Drawing with Your Non-Dominant Hand
Want to mix things up a bit? Then try drawing with the 'wrong' aka your non-dominant hand.
This tried and tested technique utilised by art therapists is an excellent exercise to, well, basically get over yourself!
I jest. Sort of ;)
First, what is your non-dominant hand? It’s the hand you use the least. This means if you're right-handed, then your left hand is your non-dominant hand. If you're left-handed, then your right hand is your non-dominant hand.
In terms of art therapy, by writing or drawing with your non-dominant hand, you let go of the pesky expectations you put on yourself. Especially when it comes to being creative. In terms of mindfulness, we move from doing mode into being mode.
Basically, you know what you create with your non-dominant hand is going to be a bit crap. And you are going to feel really uncomfortable whilst creating this crapness!
That's the beauty of it!
Rather than playing to your strengths or what you're good at (yawn - booorrrrring), you automatically enter an exciting field of play.
“Basically, you know what you create with your non-dominant hand is going to be a bit crap. And you are going to feel really uncomfortable whilst creating this crapness!
That’s the beauty of it!”
Different Strokes
Take my daughter, for example. She tolerates her swimming lessons but let's face it, she's not jumping for joy when I drag her away from Roblox to go.
Week in and out, she swims lengths of the pool a gazillion times per session, practising different strokes and dives. I'm very proud to say, she has made fantastic improvements in her technique and confidence but, it's all a bit 'meh' for her. Very routine and regimented.
However, when we take her to the family fun sessions at our local swimming pool, she jumps off the walls with excitement - she can't get there quick enough!
During these sessions, her inner mermaid is unleashed. There are floaty things to jump off, giant slides to whizz down, and wave machines to throw her around in abandonment.
There's no pressure, no expectation of being 'good' or 'better' or to 'improve upon'.
This is pure, unadulterated fun.
And that's how I want you to approach drawing with your non-dominant hand.
People always laugh when they do this exercise, precisely because there's no pressure and we accept our limitations without judgement.
When you are drawing with your non-dominant hand, you accept what you create is not going to be good in the traditional sense. Thus it takes you back to when you were a young child, and you just looked and drew what you felt, or saw, or imagined.
OK, let's draw! Grab some paper or your sketchbook and a pencil.
I’ve broken this creative mindfulness exercise into 4 separate exercises. You are welcome to try all 4 or just 1. It’s entirely up to you.
Instructions
Exercise 1 - 4 Boxes of Scribbles
Draw or cut out of paper 4 boxes approximately 4cm square.
Hold your pencil in your non-dominant hand and draw:
a slow scribble,
a fast scribble,
a normal scribble,
a repeating pattern scribble
Exercise 2 - 3 Minute Continuous Line Scribble
Hold your pencil in your non-dominant hand and place it on a sheet of paper or a page in your sketchbook.
Close your eyes
On the paper, draw or scribble with a continuous movement for 3 minutes.
At the end of the 3 minutes, write down the first 3 words that come spontaneously into your mind.
Exercise 3 - Draw Your Words
Hold your pencil in your non-dominant hand and take a fresh piece of paper or a new page in your sketchbook.
Look at the 3 words from exercise 2 above and represent them as a drawing or scribble.
Exercise 4 - Both Hands Come to Play
Hold your pencil in your non-dominant hand and take a fresh piece of paper or a new page in your sketchbook.
Draw a circle, a square and a triangle with your non-dominant hand
Draw a circle, a square, and a triangle with your dominant hand
Next to each set of drawings, write 3 words about the non and dominant hand drawings ie 3 words about the dominant hand drawings and 3 words about the non-dominant hand drawings.
Additional step
How would it feel to draw a portrait or a still life with your non-dominant hand?
Reflection and Enquiry
What did you notice? Mentally or physically? Was it uncomfortable doing this exercise or fun? Did you laugh? I hope so!
Did you find yourself judging the result, or were you free of expectation? How did that feel to you?
What did you notice when you brought your dominant hand back into exercise 4?
How was this experience for you?
I would love to see pictures of your creations. Email your images and thoughts to info@georgiestclair.com or tag me @georgiestclair on Instagram
Have an inspired day!
Georgie x