There is a challenge at the end.

Automatic Drawing class starts on Friday, July 8 at 1-2:30 pm EST.

email me: carolynhopkins63@yahoo.com to sign-up. $45.00 for a 4-week course!

What is automatic drawing? It is a sort of accelerated or intensified doodling in which unexpected and unpredictable images can be made to appear and used as the basis for further visual play.

How do I create an automatic drawing?

Gather your materials! Markers, pencils, gel markers and paper. It is as simple as that!

Find a comfortable space to work in/on. A drawing table, kitchen table, picnic table, or even in your car.

Play some music that you find calming, light incense, meditate, pray. Do whatever you do to calm your mind.

Once you feel settled try to empty your mind of all thoughts. If a thought enters your mind - release it. Breath deeply a few times.

Now, you should be ready to start your drawing session.

Close your eyes!

Place your drawing tool on your paper. Without lifting up start marking a continuous line on your paper. You can take as long as you want for this part.

Once you feel you have finished your drawing open your eyes. What do you see? Really try to seek forms such as the human figure, animals, patterns, etc. Try letting your eyes go out of focus or hold your drawing up to a mirror. What do you see?

Now really connect to what you see. How can you enhance that image? Can you use spirals, circles, widgets, or patterns? Look for the unpredictable or the unexpected. Allow yourself to embrace the images that spontaneously appear.

Use your markers to add color. Don’t forget to add other doodles, spirals, circles, patterns, etc.

*Automatic drawing can be the work in and of itself or can be used as the basis for further visual play. Accept your automatic drawings as a method to enter other creative work.

Challenge: Create an automatic drawing every day for a week. Do this with no expectations. This exercise will enhance all of your creativity whether or not you actually like your automatic drawings. What matters is opening your mind to new possibilities within your mind and art.

For more inspiration check out the Surrealists and the Entopic Graphomania method!

Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, Copyright 2022 - All Rights Reserved.