drawing tips
Rose Wintergreen, vibrant Australian abstract landscape painter, in her studio having too much fun
Cut yourself a break and learn how to draw from a professional artist who specialises in using art and creative play as a way to cultivate calm and joy, even in times of extreme stress and anxiety!
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“Life is a Carnival”, vibrant mixed media figure drawing on A2 paper, by Rose Wintergreen, 2021
There’s nothing more liberating than tearing a drawing in half, sticking it back together in a new way, and being forced to work with what’s already there.
Sometimes the only way I can break free and discover something new is to intentionally try to make something I think I won’t like but in a way that I really enjoy (drawing without looking at the page, scribbling furiously with a weird colour and my “wrong” hand) and every time I start liking it, intentionally breaking it again, and remaking it again in a new way.
“Life is a Carnival” close up, vibrant mixed media figure drawing on A2 paper, by Rose Wintergreen, 2021
It’s not a new idea, I learned this from Joseph Fonti and Nic Plowman.
It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to be “good” or make something “nice”, but doing the same thing over and over again is not living, it’s surviving.
“Life is a Carnival” close up, vibrant mixed media figure drawing on A2 paper, by Rose Wintergreen, 2021
I’m so grateful for learning about this weirdo art technique “breaking the page”, and that I had the courage to use it this time.
And it reminds me, every time, to keep stepping up and getting brave in other areas of my life.
It’s scary sh*t, but I know if I want to keep cultivating a juicy life, I need to keep doing this as an ongoing practice in all the ways: having the tricky conversations, setting and maintaining boundaries, remixing my inner narratives…
“Life is a Carnival” close up, vibrant mixed media figure drawing on A2 paper, by Rose Wintergreen, 2021
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🌱I’m curious, what’s something in your life that helps you break your usual patterns and remix your inner narrative? Comment below (or email, if you prefer).🌱
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Sketch of trees seen from the train, drawn without looking at the page, by Rose Wintergreen
What do you do for yourself when you are feeling things you don’t want to feel or your mind is swirling in circles?
Drawing without looking at the page has been my lifesaver. I try to do it most days. It gives my hands something to do and stops my brain from focusing on all the things that can go wrong. I have to look, really look, if I want to be able to capture any essence of the true shapes of what I am looking at.
This is the train version: instead of mindlessly scrolling my phone, I have a sketchbook and pen in hand. Each time the train stops, I choose a part of the vegetation I can see out the window and I sketch it fast, without looking at the page. When the train moves again, I keep close my eyes and keep sketching it from memory as best I can. Then I stop and wait for the next stop to do it all over again. I draw all the snippets on top of each other and they become a collage of scenery.
What used to be a frustrating journey has now become one of my favourite parts of my day to day life, a holiday from the noise of my brain and social media notifications.
Maybe this is something you could try? Let me know if you do! I would love to hear how you go! A sketchbook is nice but the back of a receipt and a biro also does the trick!
You can also book to come on a drawing date with me, where I will share my process and my art materials, and we will draw side by side. Info and bookings here.
