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In the world where words - even the best ones - have become so threadbare from overuse and misuse, art has a way of bypassing our natural cynicism and defenses, touching us in places few preachers can reach.
I am practically glued to YouTube, watching an instructional
video on single-point perspective. I
must have worn out the digital replay button, by hitting it so many times. I virtually memorized the whole darn thing!
What makes the video so mesmerizing is that they make it
look so easy. So simple. I can’t help
but think,
I can DO this! Piece
of cake!
One day, after everybody left for school and work and
whatnot, I finally decide it’s time to
move from endless consumption to actual creation.
I get a piece of paper and pencil - AND eraser - feeling jittery before I take my first plunge into the creative
unknown.
My laptop is cued to the beginning of the video, the paper
in front of me, the pencil in my hand, and …
I draw my first line!
A long horizontal line stretching
across the length of the paper representing horizon.
It's beautiful!
Even though it’s a bit slanted, and a little
jagged, I feel pretty accomplished. Like a proud parent cradling a wrinkled, squinty-eyed newborn.
We are off to a great start.
The next line is the real deal. This is where my house actually starts.
I realize,
I don’t know where to
start.
I don’t know when to
end.
Who knew that drawing a line can be so hard!
After few moments of deliberation, I decide to pick a random spot
to start and equally random spot to end. I mean it’s not rocket science. What difference does it make…? I can’t get
bogged down with such inconsequential details!
Regardless of how you might feel about Aristotle, there is something to be said about art mimicking life.
It may not be what we like, it may not be what we want, but it's a truth we need to see.
It may not be what we like, it may not be what we want, but it's a truth we need to see.
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