Expressive World

I went to the Art Store on the weekend, and bought a book called Drawing on the right side of the brain, by Betty Edwards. I have not been enthusiastic in reading a book for a couple of months now, so the fact that I was drawn to this book in the first place, made me realise that I wanted to follow it through. The book is about acknowledging our mental awareness, and using it in the best function possible when applying it in drawing. This book is appealing to me as it encompasses the mental projection we create, known as our reality. Betty Edwards notes that drawing is fully operative on the right side of the brain, more so than the left side of the brain, and she takes you on a journey of how to achieve that shift, the nature of real drawings.

I am open to this idea, and so I have chosen to give myself a go within this interesting concept of a learning book.  I love the arts, and have been drawing/painting on and off since a young child. This is a gear within motion for me, as I know that my current drawings are not exactly realist to their own perception. I’d like you to enter my experience, so I share whole heartedly my journey upon rekindling my creativity through art, which is a part of my many expressions.

Step 1: Materials

To begin Betty asks the reader/learner to combine together a list of materials, which she mentions are really useful for the various exercises given throughout the book. (Click on the picture to view it larger)

 The materials gathered and shown in the picture are:

•  Drawing Pad of any shape or kind. I am using an A4 drawing pad
•  Drawing Pencil (#4B recommended) I am using a #2B.
•  A pencil Sharpener
•  An eraser
•  Clear Plastic Sheet the size of your drawing pad. I am using A4.

The Plastic sheet will need to have a horizontal line and a vertical line marking, that meets in the center of the sheet. (A permanent marker was used)

•  A nonpermanent black felt-tip marker
•  A graphite stick or pen (#4B)
•  Masking tape
•  Drawing folder or Large envelope (To store drawing material in)
•  Two Clips (Used to fasten the viewfinder to the plastic sheet)
•  Two Viewfinders Frames bought or made by hand of any colour or paper.

Betty recommends to make viewfinders out of black card about 8″x10″. From one, cut a rectangular opening of 4 1/4 x 5 1/4″ and from the other, cut out a larger opening of 6″x7 5/8″. I have only created one so far as shown in the picture, and is a close fit to ”4 1/4 x 5 1/4″ . Betty reveals directions of how to make viewfinders in the book which is handy, if you have created one before. If you haven’t than it becomes a different language. If like me, you have never heard of a viewfinder before or know how to create one, then these following links may be of beneficial help to you:

How to make and use a viewfinder by Alina Bradford

How to make a viewfinder by Marco Romanov

Example of a viewfinder Frame by Rob Syvertsen

Step 2: Pre-instruction drawings

This is where the drawing begins, well the present drawing anyway. Betty admits that the beginning stage is just as important, as the journey you direct yourself in. These drawings will act as a base, or seed to the flourish of the journey. Betty says that these drawings must be put away, until the light of a new progress as they are useful to look back on, to see the reflecting changes.

The materials needed for this exercise are:

• Paper (I drew in my writing pad)
• Drawing Pencil
• A small mirror or one which you can see your head and face in.
• A hard board so you can draw on. A desk is fine. (I used my pad)
• Some time - Betty says about an hour and a quarter.

TIP: Once finished, title, date, and sign the drawing in the lower right-hand or lower left-hand corner. I did this with all three, and then put them in an envelope together for sake-keeping.

There are three pre-instruction drawings Betty targets, and asks you to do in this exercise.

      1. Self-Portrait

Outcome

Self-Portrait, 5/01/2009, Ana Patricia

       2. A Person drawn from memory

Outcome

Person drawn from Memory, 05/01/2009, Ana Patricia

The person drawn from memory, can be a person whom you knew in the past or someone who you know now, and must only be drawn from the head.

        3. Your Hand

Outcome

My Hand, 05/01/2009, Ana Patricia

After completing these drawings, I have come to learn and understand a lot about how I am at this very transition in motion. I have not drawn in a couple of long months, and it is seemingly interesting the ways in which perception is embedded in outward expression. This is what Betty asks of you in this exercise, to really see what you have drawn, and make little notes about them at the back. Anything from things you don’t like about the drawing, to what really suprised you about the result becomes an integral part of the journey of your drawings.

Betty answers why the need to draw someone from memory:

Drawing a person from memory brings forth a memorized set of symbols, practiced over and over during childhood. While doing the drawing from memory, can you recall that your hand seemed to have a mind of its own? You knew that you weren’t making the image you wanted to but you couldn’t keep your hand from making those simplified shapes.

When I read that, I could instantly relate as when I drew someone from memory it did seem like my hand was doing more of the drawing, that I forgot about remembering what they looked like. This became apparent in the face that I drew, as it doesn’t look anything like the person. I became more habitual in drawing the body, like I would do as a kid. The only object that was strong during the picture, was the fact that they smoke, their cap, and their clothes, but when drawing, I felt like I was loosing touch of the real person, by drawing any old character.

Another reason for producing these three different drawings, is to see what patterns you can pick up through the drawings. This is so you can understand what is really going on. For me, I find this is wonderfully stimulating as I always like to discover why these things happen. I am finding it a very worthwhile experience, beneficial to my creativity.

Awaits Continuation..

I have never really come across a Meme before, so that is why I have delayed the correspondence to this interesting practice. I have been on Kathleen Mahers meme tag spot since the 13th December, and have only just sat down and taken a shine to this.

According to the Free Dictionary on www.freedictionary.com a Meme is known as:

A unit of cultural information, such as a cultural practice or idea, that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another.

In other words it is a form of consciousness that is transmitted from person A to person B. Forms of consciousness, include anything from writing a poem, building a house or something entirely different. The transmission of such form in consciousness from person A to person B automatically becomes a replicate, which is what the meme pattern is. That form of consciousness is natural, (if you allow yourself to follow it) and easily inspiring if you relate to it. It is similar to empathy, though the application of form is an ongoing movement. It is like a child copying an adult, or training a dog how to go to the toilet in a civilized manner.

As discovered on ChrisG’s blog a Meme in blog formation is:

Interesting content when done right, and can give you an insight into others personalities and histories that you wouldn’t ordinarily have access to. But it’s mostly about links. The initiator gets a ton of links (all participants link back to the person who started the Meme) and everyone else gets some amount of link love too. You link to the next in the chain (”tag” them) and they link back when they complete what they have to do to participate.

That ongoing characteristic becomes easily embedded on online sites, where memes are used through the behaviour of tagging. That is how I landed myself a Meme. What is interesting and true is what Wikipedia highlights:

Memes act as cultural analogues to genes in that they self-replicate and respond to selective pressures.

For me I felt eager to discover where a Meme originated from, whilst at the same time at the back of the mind a little conformity arose in form of pressure to comply for the production of a meme. So you see, the idea of thinking to follow a process can sometimes be a trap, especially if you feel pressurised to do so. I let that pressure go, as I know that it is the most restricted place to be. I find it more enjoyable to understand the root of these concepts, than to follow them blindfolded.

The following is something I would have easily done. Kind of reminds me of a Mimic. That same expression, if one was to assimilate the idea.

The Habitual Meme (Following the Crowd)

TOP 5 Cultural Facts You Didn’t Know about the Author.

1. Appearance in Paolo Nutini’s Jenny Don’t be Hasty Music Video.

2. Born in Portugal, resident in the United Kingdom. Speak Portuguese fluently, admit infrequent use is leading my language skills astray.

3. Work in a community project, surrounded by respectable elderly people.

4. Don’t eat chocolate.

5. Have a love affair with fruit, vegetables and salad.

The Inventive Meme (Thinking outside of the box)

Inspired to create

Here is a picture I took whilst on holiday in Portugal. I chose this picture mainly because of LiDL. This idea is probably not as unique as it may sound, but a wise meme to spark creativity. The main task is to decipher the picture in any language applicable to the viewer, without the association of LiDL. Let me start:

Empty road leads into the corner of my eye,

Where wanderers illuminate the sky.

Greenness grows within the route,

While structure makes way for soot.

Pasture is unfolding in a streamlined direction,

Where cement may very well be ready for inspection.

In the never ending picture motion,

The wash away of spray continues within the ocean.

The rocks emerge near the sandness bank,

Where a curve makes vision outside of a tank.

A simple and yet creative tool enabled me to flourish in perception. I feel something like this, is a great tool to establish or create a connection in expression.

I make way for the following people, to take on a Meme of their own:

• Janna Qualman
• Aaron Crocco
• Pardes
• Polenth

I feel from this, you all have gathered an insight into my encounter with Memes. By combining my current experience, and the presence of memes I hope to have reached some of you, discounting objective. And like my blog question, feel free to answer.

I have been feeling relaxed and content to go more within my inner creativity with writing, and childs stories to me feel more vivid and imaginative than solid adult experiences. I wrote a Childrens Poem a while back inspired by a Locker and two eyes peeking through it. This was written for a competition at Absolute Write, a Writers forum which I am a member of. The poem can be found here. It’s an enjoyable poem, and I think one which enabled me to tap into the child like nature of the story easier, than if I was to write a more in depth story. I feel like sharing this with you all today, as I am feeling serene with the flow of creativity and imagination.

It is noted that when I read books, or into others conciousness or words my mind tries to capture that belief, and makes me think that I need to re-adjust my own reality or in depth truths. Just going through the experience of being sucked into different perspectives and analytical processes has bought about my own awareness and truths, without needing to look for anything. I feel I was looking for answers about the mind, to try and justify my own reality. This in turn, sucked me into an expected state of mind-which is an emotional whirlpool of negativity and hatred = fear. A reality which clearly doesn’t exist, but is dominated by experiences and emotions, a driven orientated mission to get to a negative state of mind - for the sheer dillusion of feeling. An interesting and fascinating mind, don’t you think so. After all that, the answers are all here with me, uncovered. To go looking for something, is just like asking for it. The mind is a playful trick, and so are you, if you seek to dwelve into it.

We are embedded in the mental world of others just as we are embedded in the physical world. What we are currently doing and thinking is molded by whomever we are interacting with. But this is not how we experience ourselfs. We experience ourselfs as agents with minds of our own. This is the final illusion created by our brains.

Chris Frith, Making up the Mind: How the Brain Creates our Mental World