Drawing to unwind: ten minutes with a cup
Sometimes it feels good to do something with your hands. This exercise offers a simple starting point: the cup you drink from. Relaxation is not an assignment to get right. You can begin feeling restless and simply notice what happens as you draw.
What you need
A cup or mug, a sheet of paper and a pen or pencil. No special sketchbook or new materials needed.
1. Find a place
Set down the cup and put your phone out of sight. If you want a timer, set it for ten minutes and turn the screen away. Take a moment to notice how you are sitting.
2. Look at the opening
From your chair, the top of the cup probably does not look like a round circle. Follow its shape with your eyes. Draw it as you see it now, without measuring or erasing.
3. Let the rest follow
Draw one side, the handle, a little of the bottom edge. You can lift your pen. If you notice yourself pressing harder, try a lighter line. This is something to explore, not a rule.
4. Leave some space
You do not have to colour the cup or draw the table. Perhaps there is a shadow you would like to follow. Perhaps this is enough. When the time is up, put your pen down.
Something to notice
How does it feel to leave this drawing as it is, open spaces and all?
Another day you could choose a set of keys or a fold in a cloth. A subject does not have to be remarkable to deserve a moment of attention.