Today I held a class on Neurographic Art. This was the first time I presented this to a group. I introduced a friend, Phyllis C, to this technique a few weeks earlier. Just a few days later she told me she couldn’t believe how well it worked to “turn off her brain” and gives her some peace. She’s been doing it everyday! That’s when I realized I needed to share this with our Carefree Village Resort Community. So many people here are dealing with serious illnesses of a spouse, parent or child. We think when we retire stress is in the past. Unfortunately, stress is never gone. It’s just from a different source. Therefore, I felt I needed to find a date to teach this class. Hopefully it will become an easy way for at least one or two additional people to calm their minds. It’s important for everyone to have a resource for peace and a quiet mind.
Thank you, Russ Knapp – CVR Activities Director for finding a suitable date, time and facility for this class!
In preparing for the class, I started experimenting more with this art form. I couldn’t stop. It was so cool to see the endless possibilities. It can be as simplistic or complex as you want. It can be “done”, but then you can always return to a piece days or weeks later and build upon it.
It may help to put a decent sized dot at each intersection of lines. Then go back to each dot to smooth out the four angles that were created at that intersection. The sharper angles must go away. You want everything to be curved. These curved intersections provide a smooth flow throughout the design. This is where I need my reading glasses and like using an UltraThin marker. The picture below is an example. Notice one dot shows a four curves – each made to the outside of the dot that will round out those four angles. If there is space between the arc and the dot, fill it in.
Everyone’s design was beginning to evolve to be as unique as each participant. This was so cool for all of us to see.
Thank you, Joe for letting me borrow your phone to take pictures as everyone continues personalizing their work.
I handed out two black and two white frame mattes so they could place it on their work to see it magically become a framed piece of art. It’s amazing how just having a black or a white frame around the design makes it suddenly pop. It also allows you to shift it gently to focus the frame on the area you like most.
As people were finishing up their design for today, I offered everyone a second paper that was heavier weight. They were welcomed to stay to create a watercolor wash on the heavier paper that they could take with them to use for neurographic art later. I shared my examples (below) as different ideas to create a color background.
Traditional Watercolor – Random colors used for abstract background. Let dry, and later apply neurographic part.
Traditional Watercolor – applied to create a “sunset” background
Water-color pencils used to quickly color different areas. You do not have to have solid color. A wet brush will smooth out each color swatch and smoothly blend it into the next .
Water-color pencils used to create a scenic background.
More sharing of finished artwork: I love how happy each one is with his/her final piece. (Thank you to all who remembered my request to show your finished work to the camera before leaving.)
I apologize if I failed to capture anyone’s work. It certainly wasn’t intentional. In fact, I wish I had each piece documented within my blog. All were amazing!
THANK YOUs
- A huge thank you to everyone who took part in this class today. YOU made it the success I feel it was. It was great to hear directly from so many of the participants. Cathe and Phyllis plan to do neurgraphic art on their upcoming cruise!
- A special thanks to Mike Cavalle, who provided video coverage!
- Thank you everyone who helped collect my supplies, and put the room back in order. 🙂
I am happy to teach another intro class next season, as well as offer a “follow-up” class – Neurographic Art 2.0 – NG Meets ZenTangle /Zen Doodle.
I loved this class it really is a great way to relax and create . I purchased a pad and pens and have been teaching my grands this summer and they love it too! Thanks Nancy . Can’t wait for another class .
Love to hear this! I don’t think I got a picture of your or Rose’s piece. Will look forward to seeing what you’ve done since the class. 🙂