13 Day Drawing: Day 01

Over 13 days, I worked on a drawing. At the end of each session I scanned the results and reflected on the process.

 

This is DAY 01, and my reflections.

 

DRAWING IS AWARENESS BUILDING

And Acceptance

 

In awareness, you must learn to let go of ideologies and become fully open to reality.

 

Reality is nuanced, complicated and infinite. You can't capture it with a single ideology. Your subject is a piece of reality, but it is also a reflection of it, and is BOTH limited and infinitely nuanced. Accept that you will never be able to capture every aspect of your subject==you and your medium have limits. Understand those limits. Embrace them.

 

Over the years, you’ll likely have built up beliefs about how the world and how your subject should be. Let those go when you sit down to draw. Don’t concern yourself with style. At this stage, styles are like ideologies: they show you one compelling aspect of reality, but close you off from the rest.

 

As artist--especially as a beginner--your most honest work will come from heartfelt attempts to see your subject truly. And you will learn the most. Most importantly, when something doesn’t look right, you will be ready to ask questions.

 

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Don’t be afraid to begin.

 

Don’t be ashamed that the first lines don’t look beautiful to you. The first lines have their place and their value.

 

Keep going.

 

***

The image that this project was based upon comes from the beautiful photography of Mashrik Faiyaz. Check out more of his work on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/mashrik

 

See the original photo here: www.flickr.com/photos/mashrik/43042253125/in/dateposted/

 

Done