If you rely on your eyes alone they will often mislead you. A man from Mars would see what you saw, but not what you know. A small square in the distant landscape would mean a house to you; you know it has walls and a roof. The sound of voices means people live there. A smell could tell you they are about to eat. You could see fruit on the trees outside which make your mouth water……….. the Martian will see only coloured shapes. If you both sat down to draw, the results would be very different. We are often able to draw things we know well, whether an artist or not. A golfer could draw a golf club, a yachtsman a sail. Ordinary seeing, therefore, is not enough. We draw things better if we can understand them with our other senses too. Drawing an object by engaging all the senses is similar to meditation. Time slips away, outside sounds seem far off, it is very difficult to speak coherently and to draw deeply. Alpha waves flow. This is because drawing engages the right, creative side of the brain, and overrides the language and logic based left brain. It's a very healthy way of spending some time every day, relaxing and yet pleasantly tiring at the same time. As we practice drawing in this way it becomes easier; the synapses and neural pathways learn new ways of connecting. In my own case, I 'feel' whatever I am focusing on in a textural way that is difficult to explain in words. Stone walls feel very different to grass, for example. Classical music feels different to dancers.
Draw for yourself. Learn some techniques, because they help you past the frustration of 'not being able to' and then draw, paint and express how you feel, because only you know that.
2 Comments
Vanessa
19/10/2014 07:52:43 am
Loved the depiction of using all five senses to draw and paint...a work of art is not just a flat piece of colors / ink put together 💖 you have to live it, breathe it & savour it. Beautifully depicted by you jeni 🌟
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Jeni Caruana I love to paint - and draw - and help others to discover their creative side too..... Be the first to see my latest work and hear of new classes by adding your email address below. Thank you! Categories
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