Art & mindfulness for beginners

An introduction to drawing and the art of mindfulness

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is the state of being 'present to' and 'aware of' what is taking place in the present moment. This presence of mind can evoke a sense of wonder, freshness and appreciation for the simple fact of being alive.

What we frequently call mindfulness practice, ‘involves purposefully making a time for stopping all outward activity and cultivating stillness, with no agenda other than being fully present in each moment. Not doing anything. Perhaps such moments of non-doing are the greatest gift one can give oneself’  — Jon Kabat Zinn.

Mindful resilience training involves learning to cultivate these qualities and attitudes.

Cultivating calmness of mind

One aspect of mindfulness is about cultivating calm and clarity of mind. In any creative pursuit, our attitude is important and most of us at some point will encounter obstacles or challenges like the ‘judging mind’ for example, which is very common.

Cultivating kindness

Another aspect of mindfulness is kindness. Kindness is not ‘niceness. Instead it’s about having an open, curious, respectful and appreciative relationship to ourself and others.

So, mindfulness tools can help us to become more aware and resilient in the face of obstacles and challenges when they arise.

In relation to art, mindfulness practice can be enriching in a whole variety of ways, including helping to sustain interest in your subject matter and increasing sensitivity to and use of the drawing materials in your hand.

Neuroscience has proven that we can re-wire our brain, that we can literally create new habits that support our life and growth. These new habits can become instinctual. This has radical implications for our life in that we can actually consciously learn to think and feel differently.

Having practised mindfulness for over 26 years, I have experience of some unhelpful habits and thought patterns having actually dropped away. I thought that they were ‘me’, but they weren’t. I’m thinking of one regular thought pattern in particular right now, that hasn’t happened for about 7 years! 

Within the activity of drawing for example, by giving attention to the way you're standing/sitting, you can generate greater physical ease and reduce tensions that naturally arises during activity. This, in turn allows the movements of your drawing arm to be more fluid and versatile when articulating the shapes, rhythms and textures of the subject matter.

When you are present and alive to your actual experience, the simplest things can take on a new life and become sources of inspiration — the touch of your materials on the page, a particular quality of light, a sense of meaning/significance derived from a simple arrangement of objects.

Mindfulness can be practised by pausing and connecting to stillness/calm, but also amidst activity. Mindfulness practices evoke curiosity and non-judgemental awareness as well as a broader perspective and humour, all of which are invaluable when trying to be objective and to think creatively about next steps.

Drawing for example, naturally brings you into the present moment by virtue of it requiring a particular quality of attention in order to create. But by bringing greater awareness to the process of drawing and the moments in between the activity of drawing,  through the practice of simple mindfulness exercises, the quality of one’s attention and consequently of ones drawing, can become greatly enriched and enlivened.

Similarly, giving attention to the process of ‘looking’, can help you to ‘see’ ones subject with greater clarity and appreciation. And with respect to ones materials – be that chalks, pastels, ink, charcoal etc… during the course we spend time exploring their different qualities and uses, which can lead to greater skill, kinship and versatility.

Numerous studies report that embedding short pauses into one’s day for the mind to rest and come into presence, significantly lowers brain stressors, resulting in more resourcefulness, creative thinking, and perspective. Some common mindfulness practices include:

• seated mindfulness meditation,
• mindful drawing,
• slow looking at nature or art,
• mindful walking or eating.

It’s not a matter of whether you are any good at it or not, it’s about discovering which mindfulness practices work best for you. Engaging mindfulness with art can be very enriching. Whether you choose to practise art looking, or art making.

There is a natural resonance between the two disciplines of art looking and art making. Looking at art as well as art-making e.g. drawing, painting, writing… can naturally bring us into the present moment by virtue of them requiring a particular quality of attention in order to connect/create. 

Mindfulness art-making

Incorporating mindfulness skills into art-making can help you to become more present and connected to the process of making. This sense of connection and presence can bring many benefits including more aliveness in your drawings/artwork, increased enjoyment, creative flow and greater objectivity when it comes to reviewing what you’ve created and discerning next steps.

It can also help to bring perspective and resourcefulness when faced with the vicissitudes of creative practice, it can for example, help free you from the judging mind as well as help you to reconnect to joy and a sense of purpose.

Mindful looking at art

Guided Mindful Looking or Slow Looking at Art can help us to see and appreciate individual artworks more fully. In this practice we spend time looking and seeing the artwork afresh, and also listen to our responses. We learn to trust our responses so that we can discover our own relationship to the artwork and any meaning or significance it may hold for us. We contemplate the artists intentions, life circumstances and historical context, which can give us a doorway into new ways of seeing as well as a sense of connection and empathy for another person’s experience.