Since I've been teaching how to draw purely and purely again, I've of course been asked again and again about the difference to meditative drawing. I had taught drawing before, and going from the first line to accurate representations of houses or product ideas takes time and requires practice. It's no different with meditative drawing - time and practice.
But the main difference when learning to draw is that it is all about the presentation and technique of the drawing. Yes, seeing is experienced in a new way and the recognition of the details - but then it remains in the technical, the selection of the pens, the background and possibly color effects. When wipe, when linear, perspective, structure, material, light, shadow, portrait, act - everything is wonderful to experience, practice and do individually. Just sit down and draw. And get better, draw more accurately, get faster or more detailed, more realistic and more accurate. Correct perspective and perfect material representation. That's the goal - to get better and get better results, drawings that become absolute.
Well, and the difference to meditative drawing? The performance also the pressure due to lack of time - because every course is then again short. In the pure drawing courses, you want to achieve a lot quickly. The participants have goals in mind or prepare a portfolio for their studies or an exhibition in their diary or a holiday that they want to draw in their diary. All great reasons and more - just learning to see and draw is reason enough, sit down, look, draw - exchange ideas with others about the drawings, develop your own style - all great.
Well, and the difference to meditative drawing?
The power and the pressure. The meditative drawing is extra without pressure to perform. We always meditate first and perceive the world around us without judgment. Already this beginning before drawing calms down and puts the brain on stand-by, so to speak. Breathe, listen, be. In exactly this state of mind then see the eyes open, recognize and draw. That's slow. That's calm. This is interrupted by the meditation sessions. And then starts again.
Especially with seminars over a weekend or several days, switching off the performance center in the brain is particularly intensive. Really just being where you are. In a group, in a monastery, in nature, on your own meditation spot or alone in the forest. If the drawings are started in the same mood as a meditation, then the result on the paper is no longer decisive. Sometimes a sketch doesn't even take long to finish. But the mood of the situation at rest, the structure of the trees or deep, intimate breath are recognizable on the sheet in the memory. It can also be drawn on at some point and somewhere else. It is what it is - whether it seems finished or not. Perception is value-free. A level becomes awake and conscious that completely relaxes. Drawing is like a slow walk or silent observation. Drawing is meditation.
Both are wonderful. I am grateful to be able to teach meditative drawing and, contrary to my original plan for this year, pure drawing again. For me, I find meditative drawing (relaxing) exciting because it opens me up. Through this deep relaxation, very old and new memories come into consciousness or I simply become calm and equanimous. Grateful for every moment. I enjoy being there, just that. Pure that. Unlike when I want to design a drawing for customers or a product development with the deadline pressure behind it, I go into external standstill in meditation. I sit, let go, wait, breathe.
It is an inner perception that differs - in meditative drawing or in pure drawing. Meditating is better than doing nothing. I'm not sleeping, I'm quite consciously aware. Sometimes there are times when things really get going inside because I take my time, because I give my soul space. And then I draw a lot more how I feel at the moment and the lines become very strong or chaotic. I often only notice after some time at a distance that the drawing has developed its own effect. And it often has a very cleansing effect afterwards. Something has been given time and space that is otherwise covered by everyday life. And the relaxation comes again. To take the time, not to start right away and to draw fast and great, but - stop - first feel sitting, resting, listening and seeing what is around me and inside me right now - that is the special value of the meditative drawing.
It's both. It is either way. Pure or meditative. And both are as they are. Depending on the possibility, yes as desired, depending on the course - both incomparably good. And yes - supplementary. I experience movingly how participants in the courses of meditative drawing discover a new level in themselves because they just take the pressure off. Some don't draw anymore because they think they used to be able to do it really well and now they can't. Or because someone once told them that what is being created is ugly or insufficient.
I know that from the field of music. I used to play concerts with the flute, was fast and good enough for small gigs. Then, due to an accident, my hand has less capacity and I'm slower, I don't play new pieces anymore and the old ones not as well as I used to - so the flute stays still. What a pity! Interpret freely and just string together tones like breath, let the sound flow - that's my exercise that I want to allow anew. And it's similar for some when drawing. They are learned or dissatisfied with the drawings they have made so far and let it be completely.
But come back to the time when you were a child - when you used to draw with thick pencils, colorful pencils or chalk on the street - what you experienced, what you saw, what you dreamed of. Even before anyone said, well, that's nice or that's wrong - then, if you just let it be, what is, if you meditate nonjudgmentally, then you'll draw again. New. And that's why the types of courses complement each other - that's how I experience it and I'm grateful, as I say, to be able to teach both. Individually in courses for one or two participants or in the courses that can be found here on the website. Learning in groups brings sharing while still being time for yourself. This is a valuable component in addition to meditating and drawing.
