulus Drawing Assessments. Introduction. Three Stimulus Drawing Assessments. Part 2: Qualitative Studies. Consistencies and Humor. Emotionally Disturbed, Hospitalized, and Sexually Abused Individuals. Joey, a Child with Learning Disabilities. Hearing Impaired Children and Adolescents. Adults and Adolescents with Brain Injuries. Developmental Art Procedures. Part 3: Quantitative Studies. Atypical Children, Adolescents, Adults. Age, Gender, and Cultural Differences among Typical Children, Adolescents, and Adults. Concluding Observations. References.

"Art as Language merges a user-friendly format and the unique assessment and treatment practices long associated with the author...By reviewing studies of children, adolescents and adults suffering from various impairments and injuries, the author clearly demonstrates the broad applicability of stimulus drawing assessments." -- Family Therapy: The Journal of the California Graduate School of Family Psychology
"In Art as Language, art therapist Rawley Silver demonstrates the use of the visual medium as a linguistic parallel to verbal or written communication. The author recognizes that language expands and facilitates thought, but she effectively illustrates the existence of high-level thinking in its absence. Throughout the book, she demonstrates the usefulness of drawing as an expressional tool for patients who are unable or unwilling to express themselves through the conventional use of language. Art as Language merges a user-friendly format and the unique assessment and treatment practices long associated with the author." -- Adolescence, v. 36, no. 144, Winter 2001
"...this book contains valuable information about methods for examining creativity, intelligence, concepts, and feelings without depending entirely on language. The writing is clear and accessible, and supports tests and theories with secific research and current references." -- Malinda Eccarius, M.S., C.E.D., The Volta Review
"In this concise and well-documented text, Silver has presented an in-depth look at how art can be used to assess spatial intelligence and reveal emotional issues that may impact cognition. ... Not only has [she] presented a tool for assessment backed by solid research, but also a strong rationale for the need for continued art experiences throughout an individual's life span." -- Linda Jo Pfeiffer, E., ATR-BC THE ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY, An International Journal
"In this concise and well-documented text, Silver has presented an in-depth look at how art can be used to assess spatial intelligence and reveal emotional issues that may impact cognition. Silver's extensive work with hearing impaired children provided the impetus to develop an art assessment that could bypass language and evaluate the intelligence of language impaired individuals. The illustrations and figures used throughout the text provide solid examples of the developmental changes that occurred as students progressed through an art-based curriculum. Not only has Silver presented a tool for assessment backed by solid research, but also a strong rationale for the need for continued art experiences throughout an individual's life span." -- Linda Jo Pfeiffer, Ed.D., ATR-BC, Chairperson, Miami-Dade County Public Schools