In this mindful colors and lines exercise, we’ll discover what calms you.
Experimenting and having fun can also help to reduce stress.
In this exercise, we’ll color circles, which has an almost meditative effect on our minds. It will make us focus on the task at hand and the repetitive motions are really relaxing.
But we’ll also experiment with drawing lines. Everyone has their own preference. Let’s find yours!
You can use this knowledge when you’re feeling stressed. Just draw lines in your favorite direction and with your favorite motion.
I hope you have fun with this exercise and you have some well-deserved me-time.
Please let me know if this mindful colors and lines exercise helped you relax and be in the moment, I’d love to know.
If you have any questions about this exercise, please leave a comment below and I’ll be glad to help you.
You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown
Supplies used:
Mixed media paper (Strathmore), alcohol markers (ohuhu), fineliner 1.0 (Copic), fineliner 0.05 (Winsor & Newton), circle maker (M+R), and washi tape.
Alternative supply suggestions:
There is no specific material needed for this exercise. Just use what you have. A pen or pencil is good enough for your circles.
You can use colored pencils, watercolors, crayons, or whatever supplies you have to add color.
If you don’t have a circle maker, just use any round object to draw your circles.
Instructions
Step 1
Before you start, slowly breathe in and out a few times to get more relaxed and focused. If you like to have a nice frame around your creation, put some washi tape around the edges of your paper. Grab a pen/pencil and a circle maker or round object and fill your entire page with circles. There is no need to draw them in a perfect row. It’s better if they are scattered around your page and overlap.
Step 2
Now it’s time to add color to all the parts where your circles overlap. Choose a color that you like or that calms you.
Step 3
Choose some other colors and color your circles. Go slow and try to color in a consistent motion. This will make it even more relaxing.
Step 4
If you like, you can give your background a contrasting color to make your circles stand out more. This step is optional.
Step 5
Lastly, we’ll draw lines in our circles. Here we’ll experiment with different directions and motions to discover our favorite way to draw lines.
Try drawing in a different direction for each circle; vertically, horizontally, diagonally, etc. Concentrate on how you’re feeling when you’re drawing. Which direction feels most natural and calming?
Also, experiment with different motions: draw from left to right, from right to left, downwards, upwards, etc. Which motion do you like best?
Now you have finished the mindful colors and lines exercise. Well done!
If you liked this exercise, you might like my Mindful circle lineart exercise as well.
