I’m doing my “daily-drawing-practice-until-I-die” project. Up to No. 16 (my 16th day). I’ve decided that every time I get to 100, I will reward Self with an extremely yummy cookie. I know my friend Joan (who passed on recently and inspired this project) would approve. One nice perk is that these little drawings are providing me with ideas for larger works.
Here are the last three drawings, two #asemic paintings and one #pencil drawing:
No. 14. India ink, graphite ink, and graphite pencil on watercolor paper. 2/1/2026.
No. 15, india ink, graphite, and acrylics on watercolor paper 2/2/2026.
No. 16, #graphite on watercolor paper, 2/3/2026.
Asemic drawing or painting feels much more spontaneous than drawing semi-figuratively with a pencil (as in No. 16).
I did No. 16 as a drawing meditation. The process involved simply noting whatever came up, physically, mentally, and emotionally as I drew. So there was the physical act (drawing a line, pressing harder, feeling pain in my fingers, pressing lighter, etc.); thinking (planning the line or shading, thinking about style, thinking about dinner, judging, etc.); and emotions (enjoyment, desiring, aversion, etc.).
I found this meditative process more complicated than, say, focusing on the breath while meditating; thinking and decision-making happens quickly while drawing, and I’m not used to being aware of my own interior process while creating. I hope that with time, I’ll be able to refine and develop my focus.
See also John F. Simon Jr.’s Drawing Your Own Path. I want to write a bit about Simon’s idea of drawing as divination, but will address that perhaps in the next post. I have to get ready for physical therapy today. Despite it being winter here in California, it’s going to be unusually warm today, and I’ll be taking the bus.
Jean Vengua 