A Neurographic Christmas: Drawing Calm with Pine and Berries

As the holiday season approaches, life can feel like one big to-do list. Between decorating, shopping, and all the festive activities, it’s easy to lose sight of taking a moment for yourself. That’s where this neurographic Christmas drawing comes in—a creative way to embrace the season while giving your mind a well-deserved pause.

This exercise combines the meditative qualities of neurographic drawing with festive pine branches and berries, creating a calm moment of holiday mindfulness. And don’t worry—it’s all about the process, not perfection. Let’s dive in.

Why This Exercise is a Holiday Lifesaver

The holidays are joyful, yes, but they can also be overwhelming. This exercise works on two levels: it taps into the calming benefits of neurographic drawing while bringing a festive twist that feels celebratory rather than stressful.

The Power of Free-Form Lines
When you draw free-form lines, your brain shifts into a relaxed state. It’s like giving your mind permission to wander without judgment. This is especially helpful during the holiday rush, when it feels like your thoughts are pulled in a million directions.

Adding the Pine and Berries
Drawing the pine branches encourages focus and repetitive motion, which is proven to calm your nervous system. The act of adding the berries brings a playful element that sparks creativity, making the whole experience feel lighthearted and restorative.

Letting Go of Perfection
One of the best things about this exercise is that it’s not about getting the branches or berries “just right.” Like in nature, beauty lies in imperfection.

Have fun with this neurographic Christmas drawing exercise! Please let me know if you’ve tried it; I would love to see it.

You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown

Supplies used:

Marker paper 300grs (BeCreativeShop), fineliner (Copic), red and green gelpen (Sakura).

Alternative supply suggestions:

You don’t need any fancy materials—whatever you have on hand works fine. Watercolor, markers, or crayons, a regular pen or pencil—it’s all about the process, not the result.

Instructions for this neurographic Christmas exercise:

Step 1 – Draw free-form lines

Start by filling your page with free-form, flowing lines. Let your hand guide you without overthinking it.

The lines can loop and intersect—there’s no wrong way to do it.

Step 2 – Add red berry dots

Where the lines intersect and create sharp corners, add small red dots to hide them. This will give your drawing a calmer feel. Imagine these as little holly berries sprinkled across your design. Take your time and enjoy the simple act of dotting.

Step 3 – Transform the lines into pine branches

Now for the fun part: turn your lines into pine branches.

Use a green pen or marker to draw short, diagonal lines along the length of your free-form lines.

These small strokes create the illusion of pine needles. Angle them slightly in the direction the branch flows for a natural look.