Learning to see again.
Our left side of the brain efficiently creates symbols in our minds for the objects that we see. This is very ingenious of "Lefty" and is useful for storing and memorizing large amounts of information.
Yet, these same symbols cause havoc on our ability to create. We must constantly fight the symbols in our minds and really see again what things in our world actually look like. For example, we have created a symbol of what a tree looks like in our mind. Usually a brown trunk, with a ball of green at the top. Go look at a tree today. Tree trunks are not all brown. They are usually a grey and greenish color with hints of brown here and there. Look at the top of the tree. The branches reach out in all directions and the leaves create a roundish shape but not a ball.
When we try and draw a tree our left brain wants us to draw that symbol in our mind. It wants us to neatly tie up our seeing in a tidy symbol. We have to fight the urge to look at our world symbolically. We must study true shapes, color and form.
*Today's exercise is to go outside or look out a window and make a study of a tree.*
*Supplies:*
iPod or boom box with your favorite music
Sketchbook
Paint
Paper towels
Small bottle of water
Sit comfortably, do the relaxation and breathing technique first. Play some music and let go. Begin painting a tree with your fingers. That's right! Finger painting today! Paint only the shapes and colors you actually see. Paint the tree and it's surroundings.
Only paint shapes. This is not to be a detailed painting. Although you can use a fingernail to catch a few details if you like.
Below is my finger painted tree.
Our left side of the brain efficiently creates symbols in our minds for the objects that we see. This is very ingenious of "Lefty" and is useful for storing and memorizing large amounts of information.
Yet, these same symbols cause havoc on our ability to create. We must constantly fight the symbols in our minds and really see again what things in our world actually look like. For example, we have created a symbol of what a tree looks like in our mind. Usually a brown trunk, with a ball of green at the top. Go look at a tree today. Tree trunks are not all brown. They are usually a grey and greenish color with hints of brown here and there. Look at the top of the tree. The branches reach out in all directions and the leaves create a roundish shape but not a ball.
When we try and draw a tree our left brain wants us to draw that symbol in our mind. It wants us to neatly tie up our seeing in a tidy symbol. We have to fight the urge to look at our world symbolically. We must study true shapes, color and form.
*Today's exercise is to go outside or look out a window and make a study of a tree.*
*Supplies:*
iPod or boom box with your favorite music
Sketchbook
Paint
Paper towels
Small bottle of water
Sit comfortably, do the relaxation and breathing technique first. Play some music and let go. Begin painting a tree with your fingers. That's right! Finger painting today! Paint only the shapes and colors you actually see. Paint the tree and it's surroundings.
Only paint shapes. This is not to be a detailed painting. Although you can use a fingernail to catch a few details if you like.
Below is my finger painted tree.
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