Back at Ards Arts centre for the start of the summer term of Mindful Drawing. Today the class used very simple/accessible materials and methods to start getting creative.
Using plasticine to take imprints of interesting textures found around the art centre building and using an ink pad to transfer these imprints , they created a series of prints. (The plasticine can be squished up and re-used over and over) This is a great way to start making images, it easily takes away the fear of the blank page (creating a perfect drawing especially if you havent drawn in a long while) and has so much potential to be evolved - creating a little book/collection of prints, repeating prints to make larger images or patterns, drawing into the prints, combining prints with collage or text...the possblities are endless.
Next the class used a similar method with various rubber stamps and ink pads to create images. In the same way as with the plasticine the possiblities are endess.
The process of stamping is repetitive and medititive allowing mindfullness, being in the moment and enjoying where the process takes you. It takes away the worry about making a perfect drawing and promotes creative thought and decision making, from choosing textures you find interesting to evovling the work as you experiment and explore.
#Mindfuldrawing #prints #markmaking #ardsartscentre
Will be at @courthousebangor Monday with my Art Jewellery stall ...
Image shows some one off Bronze rings from the Sona (Sun-a) collection -
@johatty_stiuideo
These pieces are made from bronze clay, embracing the inherant quality of this material, which is soft and malleable, picking up fingerprints and marks that expose how each piece was formed.
The intention is for these pieces to show they are made from a soft malleable material to reveal the duality that exists between this and the solid, pure bronze it becomes through the firing process.
The Sona collection will be available for sale at studiojohatty.com - click the link in bio
#bronzejewellery #bronzerings #rings
Last 'Drawing practice' class today with @elaineburke_art at Ards Arts centre, for this term.
We did five 2 and 3 min exercises - continous line, non-dominant hand, blind drawing, negative space, 2 pencils held together and negative space.
Then a longer drawing where I chose to try out pen and quill as I've never tried it before. Mixed it with charcoal rather than an ink wash (would of taken ages to dry) It was going ok then made a big blob of ink accidently. Tried to do more blobby bits to make it look deliberate, but you can never make deliberate blobs look as good as accidental blobs! 😄
It was a good experience, even if not very successful...
"There are no bad drawings. Drawings are experiences. The more you draw, the more experienced you'll get," - Danny Gregory founder of Sketchbook Skool.
#drawingpractice #ardsartscentre
#drawingexercises
Friday's 'Drawing practice' class with @elaineburke_art explored formatting and composition...got a bit lost in re-arranging the objects, there were so many ways to position them. I wanted the seaweed to be the focal.
#drawingpractice #ardsartscentre
A few of todays photos from the last class of 'Mindful Drawing' for this term.
The class did a series of short exercises inspired by Process/Generative art and the work of Hans Arp, Yoko Ono and Sol de Witt. The idea of following a set of rules or instructions to generate a drawing, for example, draw 50 points randomly on the page then join all these points with straight lines, cut up a piece of coloured paper into equal sized squares then throw the squares to randomly land on the page and make a collage, push a marble around with a pen to make a drawing etc.
The class also worked collaboratively in pairs to make drawings and to decide on rules to make drawings. The exercises were intended to be like yoga for your brain, with process as the focus it becomes almost medatitive and relaxing.
#ArdsArtsCentre #MindfulDrawing #Drawingexercises
Exploring using Conte crayons today at Elaine Burke's 'Drawing practice' class at Ards Arts Centre today.
Using three colours, red, black and white on grey paper.
Its great to explore new materials (though I realise I have Conte crayons I've never used!) and draw in a way I dont usually draw - apples (just in case😋) @elaineburke_art #contecrayons #drawing #drawingpractice
Todays Mindful drawing class explored basic printmaking techniques, monoprinting (one off prints) and plastic etch (to produce multiple prints) The idea was to use simple materials and techniques that you could easily do at home with minimum expense.
I think I was too ambitious with this class, trying to do too much in one session. The class would of benefitted with more time to explore monoprinting as there are so many different ways you can approach this technique...
#ardsartscentre #monoprinting #printing #plasticetching
Drawings from first 2 weeks of Elaine Burke's (@elaineburke_art ) 'Drawing practice' at Ards Arts Centre.
I'm Rusty McRust and very slow, all 10/15 min exercises, but really enjoying getting back into drawing and trying different approaches and materials.
#charcoal #drawingexercises #stilllife
A few photos from todays Mindful drawing at Ards Arts centre today, where the class explored collage. First cutting up and gluing to create images, then drawing into these images, or into an existing magazine pages with acylic paint markers to create new images.
Being mindful is about being fully present, in the moment. But this can mean you are more fully aware of feelings like anxiety, sadness or worry. The purpose of 'Mindful drawing' is to take time out and focus on the artistic process rather than the final product. It acts as a form of meditation that grounds you, it helps slow down racing thoughts, regulate breathing and calm the nervous system.
It improves focus and encourages a 'flow state' which eases anxiety as you are fully engaged with the present task.
Of course drawing is not the only activity that allows this but it is an easily accessible, simple way to tap into your creativity. All you need is a pen or pencil and some paper ...or some magazines and some markers...there are so many possiblilties with drawing, so many ways to get creative with making marks.
#Mindfuldrawing #collage #drawingclass #
A few photos from todays Mindful Drawing class at Ards Arts centre where the class did a series of exercises using words.
First they wrote a word to describe how they were feeling. Then they wrote this word and erased it over and over 50 times, with thier eyes closed.
Next I gave each person a sycamore seed to hold in their hand and write as many words as they could inspired by the (helicopter) seeds. Then we did a series of exercises using these words, includung a Calligraph and Concrete poetry. For the final exercise I gave everyone a printout of a poem about Sycamore trees to use as a starting point to make a Blackout poem.
To finish I intended for the class to revist the words they had listed at the start inspired by the seeds, cut these up and throw the words up to land randomly on the page to create a poem. Unfortunately we ran out of time, so the class revisted the word they wrote and the start of class and wrote another word to describe how they felt at the end.
#Mindfuldrawing #Calligraph #Concretepoetry #Blackoutpoetry
Week 2 of Mindful Drawing class at Ards Arts centre today.
The class did a series of process based exercises designed to relax, de-stress and enjoy being in the moment making marks. Starting with relaxing breaths in and out, then using brush and ink to create Enso's and infinity lines. Then I gave each person a pine cone and the class explored using sticks, brushes and pipettes to do a series of short exercises drawing their pine cones - non-dominant hand, continuos line, blind drawing, drawing in the time it takes to inhale and exhale one breath etc...
Drawing natural objects like pine cones, leaves, stones, or flowers helps with mindfulness, you actively slow down, observe intricate details, and connect with nature, which can lower anxiety and improve concentration.
#Mindfuldrawing #enso #drawingexercises #pinecones
Lovely to be back at Ards Arts Centre today taking the first class in Mindful drawing.
The aim of these classes is to use drawing as way to relax, de-stress, become fully present and enhance creativity through exercises that are focused on process and the joy of mark making.
We started the classes with some simple relaxing breathing exercises, then some exercises to draw your breathing, followed by drawing around your hand over and over, to the rythm of your breathing, to make a form of Mandala.
Then the class explored Zentangles, starting with following the traditional method, restriced to 3.5inch squares, using black fine liners on white paper, drawing a border then a string (line drawing within the border and tangles (repeat patterns in the shapes created by the string) . Zentangles are intended as an easily accessible way to relax, focus and create medatitive drawings.
Finally the class created more free form Zentangle inspired drawings.
#Mindfuldrawing #drawing #Zentangle
