Drawing is a form of expression that allows each and every
one of us to communicate to others our unique way of seeing the world. We all see the same things, but interpret images
individually, instinctive to our values, beliefs, and feelings. We all make
personal connections to our surroundings, and drawing allows for a way of
sharing what we see without having to put these experiences into words.
I enjoy drawing because it allows me to use a different part
of my brain than that which I use during most of my other classes. I find the
process of drawing both calming and awakening, because it lets one side of my
brain rest while the other remains active. Drawing requires a specific type of
consciousness, a kind that makes us hyper aware of our surroundings and how our
figure fits into the world around us. I enjoy feeling this heightened sense of
awareness, and think anyone can benefit from learning to see in this way.
I like that drawing offers choices. One might choose to
create an accurate depiction of what they see, or imagine, through an attempt
to recreate our own unique reality. Or, one might choose to produce an abstract
representation of thoughts or feelings in a way that allows the viewer to react
and respond as they see fit.
Drawing forces us to use our eyes. And then to question what
our eyes see, and what they tell our brain. Drawing can take the form of
positive space, or negative space, shifting in between what is full and what is
empty. Often the emptiness is the hardest to portray, because our eyes confuse
the lights with the darks and the objects we see versus what lies beyond.
I like that drawing can be free form. It can be as simple as
closing your eyes and exploring the different way your hand can interact with
the pencil and paper. I like that drawing can be mathematical. It can involve
measuring and re-measuring exact distances in order to represent the empirical
perspective.
I think it’s interesting to watch other people to draw, and
to go to museums to study the work of other artists. I think each of us can
learn something from studying art, and the history of art, and how the styles
have changed over generations and across cultures. When I lived abroad in
Spain, I took two art classes that held field trips to many of the famous
museums. As a visual learner, the lessons held in places like The Prado and La
Reina Sofia, had much greater impact than those in the classroom. I found that
looking at art, and applying the concepts in our textbooks to the works in
museums, increased my interest in the study of art and ultimately led me to
enroll in drawing class at Duke.
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