Why Use Neurographic Art Drawing For Mental Decluttering
What is a nuerographic art drawing? This is an amazingly cool tool I found to teach people how to rein in their mental clutter.
My friend Sadie Smiley of Passive Income Pathways invited us all to an online gathering named ‘Vibe & Chill’. No reason not to attend! I had no idea what to expect, my plan was to keep my mind open and follow along. I had a blast!
One of my thoughts during this process was how can I use this as a tool in Declutterbuzz my online decluttering group.
Nuerographic Art Drawing Gentle & Calming
Ever find yourself stuck in your head? Thoughts spinning, to-do lists growing, emotions building? Same here – especially lately.
This is actually how we stumbled across something called neurographic art—a creative practice that looks like abstract doodling but feels more like a deep sigh for your brain.
So… what is neurographic art, exactly? And how can it help you declutter your mind? Let’s talk about it.
What Is A Neurographic Art?
Neurographic art is a creative technique that blends psychology, art, and mindfulness. It was developed in 2014 by Pavel Piskarev, a Russian psychologist who was exploring how drawing could help people process emotions and create new neural connections.
Neurographic art draws intuitive lines that that resemble nueronal pathways. These lines flow free. There are no patterns to these lines.
Sadie Smiley is the artist of the black & white drawing (above) and I just love this!
Sadie said “I was very at peace while drawing this! I listened to this while working on it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5idBO3wn1M“
These lines are not straight, and they aim to mimic the interconnectedness of the brain’s neural networks. The focus is on creating a dynamic, intuitive flow rather than a specific shape or pattern.
Whatever patterns and shapes emerge is fine. As an artist, I taught art for a number of years, and the first thing I told students is “There are no mistakes in your art work”.
At its core, it’s about drawing freeform lines, rounding the intersections, and connecting shapes in a way that feels intuitive and meditative. The end result is often beautiful—but the process is where the real magic happens.
No rules, judgment, and ‘No I’m not artist’ excuses.
What Does a Neurographic Art Drawing Look Like?
It usually starts with scribbly, wandering lines that intersect and loop around the page.
Then you round the corners—literally softening the sharp edges—and start creating little shapes and patterns where the lines meet.
See the thing about hard edges is hard edges and corners are sharp and can hurt – like weapons can hurt. We want to soften our perception of whatever negativity may be swirling in our heads.
A circle has no sharp edges, is smooth, and cannot harm you.
Next, you can add color, more details, or just keep it simple.
The final image might look like a web of abstract art, but there’s often a sense of calm, balance, or movement that feels just right for you. You are drawing for you, no one else.
It’s kind of like drawing your inner world—without needing to explain it with words.
Why People Love Nuerographic Art – Even If They Can’t Draw!
Neurographic art has quietly taken off in communities focused on mindfulness, mental health, and creativity—and it’s not hard to see why.
Here’s what people often say they experience:
- Less anxiety or tension after even just 10 minutes of drawing
- A feeling of emotional release, like they’ve “gotten something out”
- Mental clarity or problem-solving without forcing it
- A new way to slow down and tune into what they’re feeling
It’s not therapy, or a fix. It’s just… space. On paper. Connected with what’s going on in your brain.
Carolina Velis drew this. Look at all the round smooth lines and random colors. So fun!
Nuerographic Art Drawing Works | Even If It Sounds Woo-Woo!
I get it—drawing lines to calm your mind sounds a little out there. But there’s some science to back it up.
- Repetitive, focused motion (like drawing and rounding corners) is proven to activate your parasympathetic nervous system—that’s the “rest and digest” part of your brain.
- Slowing down your movements encourages mindfulness, helping you shift away from fight-or-flight mode.
- Creating something nonverbal gives your mind a break from analyzing and fixing—and lets you just be for a few minutes.
It’s like journaling… but with curves and colors instead of sentences. How fun is this!
I have been a fan and teacher of stream-of-consciousness writing for a long time and have always felt (strongly) there is a difference between this kind of free-form writing and journaling.
I know journaling comes and goes as a trendy thing and people have their own interpretations in mind when they journal. If this helps you then you should be journaling.
When I talk about stream-of-consciousness writing I follow the pattern Julia Cameron teaches in her book the Artist Way.
For me this means showing up to blank pages every morning and writing doing a brain-dump. Yes write whatever thoughts that are swirling in my head until I fill 3 full pages in a cheap spiral bound notebook.
I plan to try nuerographic art drawing the same way. What I mean is – I will pick up a pen and paper and draw in the quiet time every morning before the day gets in my way.
Want to Try Nuerographic Art?
All you need is:
- A pen or marker
- A piece of paper
- A few quiet minutes
You don’t need to prep, study, or plan. Just start drawing. Let the lines wander. Round the corners. Connect what feels disconnected. And breathe.
Want to Know What Your Drawing Might Mean?
Okay, so this part is way fun.
Once you’ve created a drawing, you can actually upload it into a simple tool I’ve built with some tech magic (shoutout to my amazing friend, Sadie Smiley of Passive Income Pathways, for making it happen 💛.
The tool will gently interpret what your drawing might say about your current mental state, energy, or emotions—based on patterns, shapes, and flow.
Click here to try the
Neurographic Art Analyzer Tool!
You may be prompted to open a ChatGPT account- the free version is all you need. Chat GPT is a reliable website that I use throughout my day.
Letting Go
I am a recovering perfectionist and I highly recommend others to become recovering perfectionists. Why? There is no such thing as perfect and it is often used as an excuse to procrastinate!
Want to learn about a bunch of other excuses we use to keep us stuck?
Get your Free Excuse Cheat Sheet!
Transform Your Excuses into Immediate Results using this cheat sheet! It is the Cliff notes for all your excuses!
Let go of perfection. Neurographic art isn’t about being good at drawing. It’s about creating space—for your mind, your emotions, your breath, your inner calm.
So if you’ve been feeling scattered or stuck, grab a pen. Start with one line. And let your mind follow it somewhere softer.
Want more posts like this? Stick around—I’ll be sharing more ways to use neurographic art for mental decluttering, emotional clarity, and maybe even a little creative fun.
🔗 Helpful Links for Going Deeper
- Start Here! What Is Neurographic Art?
- Want to try? Create Your First Neurographic Art Step-by-Step for Beginners
- Explore: How Neurographic Art Helps You Declutter the Mind
- Curious? What Your Neurographic Drawing Says About You
Marj Bates is a life long ridiculously organized declutter-er and artist. Less is more are words Marj lives by in everything she does except collecting dogs. “Dogs are like potato chips! Can’t have just one.” says Marj. Marj wonders if growing up with a fanatically clean Jewish mom means her decluttering and organizational skills are in her blood.
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