Mindful Grid Art: A Simple Exercise to Clear Your Mind While Creating
A calming grid art exercise using simple patterns and repetition to relax your mind and get into creative flow
Sometimes you don't need to make something artsy; you just need to clear your mind and start simple.
This mindful grid art exercise is one of those simple starting points. It helps you move out of your head and into your hands, using repetition, patterns, and small decisions that don’t feel heavy.
In this video, I’m part of my grid art series, but this time with a softer focus: not experimenting for the sake of outcome, but creating space in your mind while you draw.
It’s less about what you make and more about how it feels while you’re making it.
Materials Needed:
Use whatever you have, but keep it simple:
Sketchbook or paper
Tape (or a pencil to draw your grid)
Pen, fineliner, or brush pen
Optional: markers or color
Instructions:
Create your grid
Use tape or draw a grid with a pencil. It doesn’t have to be exact. Just enough to divide your page into sections.Let your pen wander
With a thicker pen or brush pen, draw loose, flowing lines across your page. Don’t plan, just let your hand move.Add variation (optional)
Use a fineliner to add more lines or shapes. Start anywhere. There’s no right place.Notice the sections
Your lines will naturally create different areas. These become your spaces to fill.Fill with simple patterns
Choose something repetitive:• lines
• circles
• crosses
• or any shape you enjoy
Repeat the pattern without overthinking. Let it become almost automatic.
Keep it imperfect
Lines can be uneven. Shapes can be wonky. Let them be.Add color intuitively (optional)
Pick a color without thinking too much and fill a few sections. Leave some areas empty to give the piece space to breathe.Respond, don’t plan
Notice what you feel like doing next and follow that. Add, stop, change. It’s all part of the process.Stop when it feels done
At some point, you’ll feel it. That’s your cue to stop.Peel the tape (if used)
Reveal your grid. This moment often feels like a small surprise.
Final Thoughts:
This exercise is not about making something “good.” It’s about giving your mind a place to rest.
Repetition can be calming. Simple shapes can be enough. And sometimes, just moving your pen is all you need to get back into a creative flow.
Try it again with different patterns, different colors, or a different mood. Each time, it will feel a little different.
What's Next?
Explore further
If you enjoyed this process, you might also like other blog posts where I explore similar techniques, materials, and ways of working, always focused on play, process, and creative freedom. If you're new to Grid Art, this framework might help you.
Curious to explore this Mindful Grid Art more deeply? I also created a full Mindful Grid Art class on Skillshare, where I guide you step-by-step through this process and variations.
Try a variation
Repeat this exercise with different materials or colors. Small changes often lead to completely new results. Even doing exactly the same thing will lead to a totally different result.
Reflect & continue
Take a moment to notice what surprised you during this process. What worked? What felt uncomfortable? What would you like to explore next?
