Hypno-Art

views updated

Hypno-Art

Term used by professional artist Curtis Watkins to denote his artwork done under hypnosis. He first began drawing under hypnosis in 1971 while working at a commercial art studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He had earlier learned selfhypnosis as an aid to relaxation. After using self-hypnosis to make the most of a short coffee break, Watkins was astonished to find that he had made a drawing without conscious effort.

Since then Watkins has experimented widely in producing art while under hypnosis. He found that this kind of art is quite unlike his normal conscious production. He established a Hypno-Art Research Center and Studio at 519 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, Michigan 48843. Watkins's experiments in hypno-art make interesting comparison with the automatic drawing and painting reportedly produced by Spiritualist mediums.