A calming practice ~ Slow drawing

Life can be hectic. And sometimes things just pile up when you already feel like you're juggling more ball than comfortable, or an unexpected surprise throws you for a loop and you feel there is not enough of you to get everything done.

When life starts 'life-ing', its when I need to stop and care for my mind, body and soul.

I have a bunch of grounding practices I turn to but today, I decided on a nature wander among the oak trees, then finished with a brisk walk back to the car, and in the evening did some slow drawing, a practice that was inspired by Amy Maricle of #mindfulartstudio 

Amy teaches a mindful meditative practice around drawing patterns that are inspired by nature in a very, very slow pace. She has a lot of different patterns, some are drawn with pen or painted with a brush and paint. Amy helps you to notice your senses in this drawing practice, just like I guide my students to notice senses while nature journaling or in nature.

Today I decided to make up a pattern that inspired me. I started with a cluster of tiny circles then added petals one by one. Then slow stripes to each petal.

As I drew each petal mindfully I felt my mind chatter slow. With each stripe I could feel my breath become relaxed as I felt the pen move across the paper.

The lines i drew at first were like pinstripes - they started converging to a point in the center edge of each petal. That felt really good to draw.

I am being deliberate with each line.

Go slowly because its not a race, I'm not trying to draw as many flowers as possible.

The point is being in the present moment and, just like I often remind folks in my workshops, its about the process instead of product.

The flowers transform with each line, and started to remind me of dogwood flowers, which I really like.

This is not about drawing accurate nature but being inspired by nature —start with a generic flower- and allowing myself to experiment and let the lines and my breath and my heart guide me.

The slower my hand moved the pen, the more I could notice.

Noticing how the pen felt in my hand as it made its own sounds as it moved across the paper. Feeling the texture of the paper under my fingers, and the visual of the lines on the page were mesmerizing- hypnotic- and calming.

Your Invitation:

• Cut up some paper into small squares. Mine were about 3inches square.

• Pick up your favorite pen- I used felt-tipped pens I have in my stash

• Draw a generic leaf, or cloud, or flower. Or stripes across the page but do this mindfully and slowly.

• Slow down, enjoy the moment. No worry about the to-do list give yourself 15 minutes to play

• How does this make you feel? Uncomfortable? Do you want to go fast? That's ok- just notice that thought, and slow down.

• I don't go as slowly as Amy does, but I listen to myself-- there is a certain speed that feels good to me, it kind of matches my slow breathing.

• How do you feel after slow drawing? Let me know in the comments!

Reflection

• How was this process of slow drawing? Before and after?

• What else can you bring this slow mindful attitude to? Like brushing your hair, or washing dishes, or pushing your shopping cart through the store?

• What do you do when life starts “life-ing” ?

• Is there one favorite calming or grounding activity?

  
  

  Please let me know what you like to do!

Amy Maricle of Mindful Art Studio has a great book if you want to explore: Draw Yourself Calm: Draw slow, stress less- you can get this at my online bookshop. Here is the link to buy the book!