Contemplative Art & Craft
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What is contemplative crafting & art?
It is a way of creating that combines meditation and mindfulness with creating a work of art or craft.
Often the technique of creating helps to induce a contemplative state of mind, which is a mind that is focused, calm, and fully present with whatever is with or before it.
It is a way of creating that combines meditation and mindfulness with creating a work of art or craft.
Often the technique of creating helps to induce a contemplative state of mind, which is a mind that is focused, calm, and fully present with whatever is with or before it.
Generate moment-to-moment awareness and healthy coping skills through creativity
Asian Brush Painting
Meditation and mindfulness is not limited to just sitting still watching the mind and the body. There are many ways to incorporate the meditative and mindful practices of being present. Sitting meditation is a practice of stillness. Meditation and mindfulness can be a practice of movement. Thich Nhat Hanh teaches walking meditation, washing dishes meditation, or gardening in which the one practicing observes the body and the senses as they walk or perform an action. Zen Buddhism in Japan developed a practice called Kyūdō, which is a form of archery meditation. Many martial arts include meditation practices in both the forms of stillness and movement. Meditation and mindfulness can also be creative.
Bonsai
Bonsai, is the art of miniature tree sculpting. It may take only five or ten minutes to prune a tree that stands 12 inches high, but it is the contemplation of the tree and its design, which is slowly changing and growing over a long period of time. Some bonsai trees are centuries old. After the artist contemplates the tree and its shape for many hours and days, slight adjustments are made, perhaps through making only one or two careful clippings a year.
 Ikebana (flower arranging)
Ikebana (also known Kadō) is the meditative art of flower arranging and has a strong relationship with chadō, which is a form of meditation through the performance of a tea ceremony. There are many different kinds of Zen art that include dance, music, and theatre. |
ChadÅ (tea ceremony)
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For the Zen artist, no matter what form of art being practiced, the intention is to bring out in the creative work, in the least complicated way, the essence of the object. The Zen artist must then intimately know this essence through direct experience, dropping any preconceived ideas or concepts of that object. While the artist works to perceive this essence, they develop technique and skills, until the time comes to create the work. Zen art often emphasizes spontaneity in the execution of the piece, as the intellectual mind is bypassed and a clear mind--that which is holding only the essence of the object--requires little complexity to express itself accurately. With a few swishes of a brush the artist can depict the whole sinuous shape of a cat or a range of rugged mountains, the subtlety of which can only emerge through the mind's connection to the essence of the subject of contemplation.
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Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
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Photo by Castorly Stock from Pexels
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Not all contemplative art and craft has to be spontaneous in creation, however. A lot of the techniques used in creating are repetitive and require focus and concentration, we can use these techniques as entry points to meditation and mindfulness. When engaged with a particular task within the creative process, we can focus on the breath and the motions of the body as it engages in the repetitive action. For example, when knitting or crocheting a stitch, one focuses on the making of that stitch, while making it. If the mind wanders off from making that stitch to thoughts about the future or the past, or judging thoughts about what is being made, you pause, notice the breath, just where it is, and then, when focused on the body breathing, continue creating, repeating as necessary.
This mindful approach can be applied to any craft or art creation, even those that embody spontaneity, as there are always repetitive practices in creative work, or in the preparation of creative work. Brush painting often emphasize gracefulness, effortlessness and spontaneity in execution, but the process in preparing the paper and ink are repetitive and can be contemplative in practice. Many arts and crafts require a lot of preplanning and preparation of materials before the creative work begins and utilizing meditation and mindfulness during those activities can strengthen focus and engagement during the creation of a piece.
This mindful approach can be applied to any craft or art creation, even those that embody spontaneity, as there are always repetitive practices in creative work, or in the preparation of creative work. Brush painting often emphasize gracefulness, effortlessness and spontaneity in execution, but the process in preparing the paper and ink are repetitive and can be contemplative in practice. Many arts and crafts require a lot of preplanning and preparation of materials before the creative work begins and utilizing meditation and mindfulness during those activities can strengthen focus and engagement during the creation of a piece.
Coming Soon!
Mystery Counted Cross Stitch-A-Long:
"Nature Doesn't Hurry"
A contemplative crafting project!
Who doesn't love a mystery?
Each month receive a new part of a larger counted cross stitch design.
Free for those who sign up before the SAL ends
(includes pattern chart and access to exclusive content)
Sign Up Here!
Mystery Counted Cross Stitch-A-Long:
"Nature Doesn't Hurry"
A contemplative crafting project!
Who doesn't love a mystery?
Each month receive a new part of a larger counted cross stitch design.
Free for those who sign up before the SAL ends
(includes pattern chart and access to exclusive content)
Sign Up Here!