Look and Draw

Click to download the postcard (PDF)

Drawing and colouring can be a fun way to reduce stress, distract you from worries and connect to what’s around you.

Use the frames on the Postcard to draw what you are seeing around you.

There are so many different ways to draw and make marks… try to resist thinking of your drawings as good or bad, this is about having fun and relaxing! Drawing is not just about recording what you’re seeing, it can be about paying attention, seeing something in a different way, creating a map of a moment of time.

Some drawing exercises you could try:

Allow yourself to experiment and play with colours and textures – and you definitely don’t need to stay inside the lines!

• Make a drawing without lifting the pen from the paper
• Draw what you see for one minute – trying to capture as much detail as possible in a short space of time (You can try for different lengths of time)
• Draw what you see without looking at the page
• Draw what you’re hearing with your eyes closed
• Draw using two pens at the same time
• Drawing with the pen between your toes, your teeth, or using your non dominant hand.
• Try using collage to make an interesting canvas to draw on.
• Try drawing with a friend or family members; sit in front of each other and draw each other’s portrait without looking at the page.

You could look at some videos from Govanhill Baths’ Arts, Health and Wellbeing and Rags to Riches tutors for inspiration:

Jem Milton: Drawing to tell a story
Jem Milton: Drawing and Identity
Sarah Leal: Make a Zine
Gail Power: Fused Plastic Art

Here are some links to websites we love for drawing ideas:

Creativity for Wellbeing – Activities for Everyone. A lovely site with easy ideas to draw and paint using simple techniques.

Art for Wellbeing. Royal Collection Trust. Easy instructions to bring more mindfulness to drawing.