In this mindful neurographic coloring exercise, we’ll discover how calming coloring can be.
“Isn’t coloring for kids?” No, not at all.
Coloring is a mindful activity that adults can benefit from as well.
The repetitive motion of your colored pencil combined with the focus you need to draw within the lines makes it an almost meditative experience.
Something that can calm you down after a stressful day.
It can also make you feel nostalgic as it might remind you of how carefree you were as a small child. You would just color because you liked it and were not that concerned about the outcome.
Let’s try to go back to that time and just color because it brings you joy.
This works even better in combination with neurographic art. This is a method, developed by Pawel Piskarev, to turn your stress and worries into something more calm and peaceful.
This exercise is some well-deserved creative me-time just for you.
Please let me know if you’ve tried this one, I would love to see it.
You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown
Supplies used:
200gr paper from Mixed media sketch album (SMLT), colored pencils (Faber Castell Polychromos & Bruynzeel), fineliner no. 0.3 (Faber Castell), acrylic marker black (Posca), white gel pen (Uni-ball Signo), fineliner no. 0.50 (Sakura Pigma Micron 08), washi tape.
Alternative supply suggestions:
You can use whatever supplies you have for this exercise; colored pencils, markers, gouache, watercolor, and crayons.
Even just a pen or pencil is good enough.
Instructions:
Step 1
Before you start, slowly breathe in and out a few times to clear your head and get more relaxed. If you like you can put washi tape around the edges of your paper. This will create a nice border around your painting.
Grab a pen or pencil and start drawing freeform lines across your page. Try not to think ahead and let your hand guide you. Just let it flow. Continue this until your page is filled with lines and divided into sections.
Step 2
As our minds love curved shapes and circles we will make sure that all the sharp corners disappear. We’ll turn it into something calming to look at. To do this, draw a rounded shape in every section and color the remaining corners with your pen. This will soften your lines and can even ‘soften’ your stress levels at the same time.
Step 3
Now it’s time to add some colors. I did neurographic exercises before with watercolor and alcohol markers. This time I wanted to try it with colored pencils. Choose some colors that you like or calm you. If you like, you can pick 3 shades of every color and make some beautiful blends with them.
Take your time with each section, there’s no need to hurry. Even if you only have limited time, go slow and finish your exercise another time. Try to draw in the same directions, as this repetitive motion can help you become more relaxed. As you focus on coloring within the lines, your mind is not paying attention to things that make you feel stressed. You’re completely in the moment.
To create these blends, you first need to determine where you want the light to come from in your drawing. If you like you can follow my example and pretend that the sun is coming from the top-right corner. This means that the left and bottom parts of each section have the darkest color.
Grab your lightest color and color your section. Don’t color the top-right corner yet. Grab a slightly darker shade and color your section again, especially on the left and bottom. Grab your lightest color and go over your second color to blend them. Now it’s time for your darkest shade. Use this only on the left and bottom parts of your section. Use your second color to blend. Lastly, grab your lightest color and go over everything one more time including the top-right corner. Now you have a nicely blended section. Do this for all your sections.
Step 4
Lastly, you can add some extra details if you like, either in your lines or in your sections. It’s up to you! Do what feels good. I only added some dots and circles within the lines and some small details.
When you’re done, slowly remove your washi tape. Keep the tape parallel to your paper when you remove it, this will prevent your paper from tearing.
Now you’re done with this mindful neurographic coloring exercise! I hope you had fun.
If you liked this exercise, you might also like my mindful neurographic watercolor exercise.