Drawing, especially finger painting, is an unconscious manifestation and can be treated like dream material. Resistances appear and must be overcome. A frequent one is the patient's refusal to draw anything owing to the fear of revealing himself. Also, there may be intellectualization or the reproduction of childhood learning or an attempt to fool the analyst.

Very important in understanding these pictures is knowledge of the way in which they are made; e.g. 'sharp staccato lines drawn like knives',