In the habit of drawing

In the white dress with the red flowers at the wedding
Black marker on bond paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

At O.C.A.D. (The Ontario College of Art and Design)
when I was there we weren't even allowed to draw
in the normal sense for the first few weeks in life
drawing class. The object was to get us to make a
fluid connection between our eyes and the drawing
hand. So we had to "draw" without looking at our
paper. Our eyes stared that model right into the floor
I imagine. Those earnest teenage eyes staring and staring,
and drawing without looking down. Uh uh uh our teacher
would tut tut at us. No looking down!

As frustrating as this early practice in blind contour
drawing was, it ingrained in me the importance of drawing.
True I am a painter, but when I want to understand
something I'm looking at, I'll probably draw the image
first.

Let's get serious
Skype drawing
Black marker on bond paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

Tonight's drawings are simple fine black marker sketches.
It gave me great pleasure to do them.

Have a focusing-on-drawing day.