Would you like to draw what you love? Would you like to have a fun weekly practice that reminds you to be in the present moment? Then come and join us. We are using drawing as a way to support living mindfully, seeing the gifts and wonders that are available in every moment that we might not otherwise see. Sharing our pictures with others provides support to keep going! The commitment is one drawing or painting a week, using any medium you like. At the end of each week send me your artwork.

You do not need to have any experience in drawing, the project simply uses drawing as a way to connect to ourselves and the world around us. The act of drawing can help us to be present to the good things in our lives.

Carrying a small sketchbook around with you will help you to take mini mindful drawing moments. Take five to thirty minutes to make a sketch. What is in your life right now that you think is beautiful, that makes you feel joy, love or gratitude? Slowly, mindfully, draw that thing. It might be one glorious petal on a flower. A few delicate veins on a leaf. A few lines of a serene view. A steaming cup of tea. Or the amazing smile of a good friend. It may be an imaginative image that comes to you in response to what you love. ‘The daily small painting, a small resource and time commitment, is an exercise in absolute focus for that time period. It's like a meditation, really.’ - Gaye Adams

This project will raise funds for The Africa Vulnerable Children Project in Zambia, Africa. The recommended donation for this project is £2 a month (you can of course donate any amount).

‘Instructions for living a life:

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it.’

By Mary Oliver, excerpt from the poem ‘Sometimes’.

Please contact me using my contact page if you would like to take part in this project - I look forward to hearing from you. Please also contact me if you are interested in a Draw What You Love workshop. * Click on the images for information about each drawing, or click on the little dot in the bottom right corner of your screen if viewing on a mobile device. ** Many of the art quotes in the blogs below come from: http://www.art-quotes.com

2.8 metres around the world (280cm)

January 24, 2022

Who can believe we are at week three already?! I am so honoured to again receive your lovely Draw What You Love artwork from around the world! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Included in this week’s submissions are some continuous line drawings from last week’s mindfulness activity, and they look fantastic, full of life and spirit.

This week’s mindfulness practice is in honour of Thich Nhat Hanh who passed away this week.

"Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment” from his book, Being Peace.

Before you start your mindful drawing of what you love this week, take in a nice long deep breath filling up your whole body, staying with it all the way in, and all the way out. And then draw what you love!

Beautiful continuous line drawing of meditators under a tree with a wonderful flying bird

View of roofs and working windmill from our back window (in York)

This blanket is much loved

My Easter bunny key ring on my work keys. When you squeeze it it says ‘happy Easter’ and it makes me laugh!

Continuous line of a comical duck ornament!

I love to use this wonderful bag that I got as a gift at Christmas