Some short observations, reflections and streams-of-thought today…
As I work on the new book, and develop some author bio drawings (portraits of the authors), I am reminded about how much I have missed drawing.
I have always felt like I needed a tangible purpose and goal in my sights, otherwise, I just don’t seem to want to do it.
Ahhh, an ongoing human dilemma: the need to feel “productive.”
Back in the early post-undergrad art school days I used to be so curious, and so in touch with the implicit nuances of “the movement” involved in drawing, as well as the “way of seeing” required for creating shapes and forms. Just like the movement of drumming, the muscle memory in the bones slowly came back into my subconscious thought patterning, and lines and shading became easier.
I ride the creative bike again.
I have slowly had to leave something behind: the “thinking” way of visualizing faces that came with my work at Rochester Institute of Technology. Drawing faces through proportion is useful information, believe me, but it also took me to a place of thought that was apparently not appropriate—for me. I guess I just don’t want to think about some things. I just want to do. Apparently “doing,” and the experience—tied the movement—were much closer to my heart.
Ahhh… The ‘doing’ and feeling productive.
And back to these portraits… it’s great that I am doing these simpler drawings. These line drawings have very little shading and keep my reconnection with form simpler. I also remain “in the movement,” movement that seems to permeate everything I do.
Typing, navigating my iPhone, drumming, and the most obvious things like running and walking all rely on movement, reflexes and muscle memory. Funny: reflexes can release humans from thinking about the action (otherwise, we would eventual drop into analysis paralysis). I caught myself checking and deleting emails on my iPhone the other day, navigating screens quickly—with little to no conscious thinking… what fun! Reflexes can be very helpful (especially in life-threatening situations)…
Think about all the things you do that don’t involve thinking! Maybe for a few minutes every day, then of course stop. Why bother with this? It can provide some useful perspective. Is it always productive? Are you missing anything? Has the “thought-reflex” created a potential ‘skip’ in the record you didn’t catch, one worth exploring, or maybe even worth changing?
Cultivated Curiosity…
I hope my curiosity for these kinds of things never ceases, because seeing actions and thoughts at various levels allows awareness of possibilities and useful revisions to my actions (aka change). It builds flexibility and even responsibility too. At a “grass roots” level, I am moved to never take things for granted, and be thankful for my abilities. I enjoy the desire to mix it up and change it all at will.
Just because any particular action or movement doesn’t feel natural doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t do it, that’s what practice is for. Of course we all find things we gravitate towards, just remember that the reason we gravitated towards them to begin with, was because we tried something new—even walking. And then we were changed forever…
Now that is what life is all about!
m
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P.S. An interesting side note about drawing…
Today, as I continued sketching the authors, I started my own portrait, and realized that the experience of drawing me was different than the others. Apparently I seem to know me better. Imagine that! Perhaps I look in the mirror too much? The movement of drawing my own familiar facial features created a rather indescribable and unique response—or at least a little bit of introspection. I'll post it when it's finished.
P.P.S. In living life, I am learning more and more about change. As I do, I realize there is more and more to learn. So a quote to help me ‘keep it straight’ just came across my desk:
“The purpose is learning, not changing. Something may change you when you learn, but that’s a by-product.”
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