🎨 Creative Snack: Draw the View
Let's go analogue! Rather than point and shoot with your camera's viewfinder, let's point and draw.
About this creative exercise
With smartphone cameras so easily accessible, it’s easy to whip them out at a moment’s notice and take a quick snap. But how often do you honestly go back and look at those photos? How many photo albums have you really made from your holiday snaps?
As discussed in my previous post, The Camera That Stole Our Memories, it turns out that taking photos can actually impair your memory of an event.
Therefore, today’s exercise involves…looking…really looking!
Because, as the Victorian poet, writer, and art critic John Ruskin knew over 150 years ago, the best way to pay attention and make lasting memories is to draw.
Instead of using your camera’s viewfinder, you’re going analogue and making a viewfinder from a piece of card. Rather than point and shoot with your camera, you’ll point and draw.
After the instructions, keep reading for reflection and creative prompts…
Materials
For this creative exercise, you will need:
A5 Card. Use cardstock, or upcycle and use old delivery packaging or a cereal box.
Scissors / Craft Knife
Ruler
Pencil
Paper or sketchbook for drawing on
Lovely view, an interesting object, a mirror, a window or whatever inspires you!
Instructions
Take the card and draw a 10cm x 10 cm square in the middle, using a ruler and pencil.
Cut the square out from the centre of a card, and you will be left with your viewfinder frame.
Point your viewfinder frame at an object or a view from your window. Zoom into an object, or pan out to take in the wider scene. Do this inside, or go outside to your garden, balcony or local park.
Draw what you see in your sketchbook. There are no rules here other than to put all screens out of sight and enjoy the process of really paying attention.
DOWNLOAD A TEMPLATE HERE:
🪞Reflection & Enquiry
Ask:
What details did you notice when you drew the scene or object?
Did anything surprise you?
Did drawing enhance your experience?
👩🏻🎨 Creative Prompts
Try this:
Consider going out without your camera or avoid using your smartphone to photograph your experiences. Notice how you are in the moment. Did you feel the urge to pull the camera out and take a photo? What about after the event?
Instead of showing a friend the images you took, try telling them about the experience instead (my personal favourite!). Tell them about what you could see, smell or feel. I’ll bet it'll be so much more interesting and enriching than looking at a 2D flat image!
I would love to see pictures of your creations. DM me here on Substack, or email your images and thoughts to info@georgiestclair.com or tag me @georgiestclair on Instagram
Have an inspired day 💕
More creative snacks to enjoy:
