DRAWING PATTERNS: 14 DAYS OF MINDFUL DRAWING FOR SELF-CARE

Skill Level:
all levels

Class Length:
3 hr 45 mins

Materials Required:
a pen
paper
any art materials you enjoy using
masking tape

In this class we will explore 14 carefully selected drawing prompts paired with a different mindful exercise each day, to develop your self-care toolkit whilst creating a set of 14 beautiful meditative pattern drawings 

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

  • 14 days of mindful drawing

    14 CAREFULLY SELECTED DRAWING PROMPTS

    Each prompt has been chosen to be both beginner friendly and open ended.

    I will show you lots of examples of how you could interpret each prompt, giving you a clear yet flexible framework to interpret each prompt in your own way.

  • photographs inspiration botanical references

    ADDITIONAL TOPICS

    With each prompt, we will explore an additional topic such as Gathering Inspiration, Adding Depth, Making Randomness Feel Balanced and Color and Mood.

    Over the 14 days you will build up a TON of additional complementary skills to feed into your pattern drawings, within the course and beyond!

  • mindful exercises beginner friendly drawing tutorial

    MINDFUL EXERCISES

    Alongside each prompt, I have suggested a different Mindful Exercise to try out as you draw.

    As you progress through the course, you will be gathering a wide range of mindful drawing skills and ideas to add to your creative self-care toolkit.

  • draw along mindful drawing

    GUIDED DRAW-ALONG VIDEOS

    For each of the 14 prompts, I have included a separate draw-along video where I’ll guide you from start to finish through an example drawing in response to each prompt.

    This can be a great support if you are new to drawing, or if you would just like a little additional guidance as you work through the prompts.

  • developing a series of 14 pattern drawings for self care

    DEVELOPING A SERIES OF DRAWINGS

    You will finish the class with a series of 14 experimental pattern drawings, although many students end up with more as the prompts can be interpreted in an infinite number of ways!

    This can help you to identify and develop your style, as well as being a great way to overcome fear of the blank page, break out of a creative rut and develop a regular drawing habit.

  • abstract pattern drawings

    Next Steps

    I’ll give you some ideas for how you could continue to develop the practice beyond the class, so that you can incorporate what you have learnt into an ongoing creative practice.

    Whether it’s honing in on a specific part of the process, or taking it in a new direction, there are a huge variety of ways you can develop the skills you have gained.

I'M READY TO LEARN!

WHO THE COURSE IS FOR

This class is suitable for all levels - you do not need any prior experience with drawing, mindfulness, or mindful art-making. I will cover everything you need to know!

This class is perfect if you:

  • Would like to start a simple drawing practice as a tool for self care.

  • Are struggling with feeling creatively blocked or burnt out and would like some simple, easy guidance to start working through it creatively.

  • Would like some ideas for how to incorporate mindfulness techniques into your drawing.

  • Find starting to draw on a blank page intimidating - this course will give you several different frameworks to help you move past the fear of the blank page!

  • Would like to have a creative outlet but have very little time - you can adapt the drawings to suit how much time you have, whether you want to spend 5 minutes or 5 hours drawing in response to each prompt.

WHAT you will TAKE AWAY

By the end of the course, you will have:

  • A series of 14 experimental pattern drawings which explore different methods of drawing patterns

  • A framework from which to grow your mindful drawing practice, developing new ways of making repeated marks and patterns to suit your own style, materials and preferences

  • An effective self-care tool you can use in your daily life to cultivate a sense of calm and connecting with the present moment through the act of drawing

  • A host of helpful drawing tips and techniques you can apply beyond the class such as using directional marks, composition tips and drawing curves freehand

supporting resources

Provided along with the class is the Class Resource PDF which contains:

  • A course directory detailing the 14 drawing prompts and their associated additional topic and mindful exercise

  • A selection of templates to use within the course to help you structure your pattern drawings

  • Mini practice squares - these can be used to complete your 14 drawings in if you have very little time, to sketch out rough ideas, and they can also be used for the mini exercise provided on Day 7

testimonials

  • "It has made my doodling experience more fulfilling"

    I love how the simple pattern making steps were something anyone can follow and make creative abstract drawings that really help to calm a person. It made me feel less stress and artistic. I cannot say enough about the class as it has made my doodling experience more fulfilling.

    -Michelle F

  • "I HAVE LEARNED MORE THAN I CAN EXPLAIN HERE"

    This class has surprised me very much. The long story short it is more like the whole course in art school than just a tutorial on a single subject to me. Mel effortlessly sneaked in tons of art principals and rules of thumb. It is very versatile and I have learned more than I can explain here. I am so very grateful Mel, thank you.

    - Justyna G

  • "I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!"

    Fantastic class, really relaxing and enjoyable with clear but flexible objectives. I highly recommend it!

    - Rachael B

  • "THE NON-THREATENING GUIDANCE THAT I NEEDED"

    I really loved this class! I used to draw all of the time as a teenager but stopped in my late teens - this is the first time I've tried to restart my creative practice as an adult. Mel's class was the non-threatening guidance that I needed. The prompts are structured but also offer freedom for independent ideas. I found that at the beginning of the 14 days, I stuck with the examples but became more confident to try out my own ideas and combinations of prompts as the two weeks progressed. Thanks so much Mel, I really enjoyed myself!

    - Thomas Y

  • "GIVES YOU TOOLS TO APPLY TO YOUR CREATIVITY RIGHT AWAY"

    This was a great class that gives you tools to apply to your creativity right away. It also helps tie together some basic mindfulness practices with creativity which is always helpful! Thank you for putting together such a nice class.

    - Maggie P

  • "MEL IS SO EMPATHETIC & CLEAR IN HER TEACHING"

    I really loved this class. Mel is so empathetic & clear in her teaching. I really enjoyed working through each class & feel I now have more tools for creativity & to try something different to what I would normally do. Thank you so much Mel

    - Mairead O

  • "THIS IS A CLASS I'LL WANT TO DO OVER AND OVER AGAIN"

    Another super enjoyable class from Mel Rye! I'm a trained graphic designer with many years of artistic practice under my belt, but I've loved working through these low-stress, simple exercises to polish up my skills as well as play and experiment to my heart's desire. It's a sign of a great teacher to design a class that can appeal to people of all different skill ranges. This is a class I'll want to do over and over again to continue playing with these prompts. Thank you!

    - Maro B

  • "I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW WELL-STRUCTURED THE CLASS IS"

    This class is a lot of fun and calming at the same time. Using art in a non-pressuring, free flowing way, and as a means to relax - is my jam. Mel gives great advice and examples in how to use patterns and shapes on paper in a pleasing and meditative fashion. It’s fun to follow along and try it all out. On top of that it’s very doable and fitting for beginners and professionals alike. Additionally, I really appreciate how well-structured this class is. All in all, I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants that bliss that comes with shutting the brain off and letting the pen flow.

    - Lisa

  • "THIS CLASS IS SO FUN!"

    This class is so fun! Mel provides great prompts and ideas that can be built upon. I imagine you'd get a lot out of this class if you take it more than once too. Great for warm-ups and adding pattern and embellishment to your projects!

    - Chloe H

  • "THIS WAS AN AMAZING CLASS"

    This was an amazing class, I loved the fact that the days are spilt into two parts, one where you can do your own thing and another which allows you to work through with Mel. I have really enjoyed the class, I had all of the materials at home, so it means that you can easily start. Mel's instructions are really clear and it is easy to work alongside her. The class has been a great way for me to de-stress after a long day, and I have now progressed to working on A4 pieces rather than in my small notebook. Thank you Mel, for a great relaxing class that is aimed at anyone and everyone :)

    - Nicola F

  • "THE DRAW-ALONG VIDEOS ARE FANTASTIC FOR THOSE OF US WHO NEED TRAINING WHEELS"

    Honestly I love that Mel made things very approachable! I've always wanted to draw but have been intimidated away from it for fear of it looking a mess. She explains concepts so clearly and the draw-along videos are fantastic for those of us who need training wheels.

    - Jen H

  • "HIGHLY RECOMMEND!"

    I am really enjoying this class. I particularly am liking how each lesson contains so much art knowledge in addition to teaching about the prompt/mindfulness technique for the day. As someone that didn't take art classes in school, learning little tips like putting masking tape on my clothes to help it not tear my paper really makes all the difference in my personal practice. Highly recommend!

    - Josh R

  • "SUCH A LOVELY CLASS IN EVERY WAY!"

    This is such a lovely class in every way! I am watching one day at a time and enjoying each moment. Each drawing style is discussed with a mindfulness tip/technique introduced; then Mel creates an example artwork in real time for you to follow along ... or not. Students are encouraged to make the drawing as simple or as complex as he or she wants. Mel's delivery is calming and encouraging. I recommend this class for everyone. Thank you so very much, Mel, for sharing this thoughtful class.

    - JAC

  • "TOP CLASS"

    What a fabulous class !!! Highly recommend this engaging and interesting and well presented class Thank you Mel. Top class. Loved this.

    - Jane J

  • "ENJOYABLE AND CHALLENGING"

    I've loved every second of all of these lessons. Clear examples, explanations, and prompts. Very no pressure and love that I seem to accept any outcome of the prompts instead of critiquing. Enjoyable and challenging. Mel is fantastic! Overall, superb class. Will be doing this a couple of times!

    Mackenzie V

SOUNDS GREAT!
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ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

enroll through
skillshare

£150 per year

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With a Skillshare membership, you’ll get access to all my online courses, plus thousands of others!

New members will unlock a one month free trial

ONE-TIME
PURCHASE

£30

(Local sales tax may be added at checkout)

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Watch it whenever you like

Lifetime access

MEET YOUR TEACHER

HI THERE! I’M MEL

I’m an artist and educator, and my mission is to support and empower others to explore their creativity.

In recent years, my personal Art practice has led me to explore the connection between art making and self-care, and specifically, how the act of creating art lends itself to supporting a mindfulness practice.

I have shared the processes and techniques which I have found particularly effective through teaching them to others, both online and in person, and have been overwhelmed with positive feedback at the impact they have had on my students’ lives.

I’d love to share these techniques with you too!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • No, you don't need any drawing experience at all - as long as you are able to hold a pen and make marks on paper, you will be absolutely fine :)

  • No, you don't. The course is structured in such a way that it is suited for complete beginners to both drawing and mindfulness. We will be exploring some simple mindfulness techniques and activities each day, so you will gain a lot of different techniques by the end of the 14 days, but you could start the course having absolutely no knowledge of either.

  • You can approach the class however you'd like - it is structured as a 14 day course so that it is broken down into manageable bite-sized chunks of learning, but you definitely don't need to complete it in 14 days! Many students like to spread the prompts out over a month, or even longer - it should fit around you and your life. Many students also find they like to take the course more than once because the prompts are very open ended, so you might find that it just helps you to keep up a regular and ongoing art-making practice.

  • All my courses consist of pre recorded video lessons. There are also downloadable resources such as worksheets, reference photos, guides and other materials which will help support your learning.

    All my courses are structured around a class project, which is a practical way of applying the skills taught in the course, and also means that you will have created something by the end of the course, as well as learning lots of new skills - I think this is the best way of learning!

  • The course content is exactly the same, whichever enrolment option you choose.

  • This depends on your enrollment method. If you enroll via Skillshare, you will have access for as long as you have an active subscription. If you make a one-time purchase, you will have access for as long as the course exists on the internet.

  • Yes you can - when you select the one-time purchase, there is an option at checkout to buy the course as a gift. All you need to do is enter the recipient’s email address and there is an option to add a gift message if you’d like to. The course will be sent directly to them with a link to access it, along with your message if you added one.

  • Gumroad is an e-commerce platform which allows creators to sell digital products directly to their audience. It is a popular platform for finding all sorts of products, like digital brushes, e-books and courses.

    When you make a one-time purchase of one of my online courses, you will be doing this through Gumroad. You can either create a log-in there, which will allow you to view all your Gumroad purchases in your library, or you can access the course by using the link which will be emailed to you after you have completed your purchase. There is also a Gumroad app, if you like to watch courses on your smart phone or tablet device.

  • No problem! I’m always happy to answer questions - please reach out using the contact form here