This mindful autumn doodle exercise is about having fun when you’re creating. Sometimes we are so obsessed with the outcome that it is really stressful to create something. And suddenly, it’s not a relaxing activity anymore.
In this exercise, we are just gonna doodle all the things that pop into your head when you think about autumn. Just take a moment and start with the first thing that comes to mind. Get some supplies and start.
Remind yourself that this is an exercise for you and not for anyone else. Try to leave your perfectionism at the door and just see what comes out.
For me, perfectionism is also an issue, but I have learned that that doesn’t help me grow. And it creates way too much pressure. So with exercises like this, I try to let that go and see what comes out.
Are my autumn doodles perfect? Nope. Did I have fun? Absolutely! And that is the whole purpose of this exercise.
To make it a little bit easier, I’ve used acrylic markers, which are pretty forgiving. You can always paint over things or correct them slightly.
Please let me know if this mindful autumn doodle exercise helped you relax, I’d love to know.
You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown
Supplies used:
Paint On Mixed media paper (Clairefontaine), acrylic markers (Ohuhu), washi tape.
Alternative supply suggestions:
You can use whatever supplies you want for this exercise; colored pencils, watercolor, crayons, etc. Even if you just have a pencil, just try it. You can simulate different colors by using different shades of grey.
Instructions
1. Firstly, grab some paper and supplies that you prefer. Slowly breathe in and out for a minute or so to get more relaxed. Then think of autumn and see what pops into your head. There’s no right or wrong answer.
2. Start by drawing your first autumn doodle. It doesn’t matter if the proportions are not perfect or wonky. That’s also the fun thing about doodling; it is not a problem to exaggerate things. I didn’t use a pencil but went right in with my acrylic markers. If I use a pencil, I will constantly try to correct it because I can, and then perfectionism will get me. With my acrylic markers, a line is a line, and if it’s a bit wonky, then it is what it is. I just go on with my doodle. If you don’t have an acrylic marker and you’re also someone who is constantly using an eraser, try to draw with a pen or fineliner.
3. If you use acrylic markers or any other supplies that are wet. Wait for the first layer to dry before adding the second one. The thing I love about acrylic markers is that they are very opaque, and you can even paint over a dark color with a lighter one. This makes it possible to make slight corrections if you’d like.
4. Continue to fill your whole page with autumn doodles.
Now you have finished the mindful autumn doodle exercise. Well done!
Did you succeed in ignoring your perfectionism for a while?
If you liked this exercise, you might like my Animal tails – a creative association exercise as well.