Art Therapy Directive: Scribble Drawing
Get to know your psyche and move creative energy through you with a scribble drawing
This is one of my favorite art therapy directives! It requires no artistic experience whatsoever, and can be really interesting in what it shows you about yourself. See if you can hold an open mind and allow yourself to be guided by your creative instincts. There is no right or wrong way to do this. Just scribble, perceive, and receive the messages your projections have to share with you!
It all starts with putting pen to paper and simply scribbling for fifteen to thirty seconds. Close your eyes if it feels good. If you want, you can have a different colored pen in each hand and scribble with both hands, or you can stick with a single pen in one hand.
Then you will see your scribble. Place it on the floor where you can walk around it on all sides. Similar to looking into the clouds in search of shapes, walk around your scribble and see what shapes and designs pop out at you. You might see different shapes and images from each side you look at your scribble.
Once you see images and shapes that stick out most, get creative with how you imagine bringing them to life.
Use any materials you choose to bring your image to life. You might select crayons, markers, pencils, chalk or oil pastels, paint, or any other medium you choose.
Feel free to add lines and elaborate on the scribble to complete your vision. There’s no wrong way to do this! Try not to overthink it.
Notice what your image shows you about your present life, perceptions, experiences, relationships, or inner feelings. Scribble drawings are projective, which means they externalize something about yourself or your world for you to see. Try to approach them with curiosity. Consider journaling about both the process and product after your finish creating your image.
Another example…
It all starts with putting pen to paper and simply scribbling for fifteen to thirty seconds. Close your eyes if it feels good. If you want, you can have a different colored pen in each hand and scribble with both hands, or you can stick with a single pen in one hand.
Use any materials you choose to bring your image to life. You might select crayons, markers, pencils, chalk or oil pastels, paint, or any other medium you choose.
Feel free to add lines and elaborate on the scribble to complete your vision. There’s no wrong way to do this! Try not to overthink it.
Notice what your image shows you about your present life, perceptions, experiences, relationships, or inner feelings. Scribble drawings are projective, which means they externalize something about yourself or your world for you to see. Try to approach them with curiosity. Consider journaling about both the process and product after your finish creating your image.
I am always amazed how much I discover about myself when I create a scribble drawing and reflect on its meaning. If I am open and honest with myself, I will see how the scribble drawing amplifies something within myself that I am currently working through or mulling over. This drawing access a back door into your subconscious mind and cues you in to what is lying just beneath the surface awaiting your attention. When you approach your scribble drawing with an open and curious mind, you’ll get to meet and work with parts of yourself you may or may not have known existed!
Have thoughts? Share them! This is a community after all.
The comment section at the bottom of this page is your space. Please share your experiences, anecdotes, challenges, and opinions. It’s also a great place to find stories from other’s who are also interested in living radiantly! I can’t wait to hear from you.
Thanks for being here.
In this genuine healing space, you can repair old wounds, activate inspiration, and consciously move toward the Radiant Life that is your birthright.
If you like this, you may also enjoy…
Browse more resources like these below!
My book, The Radiant Life Project, deep dives into these topics and is a manual for radiant living.
Retreats and events for living and learning radiantly together!
