Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2006. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-02, Section: A, page: 0441. Adviser: Christine M. Thompson. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 201-206) Available on microfilm from Pro Quest Information and Learning.

<p> This production-style dissertation explores the psychological aspect of drawing with dream images. It introduces a practical method, called Mythic Drawing, which can help artists work with dream images in an authentic way. For James Hillman, the founder of Archetypal Psychology, dreams do not reflect the outer world of empirical reality. Rather, they express the inner world of psychic reality through mythological resemblances. Therefore, to draw adequately with images, the artist must give up the rational approach of step-by-step formulas and abstract concepts, and instead, sensitize these methods to the metaphorical style of the dream. </p><p> The essence of Mythic Drawing is play. The artist engages the dream image as an active participant, like an actor playing a part. The role of "artist" is relativized and seen through to the many archetypal figures one embodies while drawing, such as a child, a dancer, an architect, or a shaman. The artist accepts the dream images as alive, intelligent and capable of asserting a will of their own. In this way, drawing becomes a collaborative activity that fosters a dynamic relationship between the artist and the creative figures of his or her imagination. </p><p> Using a hermeneutic method, the dissertation outlines the theoretical basis of Mythic Drawing, while at the same time examining traditional assumptions and biases in art education. It then tests the efficacy of the ideas discussed through two intensive drawing projects. A heuristic method is applied throughout the production of drawings which helps provide reflection upon and analysis of the creative process.</p>