The Path of Drawing: Lessons for Everyday Creativity and Mindfulness

by Patricia Watwood

Introducing a practice to enhance mental and spiritual well-being for the enrichment of one’s life in The Path of Drawing, author Patricia Watwood offers readers a systematic approach to drawing that combines basic instruction and mindfulness exercises. Today, many people look to cultivating creativity as a means to improve one’s 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, drawing is an accessible and personal medium that can facilitate both creativity and mental and spiritual health. The sample projects in this book are designed to be approachable and manageable in a short period of time. They are not intended to be a rigorous course of study toward mastering complex skills, but, rather, are designed to offer the reader exercises that will help them enjoy time spent working creatively, and develop some technical skills and master simple concepts along the way. Readers should find that daily creative practice and being more open to observing the joys of the world around them can help build qualities of patience, confidence, calm, connectedness, and bravery.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Drawing

232 pages, Hardcover

Published November 23, 2022

Reviews

[Rakel Zetterlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think the best part about this book is how it teaches you to make a connection between art and mindfulness in a way that works for you. At the same time, it also lets you know that routine and discipline is a vital part of turning your art practice into a mentally healthy activity.

[Leonardo Prado · Rating 3 out of 5]

This reading was twofold frustrating to me. First, I was looking for an old book that I got from a library when I first arrived in Spain. Obviously, this one did look like it, but it wasn’t the one. Second, I was hot for a more technical book, with exercises and new information. Again, this was not the main concern of it, as it directed its efforts more towards the creativity path that one walks on when dealing with visual arts (with a pinch of spirituality and mindfulness). With that said, it was worth my while, as I actually learned things about myself and how to avoid some of my usual traps. Also, great pictures all around.
Stars: 3.5

[Ina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, I liked some of the points

[Brigitte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful art book--I especially enjoyed the attention to mindfulness and its connection to drawing.

[Scott S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I'm going to reshelve it until I have more time/inclination to practice.