December often feels like a whirlwind, doesn’t it? From buying gifts and baking cookies to managing holiday schedules, the festive season can quickly turn into the most stressful time of the year.
That’s why I’ve created this simple, calming Christmas-themed drawing exercise. It’s quick, fun, and perfect for when you need a break from all the chaos. You don’t need fancy art skills or supplies—just some basic materials and a willingness to let go of perfection.
Let’s dive into the details of how to create this Christmas line exercise and, more importantly, how it can help you slow down and feel more present during this busy time.
Why This Exercise Helps Your Mental Health
The holiday season is often accompanied by high levels of stress and overstimulation. This exercise taps into the calming benefits of repetitive drawing and focusing on simple shapes:
- Repetitive Movements: The act of drawing horizontal lines and patterns creates a rhythm that calms your mind. It’s like giving your brain permission to pause and focus on just one thing.
- Focusing on the Present: When you concentrate on creating patterns or choosing colors, your mind naturally shifts away from worries or to-do lists.
- A Break from Perfection: Christmas can often feel like a time of high expectations. This exercise reminds you to let go of perfectionism. Wobbly lines and quirky patterns are part of the charm!
Have fun with this Christmas line 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:
Watercolor paper 300grs (Arches), watercolor sheets (Viviva), watercolor (Daniel Smith), brush (DaVinci), fineliner (Ohuhu), white gelpen (Sakura), gold acrylic pen (Ohuhu), cup of water, paper towel, washi tape.
Alternative supply suggestions:
You don’t need any fancy materials—whatever you have on hand works fine. Watercolor, markers, or crayons—it’s all about the process, not the result.
Instructions for this Christmas line exercise:
Step 1 – Start with Horizontal Lines
Begin by painting or drawing horizontal lines across your page in your favorite Christmas colors.
Don’t worry about making them perfectly straight—embrace the wobble!
Leave a little space between each line, and feel free to alternate between bold and light strokes.
Why horizontal lines?
There’s something inherently calming about drawing horizontal lines. They guide your eye across the page, creating a sense of flow and balance. The repetitive motion of painting or drawing these lines can also feel meditative, grounding you in the moment.
Step 2 – Add Christmas patterns
Once your lines are dry, grab a fine marker or pen and start filling some of the lines with festive patterns. Think holly leaves, tiny Christmas lights, candy canes, or snowflakes. Keep it simple—this is about relaxation, not creating a masterpiece.
You don’t have to decorate every line! Leave some as solid blocks of color for contrast. The balance between patterns and blank spaces keeps the drawing visually pleasing.
If you have glitter pens or metallic markers, add some sparkle to your patterns. It’s a fun way to give your artwork a festive touch!
Final Thoughts
When the holiday stress feels like too much, give yourself the gift of a few quiet moments with this calming drawing exercise. It’s a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and enjoy the little joys of the season.
What patterns will you add to your Christmas lines? Share your creations with me—I’d love to see them!
Happy painting!
You might also like my curved line painting if you enjoyed this.