Contrary to popular beliefs, drawing can be the most freeing of any art activity we do. When we were children, we delighted in exploring lines on paper, but critical attitudes from the outside world caused us to retreat, losing that joyful, playful experience.  It is ours, though, for the taking.  I invite you to reclaim it with this two-part exercise.

Last week, I took you on an Air Gliding� adventure with an apple.  This week, let's take that experience one step further.  One little thing though, having done last week's exercise will make this week's more meaningful.  If you didn't do the Air Glide and would like to, you can go to the Archives HERE and find it.  

 You'll need a drawing pad no smaller than 9" x 12" and a banana. 

1. Sitting down, prop the open drawing pad vertically a couple of inches from the bend of you knee.  Steady it with your non-dominant hand.  Take a long, deep breath.  
2. Close your eyes, then gently move your dominant hand's fingertips over the surface of the paper. Feel its size--top, bottom, right, left and center. When you have made a comfortable acquaintance with the paper's surface, open your eyes.
3. Place the banana near you at arm's length. Do the Air Glide exercise.  Breathe deeply.
4. Now, close one eye and focus the other on any of the banana's edges.  Touch the paper with you index finger.  With your eye on the banana, allow your index finger to glide on the paper, following the edges of the banana as your eye moves along them.  Allow movement to come from the elbow and shoulder rather than the twist of your wrist.  Your eye will move along all the edges, of the banana, inside and out, and your index finger will follow those movements over the surface of the paper rather than in the air.  Keep your eye on the subject and you mind on breathing. Don't hesitate.  Don't think. Don't judge.  Just take the trip.
5. When all the edges are explored, drop both hands to your side, close both eyes and take a long, deep breath.  Then open your eyes and go to the next step.
6. Pull a single peel down from the banana, keeping it attached, then do the exercise again with the change made in the banana.
7. Continue peeling the banana, doing another exercise after each step until the fruit is completely peeled.

I call this exercise Phantom Drawing�.  If you feel insecure or shy about drawing, you will discover that combining the Air Glide and Phantom Drawing over a period of time will build your drawing confidence.  At any point when you might feel ready, add a sharpened pencil to the mix and allow it to cruise over the paper just as your index finger did during Phantom Drawing.