Drawing, Mindfulness and Being an Artist.

I'm going to share with you why drawing and mindfulness and being an artist are all mixed up together.
I've found that in this attention grabbing world it can be difficult to find an area of calm in your life.
Even in the studio that should be both workplace and sanctuary there are so many things to distract you, eating away at that precious time and head space that you need to create great stuff. 

Mary Kemp
Drawing from the back bedroom window.

Shiny new materials leap out at you.
Then a fleeting idea that has nothing to do with art ambushes you, or worst still, that bright glittering thing, the internet, which ironically you will be reading this on, calls you away, another game of Candy Crush? what's that on facebook?

Mary Kemp.
Fishing Boats.

This is where drawing steps in. It involves only two things, pen/pencil and paper. No scope to be distracted by anything else. Just sitting down, well actually you can stand if you want to, and set down what you see, look, concentrate , observe, analyse and make marks on your paper, the ultimate act of mindfulness.

Mary Kemp.
Several cats.

For the artist the advantages are huge:

• You are practicing your craft. (that's the only way to get better at it)
• You're developing ideas, allowing that area of peace where inspiration is given free rein.
• Want to maintain manual dexterity? Then it's drawing for you.
• And you know you are creating a small piece of art that can prove to yourself, and others, that you are the greatest thing on earth, AN ARTIST!