The Path of Drawing shows readers how to introduce drawing into their everyday life in
simple-to-follow step-by-step lessons exercises and daily sketchbook practice in order to
nurture their creativity. Introducing a practice to enhance mental and spiritual well-being for
the enrichment of one's life Watwood offers readers a systematic approach to drawing that
combines basic instruction and mindfulness exercises. The Path of Drawing is a book on
cultivating creativity and using drawing as a practice of mindfulness. Today many people are
looking to practices of mindfulness to improve quality of life to unplug to alleviate
negative conditions like stress anxiety and depression and to build resilience and enjoy the
present moment. Adjacent to such practices as meditation and journaling creative visual
thinkers need a pathway to mindfulness that works through their hands and materials in a
visual and non-verbal way. This book will guide readers to cultivate a creative drawing habit
in three ways: (1) Step-by-step demonstrations will guide makers through beginning- and
intermediate-level drawing and mixed-media projects that will build technical skills and teach
realist concepts. These will provide a road map for their development of a personal creative
sketchbook practice. (2) Introduce strategies for cultivating creativity inspiration and
imagination so that readers can strengthen their capacity for individuality in their creative
work. The author will share her process steps and those of other working artists on how to
find refine and develop a creative idea from inkling to completion. (3) Focus on the aspects
of mindfulness as particularly relevant to creative individuals in overcoming blocks and common
emotional challenges to accomplishing creative work. It deals with overcoming fear and how to
develop confidence in your individual voice. The sample projects in this book are designed to
be approachable and manageable in a short period of time. It is not intended to be a rigorous
course of study toward mastering complex skills. These projects are designed to offer the
reader samples that will help them enjoy time spent working creatively and develop some
technical skills and master concepts along the way. They should fit into daily life to bring
more creative thinking to every aspect of life or work grounding readers in a practice that
helps them feel calmer more patient and more open to observing the joys of the world around
them. A creative practice can help build qualities of patience confidence calm connectedness
and bravery.
