Mind Mapping Artistic Style

What Is Mind Mapping?

In my work as a consultant I regularly used the concept of mind mapping when working on projects. At a simple level, mind maps are visual aids that show the relationships between different levels of information. Using the technique, thoughts and ideas can be captured and presented in a visual way. Breaking information down into a mind map can also help you understand something you are reading. Have you ever read the same paragraph or page over and over and it still didn’t make sense? Presenting it diagramatically can really help with understanding.

But What If You Can’t Draw?

Mind maps don’t have to be pretty and well drawn, they can be really simple. For example, at a course I attended once I had to  describe myself using mind mapping techniques. So, I drew a circle in the middle of the piece of paper that said ‘ME’. Then I drew lots of smaller circles all connected by lines to the central main circle. Each one had a role attributed to it. So one said daughter, one said wife, one said cat mother, one said consultant, another one said firefighter … I think you get the idea.

My piece ‘Thought Control’ was in effect an artistic mapping of the concept of ‘thoughts’. Some glue, some old zips, a padlock and some marker pens. It was fun to do!

Hand Drawing or Mind Mapping Software?

I like hand drawing the my maps though there is lots of software out there that you can buy to develop them if you are so inclined. I have to say that I find drawing the map is almost meditative – there is also the added advantage that you have it in front of you and don’t lose it if the software crashes! Sometimes the simplest approaches work best (I like colored pencils and highlighter pens). By the way, there is a book Mind Mapping for Dummies that explains it all in detail with lots of examples.

Mind Mapping Artistic Style

With traditional mind mapping there are quite clear boundaries. I had fun recently by producing an abstract ‘mind mapping’ of my mind – yes really. Barnet Boy thought that was hilarious too. (“Who would want to get inside your mind?” were his words).  The large blocks of colors are thoughts and the tiny splodges are fears or ideas forming – or something like that. If you click on the link and look closely you will see the suggestion of a street map of Paciano where I live. Now it fails the traditional mind mapping test of making things easy but it sure was fun!

Where You Can Purchase My Images

Pictorem offers a range of fine art prints of my art images in various formats. Free shipping in North America.

RedBubble has a large range of products available from world-wide printers.  As well as a range of wall art and home decor items such as throw pillows/scatter cushions, there are some wonderful products that make great gift ideas. Magnets, stickers, phone cases, scarves, aprons, clocks and much more. There is something for all tastes and budgets.

Before you go

My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.

You can follow me on Facebook.

Thank you for reading!