Meditation through speed drawing

Sounds pretty contradictory, doesn't it? Yet it's true. I find that I am transported to a lovely state of meditation when I do these little warm up exercises.

Want to try it? Here goes:

4 Minute Charcoal Contour Sketches

Materials:

Vine Charcoal - snap off a small piece

Any kind of sketch paper - could even be computer paper if that's all you have

1. Find a couple of stuffed animals (this MUST be fun, and what is more fun than stuffed animals?)

2. Put one of your animals into a pose that you like. Look at it - I mean REALLY look at it. Take a deep breath.

3. Using your piece of charcoal begin recording the contours of your animal, spending most of the time looking at the animal, only looking at your paper to check way points. Use your finger to smudge shaded areas.

You only have 4 minutes and you're drawing with charcoal so the pressure is off to produce anything magnificent. Just get lost in the edges of the animal. The more you practice this, the more you will loose yourself in the process.

Give it a try.