Learning to See With a Pencil

In today’s video and demo I share with you processes called contour and blind contour drawing. These are great ways to draw something either partially or completely unrecognizable, throw expectations of reality to the winds, and have a little bit of fun while you do it! We are not in this for duplicating reality.

I use these methods to build skill and muscle memory in seeing, or observing, but I have come to realize that they bring the added benefit of helping me get to a state of mindfulness and relaxation as well. Much like focusing on your breath when you meditate, focusing on an object that you carefully observe in detail while very slowly moving a pencil on paper as your eye moves around the edges of that object changes your brain waves, slows your breathing, and sometimes, even your heart rate. It’s like meditation lite.