As part of an ongoing series of experiments with LSD, the U.S. government dosed an artist and asked him to draw the medic administering the drug to track the effects. The following transcript (found here via this tumblr) is the medic's description of the artist's process while under the influence 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.
2 hours 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 (sounds like 'Thanks for the memory). He changes medium to Tempera.
4 hours 25 minutes after first dose.
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.
(read the whole thing here.)
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Fauxhawk quit smoking yesterday at 5:45pm. This morning I found him wrapped in a blanket in bed, awake and full of dread.
"Are you going to make it?" I asked, patting his body-burrito.
"Things will be OK if I just stay in here," he said.
It was clear that SOMEONE would need to go out and buy two boxes of maximum strength nicotine patches, and that SOMEONE would have to be me.
After administering not one but two patches, complete with first aid tape to keep them from falling off the Hawk's nicotine deprived, sweating body, we created our own experiment.
30 minutes after administering the transdermal nicotine patches
Patient is highly agitated, admonishing subject for "multi-tasking" while portrait is in process.
Says he feels "not very nice, and is "usually a very interesting and caring person who doesn't get crabby and now I am crabby. This drawing sucks but it has a certain je ne sais quoi. I hate people, not all people, just anyone I have to talk to or deal with."
When interrupted by a phone call from a supportive friend who said, "Every minute you're not smoking is a good minute!" the patient replied, "Go fuck yourself."
Medic suggests scheduling the next drawing. The patient resists. "It makes me sad that the fun part of my life is over," he says, while frantically rubbing patches.
One hour after administering the transdermal nicotine patches
Patient switches medium from pen to computer software.
"I'm going to draw it in Flash."
"OK."
Pause.
"I hate you."
Then, two seconds later, "I don't hate you! I don't!"
Medic silently ignores patient.
Patient becomes agitated. "Honey! I don't hate you!"
"OK."
Pause.
"Do you hate me?"
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Maybe we should try the gum?
