MINDFUL DRAWING

by Wendy Fitzgerald

Drawing is the best way for me to calm my mind and relax.  This drawing lesson is designed to help your mind stay focused and bring peacefulness during the process.  You would need few simple dry media such as graphite or/and colored pencils, ball point pens, crayons or pastels and a sketch pad or some paper of any kind. Of course, your favorite beverages within reach. This lesson can be repeated by applying different shapes and colors.

·     Turn on some music you love, tell anyone in the house you'd like to be left alone.

·     Lay out all art materials next to the paper.

·     Stay present and as detached as possible from the result

·     Your attention is totally on every single stroke you put on the paper

·     1)   Start with any shape that comes to your mind, then continue repeat it with varied size and colors, one next to another, let it grow as large as you hold your attention.  Then start another one by switching to another shape. ready to move on?

·      Go to the next project: lines.

·     2)  Draw lines that curve and flow. Think only of variation of lines flowing together, side by side.

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·     3)  Draw a tree with one continuous line (start with one side of tree trunk and end it on the other side) .

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·     4)    Start a random colored background with colored pencil or/and soft pastels, then apply combo of shapes and lines over the background color.

Published in The Villager on May 28, 2020

Art Assemblage or Collage Project

by Michael Sunzeri

Call it Collage or Assemblage, here is something you can do in your

home with things you have hidden in knick knack drawers, things that you

have forgotten about and saved not knowing why.  Now you can take these

items and assemble them into something that is art, eye catching, and different.

What are these things you ask?  Small items like, buttons, chains, broken jewelry, plastic or metal parts, shells, shiny and odd, or things you intended to fix and lost interest.

What's needed:  Your items, a stable base to mount them, maybe paint, glue that

works on all surfaces and your imagination.  The photo shows an eclectic idea.

Use any size base that works for your idea.  I have used wood, metal, plastic, cardboard, even cloth that can later be mounted on a more sturdy surface.  Have a small space to fill?

Then keep in mind that you can make your work wall-mountable or something to place on a flat surface.

Prepare your base surface with paint if needed or just leave it bare if that background

suits you.  Place your items randomly in places on the surface.  You may be after a theme or just an abstract approach.  Make it eclectic, unorthodox, simple or something that goes with your décor.

Soon you will land on something that pleases your eye.  Glue your assembled pieces in place, trying not to use too much glue.  Tidy your glue work, allow time to dry and later attach your hanging hardware.  Now it's time to display and enjoy.

Submitted to The Villager for publication.