Breathwork art is a practice of translating your breathing pattern onto paper. 

Science tells us that the way we breathe dictates the way we feel, but we rarely visualize that connection. When you pair rhythmic breathing with continuous, repetitive movements (like drawing), you engage the relaxation response.

Relaxation response is a physiological state where your heart rate slows, blood pressure drops, and your brain shifts from high-frequency beta waves (anxiety/alertness) to lower-frequency alpha waves (calm/creativity). By moving your hand in sync with your breath for 10 to 15 minutes, you calm your mind and lower your heart rate. The result is a relaxed meditative state that produces intricate, organic patterns, proving that your breath truly is a creative force.

For these drawings, you don’t need any special materials, a sheet of paper or a notebook, and any kind of writing tool (pencil, pen, crayon, marker…) you have. Only for the gradient horizons drawing activity, you’ll need a pencil to make changes in pressure visible.

Breathwork Art Drawing Prompts

In this article, you’ll find 20 drawing prompts divided into three categories depending on the type of breathwork: diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, and 4-7-8 breathing. 

I love using these prompts in my art journal, particularly on the days I feel stressed or worried. I’ll spend 10-15 minutes drawing my breath, and then I’ll write words or phrases, going through my mind, over the drawing. Or if I have a lot of thoughts I wish to get out of my head, I’ll write on a new page next to the drawing, so I can go back and see the effect certain breathwork art had on me. 

Diaphragmatic Breathing Drawing Prompts 

Calm, slow, and deep breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. These activities focus on rhythm and fluidity. Draw slowly with full control of your movements; don’t let your hand draw “automatically.”

Grass in the Wind

Draw long blades of grass. Inhale while drawing a line upward (slightly curved). Exhale while drawing a line downward. Repeat this back-and-forth motion without lifting the pen, creating a field of tall, dense grass across the paper.

The Pulse Chart

Mimic an EKG machine. Draw a high, jagged line while inhaling, and a smooth, wavy line while exhaling. This visualizes the difference between your sympathetic (active) and parasympathetic (rest) nervous systems. When you reach the edge, start a new row below it.

Spirals

As you inhale, draw a spiral expanding outward. As you exhale, draw a spiral back inwards. Place the pen on another spot on the page, and on inhale, start drawing a new spiral. Fill the page with overlapping squares.

Waves

Start at the left edge. On inhale, draw a straight line upward. By the end of inhalation, start curving the line downward. On exhale, continue straight downward. By the end of exhalation, start curving the line upward. Continue drawing across the page. When you reach the edge, start a new row below it.

Infinity Loop

Draw the left loop as you inhale, and the right loop as you exhale. Continue drawing the infinity loop in the same way; some may be smaller, some may be bigger, but try to draw them all with the same center.

Gradient Horizons

Draw horizontal lines across the page. Press down hard at the start of the inhale (creating a dark line) and gradually lift the pencil to ease the pressure as you transition to exhale, creating a fade-out effect. Fill the whole page with such lines.

Circular Shading

Take a deep breath. As you exhale, draw small circles, close to one another. As you inhale, draw larger circles. As you exhale, again draw small circles. Continue until you fill the page. 

Tree

Draw a vertical line of the trunk on the inhale. On the exhale, draw a branch extending outward. On the inhale, draw another line of the trunk, and on the exhale, draw a new branch. Lines should be fluid and natural; don’t make them perfectly straight. Continue adding trunk lines and branches as you breathe. 

Box Breathing Drawing Prompts

Inhale for 5 counts, hold for 5 counts, exhale for 5 counts, and hold for 5 counts. These activities focus on structure and on changing direction or line type. They help you calm your thoughts and regain the ability to focus.

Squares

On inhale, draw a horizontal line to the right. On hold, draw a vertical line down. On exhale, draw a horizontal line to the left. On hold, draw a vertical line up. Start from a new point for a new square. Fill the page with overlapping squares.

The Labyrinth

On inhale and exhale, draw vertical lines. When you’re holding your breath, draw horizontal lines. 

Contrast

On inhale and exhale, draw calm, wavy lines. When you’re holding your breath, draw sharp, jagged zig-zags.

The Castle Walls

Inhale: Draw a vertical line up.

Hold: Draw a horizontal line across.

Exhale: Draw a vertical line down.

Hold: Draw a horizontal line across (base).

Dashes&Dots

Draw a flowing line during the inhale and exhale. During the holds, stop the line and draw small dots. 

Four-Leaf Clover

Draw a field of four-leaf clovers. On inhale, draw the top left loop of a clover. On hold, draw the top right loop. On exhale, draw the bottom right loop. On hold, draw the bottom left loop. 

Winding Path

On inhale, draw an “S” curve, in whichever direction. On hold, slowly draw a small circle at the end of the S. On exhale, draw an “S” curve starting from the circle and moving in whichever direction. Continue drawing curves and circles until you fill the page.

4-7-8 Breathing Drawing Prompts

Inhale count 4, hold count 7, exhale count 8. Since the hold phase (7 counts) is quite long and the exhale (8 counts) is slightly longer, these activities focus on tension and release.

Field of Flowers

Draw a circle as you inhale for 5 counts. Draw an inward spiral while you hold for 7 counts. Draw a wavy downward line from the center of the spiral while you exhale for 8 counts. Continue drawing such “flowers” until you fill the page.

Line Play

On the inhale, draw a straight line upward. On hold, draw a jagged horizontal line. On the exhale, draw a wavy line downward.

Shapes

While you inhale, draw a simple shape or the outline of an object. While you hold your breath, fill the inside of a shape with a squiggly line. While you exhale, draw a circle around the shape. Fill the page with the same or different shapes. 

Candlelight

Starting at the bottom of a page, slowly draw a short line as you inhale (the candle wick). While you’re holding your breath, draw the shape of a flame and continue retracing it until you count to 7. On the exhale, slowly move the pen upward to draw a wavy line. 

Flight

On inhale, draw a straight line moving upward. While holding your breath, draw a circular shape of a coiled line. On the exhale, let the line move naturally over the paper in whichever direction.