Mindful drawing: a moment of attention
Mindful drawing begins with attention. You do not have to quiet your mind first or make anything remarkable. An object on the table gives you something to return to when your thoughts wander. In this exercise, your eyes and your pen follow the same edge.
What you need
A sheet of paper, a pen or pencil, and a simple object: a cup, a leaf or a spoon. Choose something already close by.
1. Set the object in front of you
Sit in a way that feels comfortable. Leave your paper alone for a moment and look. Where does the edge begin? Where does it turn? You do not need to name the answers. Take about a minute to arrive.
2. Follow one edge
Place your pen on the paper. Move your eyes slowly along the outside of the object and let your hand follow. Look at the object more often than the drawing. If the line ends up somewhere unexpected, it can stay there.
3. Come back gently
You may think about your shopping or how the drawing looks. That is part of it. Find the piece of edge you were looking at. There is no need to start again or catch up.
4. Let the drawing rest
Stop after about ten minutes, even if the outline is unfinished. Look at the object and then at the paper. Nothing needs improving.
Something to notice
What small part of the object did you notice that you had not seen before?
Tomorrow you can try again with the same object. The light, your attention and your line do not have to be the same.