Stay Home and Stream Draw!
If you have a lot of time on your hands while you're staying home, and you're looking for something to do, here is an absorbing and rewarding activity for you. Stream drawing!
One of my stream drawings from the current season of stay-at-home orders and social distancing.
Stream drawing is an intuitive process of drawing which was discovered and is taught by Elaine Clayton. She recently suggested stream drawing as a pastime for people in self-quarantine. I started doing stream drawings, and I highly recommend this process!
Stream drawing during the pandemic. I wasn't trying to be morbid with the skulls.
So, you may be wondering, how do I do a stream drawing? Like many wonderful things in life, it begins with closing your eyes. Next, using your non-dominant hand, let a pen or pencil glide across a sheet of paper. I am reminded of Leonard Cohen's description of a state of grace being like an escaped ski moving across the snow. When you’re done drawing, open your eyes and look at the shapes on the page till they suggest images. Develop those images further on the paper and reflect on the impressions you receive. For me, it's been like making a personal story from the pictures on Tarot cards. This activity would be great for experienced artists but also for those who have a desire to draw but don't have a lot of confidence. Not only is it a process-oriented activity, but it's hard to be a harsh critic of your drawing while your eyes are shut.
I've been surprised at how hopeful and light-filled these drawings are, considering the moment.
A variation suggested by Elaine Clayton is to ask yourself a question as you draw and contemplate the imagery. I did that with the drawing at the top of this blog post. And I got an answer! Again, for me it's been a lot like using my intuition to read Tarot.
Elaine Clayton is one who discovered and teaches stream drawing. Go to the source!
A friend who has been supporting and encouraging my artwork for years just recently told me that in these drawings I have found my medium. When I think of how natural and fluid this process is for me, and how the drawings seem to express my spirit--I think that it's true, I have found my medium. Who knows what you’ll discover on your adventures in stream drawing!