Making a shape library is such a simple task but I love doing it - it really helps me to focus on being present and observing what is around me and reduces the overwhelm when thinking 'hmmm, what pattern shall I draw?' and I think it is that exact moment when resistance can creep in and we can end up not drawing if there are too many questions to answer or things to brainstorm and solve.

 

Any one of these little experiments with circles and lines could totally lead to a whole pattern in itself - there are so many different combinations and options to develop patterns with just one super simple shape, but it's another great way to lay down some options when we get to the final circular pattern without having to come up with ideas from scratch.

I also like doing this because there are always certain patterns which I think just feel nice to draw in that moment - which can change day to day. For instance I really enjoyed the feeling of the looping line in the third column of line experiments, so I knew I wanted to use that in my final drawing.

 

I could have continued working on this all day! It's a pattern style I love to come back to because I love the simplicity of it, and I know that I always feel so much calmer and more grounded after drawing a mindful pattern like this. I like to think of this a little bit like a 'wonky mandala' - it doesn't have the geometry and precision of a traditional mandala, but the benefits of drawing it are just as powerful.

 

Here are some of the other examples I showed during the class - they all use exactly the same principles, but just use slightly different materials:

 

Fine pigment liner pen on cartridge paper

 

Pink Posca pen on thick yellow paper

 

Dual tip brush pen on printer paper

 

Acrylic paint and posca pen on hot pressed watercolour paper

 

Posca pen on cartridge paper, cut out and suspended by a ribbon

 

Blue and yellow Posca pen on magenta paper