Starting with a line
This month’s Sketchbook Circle theme was “faces.” This felt really intimidating, especially given all the amazing portraits already in the sketchbook. My imposter parts were very clear that this was not the challenge for me, that I am not a “real” artist. I had known this theme was coming, so I’d been pondering how to respond for a while. I definitely wanted to do something textile or yarn related, and decided to experiment with something new – creating a one-line yarn portrait.
Starting with some YouTube research I then practised drawing continuous-line faces in pencil. The first few were hesitant and awkward. But as I kept going, something shifted. The lines began to flow more easily, and each drawing felt a little more confident than the last. I’ll share these practice sketches alongside the finished piece, partly because I love seeing evidence of progress, and partly because it’s a reminder that improvement happens through doing, not before it.
When I felt ready, I made my final drawing in the sketchbook (A2 size this time!) I carefully covered the pencil line in thin double-sided tape before sticking on a single string of yarn to complete the piece. I chose a variegated yarn in my favourite blue-green colours. The finished portrait wasn’t perfect, but it was at least recognisably a face! And I felt quietly pleased that I’d done it.
The psychology of pleasure and mastery in creativity
In cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), one of the core strategies for improving mood is behavioural activation – gently increasing activities that bring either a sense of pleasure or mastery (and ideally, both). Pleasure can come from sensory enjoyment – like watching colours blend through variegated yarn or squishing soft brioche knitting in neon pink (my current project!). Mastery comes from accomplishing something that stretches you a little and seeing yourself make progress.
This small creative project offered both. The repetition of drawing faces built skill and confidence, while the act of finishing the final version gave me a tangible sense of accomplishment. Together, these moments of pleasure and mastery in creativity act as quiet but powerful antidotes to low mood. They remind us that creative activity for wellbeing doesn’t have to be grand, or take ages or be deep and meaningful. If it brings you a little joy and a sense of accomplishment, then it’s good for you.
Progress as nourishment
It’s easy to overlook the psychological power of small creative experiments. We tend to dismiss them as “just hobbies.” Yet they hold the same ingredients that support mental health: curiosity, openness, courage and connection.
Looking back at my early pencil sketches beside the final portrait, I can see a visible record of progress – not perfection, but growth. That’s a deeply affirming thing to notice, especially when life feels uncertain, overwhelming or stuck. It’s a reminder that we’re capable of learning and improving, one line (or stitch) at a time. This is something Mia discusses beautifully in her article on knitting for mental health microgains.
A note to the stuck and tired
If you’ve been feeling stuck or depleted, try setting aside a little time for a creative task that offers both pleasure and mastery. Choose materials that delight your senses, and allow yourself to practise – to make the first awkward versions as well as the smoother ones. You might want to try something totally new, or challenge yourself to extend a well embedded skill.
You might find, as I did, that a single line can hold much more than an image. It can hold a moment of joy, focus, and the reassuring sense that you can still grow, create and connect. Creative acts like these remind us that even small steps can move us forward.
