Date of Award

1991

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Art

First Advisor

Dean Eckert

Second Advisor

Tim Hahn

Third Advisor

Grant Hargate

Abstract

Art as Therapy and Meditation by Julia Ann Harmon Tilden explores the therapeutic and meditative qualities of art through a deeply personal and experimental journey during her graduate studies at Lindenwood College. The thesis documents a year marked by personal loss, during which the author turned to her creative practice as a source of emotional healing and introspection. Through a combination of drawing, painting, mixed media, and three-dimensional work, Tilden investigates how art-making can foster emotional expression, spiritual reflection, and psychological relief.

The body of work presented in this thesis includes pastel drawings, abstract paintings, collages, sculptural canvases, and illuminated plexiglass installations. Tilden emphasizes the role of experimentation in her creative development—employing unconventional tools such as sponges, strings, and sticks—and asserts that the freedom to explore new techniques allowed her to evolve a distinct expressionistic style. Her abstract and non-objective works seek to evoke emotional responses in the viewer while maintaining strong foundational skills in drawing, which she argues are critical even in contemporary and abstract art.

Themes of grief, spiritual continuity, and self-discovery permeate the work, most notably in pieces such as "Life After Death" and "Self-Portrait," which symbolically represent personal and artistic transformations. The thesis underscores the importance of creative expression as a means of coping with trauma and asserts the enduring power of art to provide clarity and peace amidst life’s challenges.

Ultimately, Tilden presents her artistic process as both a personal sanctuary and a method of communication that transcends literal representation. The thesis is a testament to how art can serve as a vital tool for inner healing and spiritual grounding, offering insight into the deeply interconnected nature of creativity, emotion, and human resilience.

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