Neurographics
A MINDFULNESS/MEDITATIVE PRACTICE
Neurographic art is a structured, yet free‑flowing and meditative method of artmaking. It is centered on a simple, intuitive drawing technique that turns stress into beauty—literally. This soothing process readily encourages creativity and calm, inviting you into the relaxed state of flow where healing and answers may arise as it helps to gently regulate your nervous system.
“When your nervous system won’t settle, neurographic drawing gives your hands something to do while your body finds its way back to calm.”
When life gets jagged you can use the process of softening and rounding the sharp edges and corners to smooth your insides. No art experience is needed. With just a pen, paper, and a willingness to let your hand move the way it wants to, anyone can accomplish the neurographic art process.
While smoothing out the knots that may be tying up your psyche, and reflecting on the incorporation of those troublesome spots you have been experiencing recently, you sooth your insides. The result is a more cohesive whole.
Once the initial neurographic drawings are complete, we will explore watercolor and or colored pencils to add color to them, as well as a quick introduction to possible embellishments or finishing touches such as simple “zen doodle” style textures.
How to Start
1. A UNIQUE NEURO LINE
Does not repeat itself at any stage of its movement as we guide it to where its not expected to go. Move marker anywhere any direction except one you want to go. Go there, I do know not where. There are any number of ways of doing this, including intentionally going the way you do not wish to, “following” a bottle cap or penny across the page, or drawing it with non-dominant hand (perhaps even with your eyes closed. The point is to allow movement of line to be it’s own unique self.
Other initial starts can include a rough “Cathartic” scribble, allowing focus on emotionally charged experience (negative or positive) to express itself.
2. LINKING (ROUNDING)
Rounding (smoothing) out the corners, or the shape within any lines, organizes and brings regulation to your nervous system, as it unifies not only the image, but your perceptions as well. The practice of consciously engaging in this rounding is extremelly meditative, and neurologically calming, soothing and provides increased calm.
This neurographic started as a jagged scribble.
It's a good idea to start your first with a relatively simple drawing.
Watercolor
The colors on your palette are the basic primary colors: Red, Blue, and Yellow. You can achieve any other colors by mixing these three: red and blue = purple, red and yellow = orange, blue and yellow = green. All three colors together make mud: emphasize blue in the mix, and you'll get black tones, whereas, less blue than the other two will give you brown tones.
There are almost limitless combinations of colors that you can choose for your palette, but I thought it best to start with a primary palette to begin with.
We started with pre-colored backgrounds just for color fun and because the limited time of our class would not permit doing both the watercolor background, its drying time, AND neurographics. You can play with these colors later. In the meantime, the backgrounds were painted with the same palette, so when you go to color with watercolor (if you choose to), they will be the same and easily blend.
Shading
WATERCOLOR OR COLOR PENCILS
Technique for shading: darkest (most pigment) next to the black line, then shade (lighter and lighter touch) toward the center of the shape.
Links to Neurographic Videos
https://youtu.be/-Wwd5a__KEg?si=QWY0qKL4toIyAgdn Excellent – when nervous system won’t settle.
https://youtu.be/UTEm6NCfQTk?si=MXPG6l309XZO2Ifa Luminous Soul Art
Pavel Piskarev invented Neurographics:
https://youtu.be/6hA5HsM46XI?si=2MVfANPvQg4Fpcrj Piskarev Line
https://youtu.be/48nreFaxKbU?si=tUkRxKj8JIDbeuGq Pavel Piskarev about neurographic lines
https://youtu.be/ztrOoxpa9e8?si=uEFvEMmQ9z4f9BBu Pavel Piskarev himself about Neurotree Algorythm
https://youtu.be/SC-R_LTCpDE?si=j_CGpPn15zvFcPHc Neuroart meditation
https://youtu.be/hj56_CarggI?si=WSCXnhniCC6hIG0V Neurographics from Scribbles or Peace from Anger