Sketching Calm: Turning Lines into Shapes

Discover a simple, stress-relieving drawing exercise for us moms. Turn lines into shapes and find your moment of calm in everyday chaos.

Hey moms, ever feel like you need a breather but can’t find the off switch? Let’s grab a few minutes and a pen. I’ve got a cool, no-pressure art trick that’s perfect for us – turning squiggles into something neat.

Why This Exercise Works:

This isn’t just doodling. It’s a legit way to help us unwind:

• Kicks Stress to the Curb: Moving that pen around gets us out of our heads and onto the page, which is pretty relaxing.
• Here and Now: Focusing on finding shapes keeps us in the moment instead of worrying about that mountain of laundry.
• Boosts the Happy Vibes: Seeing a page go from plain to “I made this!” feels pretty awesome.
• Lets Us Express Ourselves: It’s a way to let out some of that mom frustration or joy without having to find the words.

Have fun with the exercise of turning lines into shapes! 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:

Bristol paper (BeCreativeShop), brush pens (Ohuhu), fineliner 1.0, 0.3 (Ohuhu).

Alternative supply suggestions:

You can use any supplies that you have; colored pencils, crayons, watercolor, etc.

Instructions for this lines into shapes exercise:

Step 1 – Free-form lines

Before you start, slowly breathe in and out a few times to clear your head. Then, bring yourself to the present, away from all the day-to-day stress.

Start with making squiggles and free-form lines all over your page. Let your hand wander and have fun with it. There’s no right or wrong here, just lines.

Step 2 – Find your shapes

Now, look at those squiggles. Do you see any shapes or something that reminds you of an object or an animal? Circle them or draw over them to make them stand out.

Did you find a shape that looks like a fish, like I did? Great. Add some eyes or stripes. Whatever shapes you find, go ahead and define them a bit more.

Step 3 – Add color

Time to make it pop with some color. Feel free to paint outside the lines; it’s all about making your page brighter and cooler.

Step 4 – Fill the rest of your page

For the parts of your page still empty, try rounding off where the lines meet and fill those spaces with colors or simple patterns. It’s about filling the gaps and making it all come together.

So, next time the kids are finally down for their nap or you’ve got a few minutes to yourself, try turning those squiggles into art. It’s a simple, fun way to chill out and do something just for you.

Have you dived into the squiggles and found something cool? I’d love to see it! Share your creations, and let’s remind each other that we’ve all got a bit of an artist in us.