Close Your Eyes and Draw!
Posted on 08 February 2010
Too often drawing is another way to put yourself down. I’ve heard many people say, especially children, who are the best drawers in the world, “I can’t draw, I’m not good at it.” I want to say that drawing for me in school was a criminal offense. If you were caught drawing, that was IT. OUT you go. Also, art was treated somewhat like recess, you could miss it if you were punished or needed to catch up on some work. Art class was a thing that didn’t matter much to the system and it’s keepers. And nobody was a “good drawer” unless they drew representationally. No matter if we just came back from the Nelson Museum and touched (yes, I was allowed to) Claes Oldenburg’s big soft, orange light switch sculpture. The point about art being an experience beyond that which is rendered and representational was missed on many people in charge. And besides, how could they know that I was one kid who was able to draw pretty well representationally since it was a cardinal sin to be caught drawing (and when I was caught, it might be the teacher’s faint mustache above her lip that I had so carefully, whisped out with my feather light 2B pencil). My answer to all of this is that, like singing, some of us were not encouraged to do it if we like to. And many have suffered from it, living a life long feeling that marks made must be perfect or near perfect, when all they have to be is YOURS. A line, a curve, a response on blank paper, made with love, or with just the feeling of nothingness–it doesn’t matter. It is a mark you made, and therefore it not only is, it is beautiful. Because you are a creator in your own right, a full-house complete gorgeous creature, with power to make choices. This makes you powerful. Period. SO my suggestion is to turn on some music, close your eyes and draw. Just draw and feel the lines as they pour out. Don’t look or grade yourself in anyway. Just feel line work happening by your hand. Use the opposite hand if you must. And if it all feels too precious, draw on a paper bag, like this (but do it YOUR own way!):
Later, color it in if you like, as long as it feels fun to do so. I also look at mine for hidden messages and interesting signs. I make notes. This is a wonderful meditation to try.
7 responses to Close Your Eyes and Draw!
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Elaine, thank you so much for this post. You have allowed me to allow myself to draw again. I was always pretty good at abstract designs & geometrical shapes (and got so much pleasure out of doing them) but stopped drawing them years ago, when “design” became a word that people thought should look a certain way & I was told that my drawings were “just squiggles”. I’ve had that mental block for so long, but somehow you have just lifted it completely and I can’t thank you enough!! Much love, Caryl ♥
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Elaine, needless to say I esecially love this post!!!
The one and only painting I’ve ever done was when I was training to be a Docent. It was so much fun and it turned out pretty well. At the insistence of a friend, I had it framed. The man who framed it gave it the title “Flower Garden” and I humbly admit that I really do like it. These were just random strokes of the brush — an art teacher led us through the process and I really had a great time doing it. I love your sketches — it would be fun to have supermarkets use paper bags with these colorful lines on them, wouldn’t it? Mom
Wow, Mom- what a great idea- imagine having paper bags with art from all kinds of people- and each bag would caome with its own kind of blessing from the artist… I’d really like that…
Great idea mom! I remember your painting and have always loved it! So glad your friend talked you in to framing it because we all probably wouldn’t have even seen it.
wonderful as always and I love what your children said it does run in familys…hugs Linda