Mindfulness & the Art of Drawing: A Creative Path to Awareness

I thought a long time about writing this before as i don't often give negative stars to books unless they are the worst of the worst.If the book were called "How to Draw: Verbal Exercises" it would get 3-4 stars. The book is filled with drawing exercises. They talk about breathing, pausing, being present. They also talk about looking at the world around you. The problem is that when I rad most of the full exercises they often engage the critic. If you are a sentient being it is hard not to do so. I don't see this as an extension of zen or mindfulness practice -- if the Mindfulness practice is stemming from zen practitioners and not psychologists. Of course, making marks is a meditative practice for some. But as squirrels are animals, though animals are not squirrels, I am very sorry that so many have umped on the bandwagon of writing books about zen practice in this or that as if... It is trendy, and perhaps the author has a good practice, but this book doesn't teach either well.Even the applications about making the critic disappear having nothing whatsoever to do with zen or mindfulness, but psychology. Gads, she advises stopping when the critic speaks... sorry, but for most creatives they'd have to put down the pen and go get coffee there would be so many pauses.. (A few pages later I finally gave up on the book.) I think, if you want to read a book about being present for drawing, read books by those that talk about drawing drawing drawing THROUGH whatever. Drawing and learning to draw is messy business and you just have to practice.... making messes of it! When monkeymind gets you on the zafu during sit meditation or during walking meditation, you keep sitting, keep walking, keep breathing.Books I'd recommend that show the connection between drawing and meditation are by Frederick Franck. Zen books -- well there are many.A kick-a** sketching book is the one by Kimon Nicolaides, and when you buy that then you will see where many others get their drawing exercises.... the master. Keep you busy for a lifetime.Some of the best books to get you out sketching (and also help with being present for your mark-making which is zen without calling it that) are by Danny Gregory or Francis Belleville-Stone or Marc Taro Holmes or Felix Scheinberger.No pictures, really, which is odd for a drawing book, but okay. Usually authors who teach drawing want to show a few sketches....

Art (including visual arts, music, drama and literature) is one of the crowning achievements of human endeavor. Drawing is, like the others, not easy to explain as a process. I am not sure when I put pencil, pen or brush to paper exactly how this process works, but it does. Wendy Ann Greenhalgh has used drawing as a meditation in this book and I cannot gainsay her on this. One has to be very mindful of details to produce an image and this is true even if the artist is producing an abstract design. Thus her "Mindfulness and the art of Drawing" is a very timely short book on the process of art as a mindfulness practice. I recommend it without reservation to anyone who is interested in the process of art.

Love the book. Great mindfulness book especially for Art teachers.

The exercises in the book make it fun and gives the reader some practical learning skills as well. Very calming read.

Great study book

With pencil, pen, crayon, brush or charcoal in hand enter into relationship with all you observe as you draw it quickly and simply. It will change your life. All you need as guidance is in this book.

I really like the content but the print is too small

Good book!

As a long- term yoga and meditation pratictioner plus profound understanding of mindful meditation you can trust Greenhalgh to guide you into the mindful art. This book is for all and for who's hard on themselves. Wendy Ann gives you practises of mindfulness to free you from self-judgement which will bring you pure joy and better relationships with others and most importantly with yourself. It's also a perfect gift to anyone who's interested in meditation but finds sitting still could be a slight challenge.

Thes "Mindfulness and the Art..." books are all excellent. Great ideas and themes in the whole range and they are really well made and produced. Dont just buy this particular book.....buy the whole series!Really nice book.

You don't need to be good at drawing to benefit from this book, although it has encouraged me to explore new ways of drawing. The principles of mindfulness are successfully combined with practical drawing exercises which are fun to try out.

Too much waffle, and not really mindfulness.

Not sure