Acid trip

No, I haven't taken any drug but this guy, who drew those portraits above, did...

This is an experience made by the US government during the late 50's to study LSD effects.

An artist must draw the same portrait several times after he took this drug.

He has free access to an activity box full of crayons and pencils.

His subject is the medico that jabbed him.

20min after a dose of 50µg of LSD

An attending doctor observes - Patient chooses to start drawing with charcoal.

The subject of the experiment reports - 'Condition normal... no effect from the drug yet'.

1h25 after the first dose of LSD

and 20min after a second dose of 50µg

 The patient seems euphoric.

'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.'

2h30 after the first dose of LSD

Patient appears very focus on the business of drawing.

'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'.

2h32 after the first dose of LSD

Patient seems gripped by his pad of paper.

'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...'

2h35 after a dose of 50µg of LSD

Patient follows quickly with another drawing.

'I'll do a drawing in one flourish... without stopping... one line, no break!'

Upon completing the drawing the patient starts laughing, 

then becomes startled by something on the floor.

2h45 after a dose of 50µg of LSD

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 (sounds like 'Thanks for the memory). 

He changes medium to Tempera.

4h25 after a dose of 50µg of LSD

Patient retreated to the bunk, spending approximately 2 hours lying, 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.

5h45 after a dose of 50µg of LSD

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).

8h after a dose of 50µg of LSD

Patient sits on bunk bed. He reports the intoxication has worn off except for the occational 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.'

Original article on cowboybooks.com