This mindful circle lineart exercise will show you that just drawing simple lines can be really relaxing.
You don’t need to make complicated or difficult things to enjoy art. You can just have as much fun with drawing some lines.
I like this exercise because you don’t need to worry about whether your lines are perfectly straight or perfectly aligned. I think the wobbly lines make it even more interesting. There’s a kind of movement in these drawings that I adore.
So let your perfectionism go for now and enjoy just drawing lines. Focus on what you’re doing and let your mind relax. The repetitive movement of drawing these lines will be so meditative.
Please let me know if this circle lineart exercise helped you relax, I’d love to know.
You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown
Supplies used:
Bristol paper (Hahnemüle), alcohol markers (Winsor & Newton), fineliner no. 0.05 (Winsor & Newton), fineliner no. 0.3 (Copic), helix circle maker.
Alternative supply suggestions:
You can use a regular pen or a pencil to draw the lines for this exercise. If you want to add color, use whatever you have, such as crayons, markers, watercolor. Even if you only have a pencil, just try it. You can simulate different colors by using different shades of grey.
If you don’t have fineliners with different-sized tips, you can also use a blunt pencil for thick lines and a sharp one for thinner lines.
Use round objects to make circles or just freehand them.
Instructions
1. Before you start, slowly breathe in and out a few times to get more relaxed. Draw a few circles on your page, either with a circle maker, a round object, or just freehand them. Use a fineliner with a large tip for the outlines of the circles.
2. Add color to your circles. Choose colors that speak to you, make you feel good or relaxed.
3. Place a dot somewhere in your first circle. This will be the focal point of your circle.
4. Now it’s time to add your lines. Use a smaller-tipped fineliner for your lines. Start somewhere at the edge of your circle and draw a line from the edge to your dot. Then, draw another line parallel to the first one to the dot. Keep adding lines that are parallel. The lines cannot cross each other, but you can draw over a line that’s already there. That’s why you get those darker spots in your drawing. This will create movement and a kind of wave-like feel.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for the other circles. Place your dot at a different spot for each circle. This way you’ll get a different outcome each time.
Now you have finished the mindful circle lineart exercise. Well done!
If you liked this exercise, you might like my Mindful neurographic drawing exercise as well.