Charlie Mackesy Walk and Draw Morning
Designed by Bearmore
Inspired by Charlie MackesyWhat if the day starts by being really present?
Walk a bit, then draw a bit, some creativity before the day asks you to get productive. A morning Burst inspired by Charlie Mackesy, drawn from his interviews about how his ink drawings come out of long, slow presence given to ordinary things.
The runsheet
Slow walk and time to look
Charlie's drawings come out of walks with his dogs, looking at small things rather than scanning the view. Walk somewhere with ground, sky and a bit of weather. No phone in your hand.
30 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing being in nature before reading (mindful)
This works well because the settled, attentive state from outside can carry into reading and make engagement feel easier.
Poetry or a chapter
Charlie quotes Rumi, Mary Oliver, the Bible. A short read of poetry or a chapter of something that rings true.
15 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing reading (mindful) before visual arts
This can be a good pairing because reading can prime ideas or moods that visual art work can express.
A sketch of your choice
A sketch, a doodle, a line of ink. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse drawings began like this. The aim is not a finished thing; it’s whatever the walk inspired you to draw.
20 min activityTime well spent.
1h 23m that belonged to you — not the inbox, not anyone else.
The breakdown
Burst evaluation
Wellbeing focus
About this Burst
Charlie Mackesy is a British artist and author of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, the global bestseller adapted into an Oscar-winning short film. He works in ink, oils and sculpture, and shares his drawings widely on Instagram. His work centres on friendship, vulnerability and hope.