Art, Americans, and LSD...

Came across this recently, can't remember where, but had to share it.

In the 1950s the US government conducted various tests and experiments with psychotomimetic drugs. While that's a whole nother topic unto itself, the following is a series of nine drawings done by an artist under the influence of LSD. The drugs were administered by the US government and his reactions were closely monitered. He was given a dose of LSD 25 and free access to an activity box full of crayons and pencils. His subject is the doctor who injected him with the drugs.

The first drawing is done after twenty minutes. The patient begins drawing with charcoal and says he feels no effect from the drug.

85 minutes after the first dose and 20 after the second: "I can see you clearly, so clearly. This... you... it's all ... I'm having a little trouble controlling this pencil. It seems to want to keep going." Euphoria.

2.5 hours after the first dose: "Outlines seem normal, but very vivid - everything is changing colour. My hand must follow the bold sweep of the lines. I feel as if my consciousness is situated in the part of my body that's now active - my hand, my elbow... my tongue." Extremely focused on drawing.

2 hours and 32 minutes after the first dose:

"I'm trying another drawing. The outlines of the model are normal, but now those of my drawing are not. The outline of my hand is going weird too. It's not a very good drawing is it? I give up - I'll try again..." The artist grows frustrated.

2 hours and 35 minutes after the first dose: "I'll do a drawing in one flourish...without stopping...one line, no break!" Patient begins laughing and then is startled by something on the floor.  

2 hours and 45 minutes after first dose:

Patient tries to climb into activity box, and is generally agitated - responds slowly to the suggestion he might like to draw some more. He has become largely none verbal.

"I am... everything is... changed... they're calling... your face... interwoven... who is..." Patient mumbles inaudibly to a tune. 

4 hours and 25 minutes after first dose:

Patient retreated to the bunk, spending approximately 2 hours lying down, waving his hands in the air. His return to the activity box is sudden and deliberate, changing media to pen and water colour.

"This will be the best drawing, Like the first one, only better. If I'm not careful I'll lose control of my movements, but I won't, because I know. I know."  (This saying is then repeated many times.)

Patient makes the last half-a-dozen strokes of the drawing while running back and forth across the room.

5 hours and 45 minutes after first dose:

Patient continues to move about the room, intersecting the space in complex variations. It's an hour and a half before he settles down to draw again - he appears over the effects of the drug.

"I can feel my knees again, I think it's starting to wear off. This is a pretty good drawing - this pencil is mighty hard to hold." (He is holding a crayon.)

8 hours after first dose:

Patient sits on bunk bed. He reports the intoxication has worn off except for the occasional distorting of our faces. We ask for a final drawing which he performs with little enthusiasm.

"I have nothing to say about this last drawing; it is bad and uninteresting. I want to go home now."

(This study was found here.) 

Also we should note that the Studio does not promote or encourage the use of LSD or any other drugs...