
Heal trauma and find peace through creativity
CREATE A CHILD-LIKE DRAWING
If you can move a pencil across a page,
you can do this project.
Out of gallery
SOLO CREATIVE PROJECT
Requires: A pencil and a sheet of paper; crayons or other coloring supplies (optional)
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Find some privacy and know you are safe to experiment and play.
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Invite yourself to trade any inhibitions for purely exploratory fun.
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Put yourself in a childhood headspace.
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Draw freely, releasing any judgment as it comes and goes.
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As you draw, notice your curiosity and follow where it leads.
Additional options:
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Draw with your non-dominant hand (left hand if you are right-handed; right hand if you are left-handed).
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Create the drawing using a combination of both hands, one at a time.
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Create the drawing using both hands at the same time! (You may want to tape your paper down first.)
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Draw without looking at the page.
SOCIAL CREATIVE PROJECT
Requires: Two creators; a pencil and a sheet of paper; crayons or other coloring supplies (optional)
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Invite a partner to create with you. Decide who is giving instructions (Person A) and who is drawing (Person A). Person A should sit facing Person B (in person or on video chat).
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Person B holds up a notebook so that they can't see the blank page, but Person A can.
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Person A gives Person B instructions about what to draw.
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Person B draws something in response to these instructions, without looking at what they're doing.
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Person A gets to decide when the drawing is finished and Person B gets to see what they've made together.
My friend and collaborator, composer Steve Makela and I made a little time during our video meeting for some social creativity. Steve gave me instructions and I tried to follow them without looking at the page. It provided a welcome, laughter-filled break.

In the event Person A wants some ideas, here are some of Steve's fabulously random instructions (yours can be similar or completely different):
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Draw a line from one corner towards the middle of the page
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Draw a squiggly line going down from the top of the page.
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Draw a line to the Northeast.
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Draw the northern border of the United States from Washington State to Maine.
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Draw three different animals on the bottom of the page.
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Draw seven straight lines without taking the pencil off the paper.
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Draw a bunch of straight vertical lines in the bottom left corner.

Later I colored the drawing with crayons. I added some outlines and additional lines and shapes in black crayon because I liked the contrast.
for ideas about coloring and coloring projects.
Whether or not you color your drawing, you can take a digital photograph with your phone or camera, and manipulate the image using digital editing to make yet more art.

for ideas about using your child-like drawing to create abstract digital art.

With or without a buddy, we can have fun every day enjoying our own creativity freely, even just during a quick five-minute break.
