Adult coloring books have been a thing since a few years. These are of intricate details and repetitive patterns, designed to induce calmness and zen for stressed out and anxious adults. Else, they can surely alleviate boredom for a few hours. They are compelling reasons to pick up the pencils, regardless of one’s ability to draw. But I propose several alternatives as motivation to start drawing.
Similarly, I first picked up drawing as a way to relax. I would choose an old photograph, usually a nostalgic favorite. A photograph brings back sentimental memories for a few minutes, a typical allotted amount of time looking at a picture. However, to draw the same photograph may take a few hours to a few days, bringing back these thoughts and feelings for the duration spent drawing. As this activity is drawn out, we pay attention to details not observed before, such as the focal vs. the peripheral areas. All the time, I cannot fit the photograph onto paper; I must choose to draw only the most captivating details. On the same token, dwelling on marginal details may not be terribly interesting; I may choose to skip them or to draw something else entirely. When the drawing is done, I may look at the same event with a new perspective, as Marcel Proust had lamented, “the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
I have a book of 642 things to draw, each starting with a phrase. I find this way of drawing gives me the opportunity to relate one concept to another. It is one way to practice creativity, as conceptual associations strengthen synaptic connectivity and neural networking, allowing for novel insights to flourish. As an example for a phrase, “all the umbrellas in London”, how does one draw all the umbrellas in London? It can be viewed as a concept, perhaps relating to wetness and the rain, to shelter and safety. Personally, it reminded me of the French musical, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. I drew the film poster – of a couple underneath an umbrella, walking on a sheet of music. It also inspired me to rewatch the movie, which added joy and new discoveries to the whole process.
Beyond expressing an idea, drawing is an effective medium to communicate the idea to others not only in an art gallery, but also in the everyday working environment. At times, a picture really does speak a thousand words. Rather than owing credit to Garfield or Dilbert, your own can speak a thousand words your way. I once included a drawing of a scene from the movie, 12 Angry Men, for my work presentation. To include the scene as a photograph would have set a different tone in comparison to this simple, almost childish, comical drawing that I did.
I do have hopes and dreams for my drawing skill. I’d be over the moon if I could one day speed draw for a presentation, the way it’s done for one of those TED talks. In the meantime, to draw for the sake of drawing is compelling enough to keep me drawing.
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