Form Drawing for Wellbeing and Self-Care

Form drawing is the freehand drawing of lines, patterns and structures. Out of an inner awareness forms are put to paper.

We may first choose to walk the forms in space before drawing them in the air, in sand or in wet clay or on a blackboard.

We may feel the forms move in relationship with our biorhythms within and around the body.

Health and Wellbeing can arise as a new balance and harmony are navigated, trusting the form through our artistic relationship.

Forms can and should be returned to time and again for a variety of reasons that will become clear to you as you study, draw, reflect, and repeat.

Remember that they are not about achieving anything in particular. Think of them as a friendly guide.

Suggested Art Materials: A hard board to secure paper with some masking tape + Paper (ideally cream not a cold white) and coloured Soft Pastels Or Paper and Block Wax Crayons Or Blackboard and Colourful Chalks.

Some guidance:

• Try to keep in mind that the practice is to become steadily willing to trust your hands and the natural flow of mark-making, not about making a copy of the ‘art’ you see here, or producing something you like or label as beautiful or perfect.

• A practice of a daily commitment of 3-5 minutes in silence is recommended, with gentle eyes.

• Seated or Standing; your choice.

• Paper on board, or chalkboard, ideally upright on the wall - and slightly tilted to face you if on a table.

• Start the path of the line from the centre area. Use guidelines or folds to help locate the middle of the paper, if needed. Include a boundary around the edge of the paper with crayon or pastel or chalk, as it can help to ‘see’ the paper edge more clearly before you draw the form lines.

• Try and keep the line continuous and smooth, without taking your tool off the page/board. It should slide, so watch your pressure.

• If your natural tendency is to draw the line fast, try to slow it down a little each time you’ve walked the lines.

• If your natural tendency is to draw the line slowly, try to pick up the pace a little each time you’ve walked the lines.

• Once you have the whole form, walk the line path at different speeds.

If you feel called to have Tailor-Made One-to-One Art Therapy Sessions (in-person or online) based on Form Drawings, please email me.