The energy of the designs
More than 20 years ago, I was taught a Qigong*
hold of the piece of Conté crayon, my hand and arm moved
martial arts form that would be helpful for increasing
to make images on the paper...big circular forms that
energy, health, and a sense of inner peace. At the end
spiraled and became intricately layered with many, many
of the form was a standing prayer position in which you
circles. Other drawings were more of a grid design. Each
placed your hands together in front of your heart and
image was different and launched me into an exploration
just breathe. I could feel energy moving
through my body. To my surprise, my hands started moving in
sticks, printmaking, collage and even three-dimensional materials such
inner peace grows. I hope you find
to this spontaneous
it, the rest of my
pencils, colored pencil
these drawings for you and your
I began to get used
as I relaxed into
intuitive way with paint,
the energy of that comes through
wrong? After a time,
movement and
found I could create in this
health and relaxation. I hope
way. I wasn’t sure what I doing Qigong
way. It was fun and freeing. I
Qigong is used for
a very graceful, flowing to do with this. Was
of creating artwork in an entirely new
as clay worked
inspiration. I hope you find joy. I hope
well. In fact, any medium I prepared
your experience creating here will
to work with was
energize your life!
manipulated in a very
body started moving. It looked and felt like
spontaneous, free-flowing
some Martial Arts forms I had
way. The biggest hurdle I had
seen on TV or in movies. It felt
(and continue to have) is to stay
wonderful. My body started to become
out of my own way. If I try to control the
more relaxed more of the time—even when I wasn’t
movement, it feels different. I stop right away and take
doing this movement system. An energy healer friend and
a deep breath, connect with my soul—and usually chuckle
colleague suggested I try picking up a piece of charcoal
at myself—and start again.
to draw on a big piece of paper on an easel. I brought
out my old newsprint pads from art school and a Conté
fashion. I had no predetermined design in mind. I set an
crayon and started the Qigong movement. When I took
intention the artwork be created for the greatest good for
The drawings in this book were created in this
* Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) means literally “Life Energy Cultivation.” It is an ancient holistic system of coordinated body posture, movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. There are many studies supporting the benefits of this type of practice.