Whereas many people think of fall as a time to discard and rake away like fallen leaves, I am choosing this time to collect from the leaf pile as well as discard. The leaves I am shedding are procrastination and self-critique. In exchange, I am reconfirming my promise to make a mark daily with an artist friend and to make creating art more accessible to me.

I decided to start small.

I wanted to start small so this was kismet. I make my art more consistently when I am involved in art challenges. Into my inbox, the “Inchie Challenge” arrived. The challenge is to slowly and mindfully draw/paint the day’s prompt on a small square of paper only 2″ x 2″!

The first day of the Mindful Art Studio Inchie Challenge prompt was leaves. At first, my brain stumbled. What could I do differently about leaves? I looked at different examples on the Mindful Art Studio web site and discovered that some of the images that often intrigued me were when there was a pile of something. Ta Da I will draw a pile of leaves!

Want to get into a mindful state? Draw a pile of leaves. I started drawing very small, but detailed leaves on the bottom of the square. When I was deciding which leaf to draw, I wasn’t thinking of my overflowing inbox or the dishes in the sink. My mind was completely focused on which type of leaf to draw, where to put the leaf, and in what orientation. I enjoyed it so much that I had to do another one, and another one, etc.

When I started, I didn’t think I could come up with one representation of a leaf and I came up with four! It got me thinking of falling leaves and how many things falling leaves can be a metaphor for. I thought it would be an intriguing prompt for the blog and presented it to the Ambassadors. I am looking forward to the writings, sounds, and sights that this prompt evokes for you.

*Interested in the “Inchie Challenge”?
It is currently running from 9/6-9/16/22 You can start anytime during the challenge. If you didn’t get to join by 9/16/22, check out Mindful Art Studio’s weekly FREE slow drawing class.