To draw a tree, to pay such close attention to every aspect of a tree, is an act of reverence not only toward the tree, and toward the earth itself, but also our human connection to it. This is one of the magical things about drawing - it gives us almost visionary moments of connectedness.
Interpretation
Drawing a tree with attention enhances our connection to nature and humanity.
This quote emphasizes the profound relationship between art and our perception of nature. When we take the time to carefully observe and depict a tree, we not only show respect for the tree and the earth, but we also cultivate a deeper understanding of our place within the natural world. The act of drawing transcends mere representation; it fosters moments of insight and connection that enrich our appreciation of life.
In practice
This quote could be referenced in an art class to inspire students to observe nature deeply.
The power of both myth and art is this magical ability to open doors, to make connections - not only between us and the natural world, but between us and the rest of humanity. Myths show us what we have in common with every other human being, no matter what culture we come from, no matter what century we live in. . .and at the same time, mythic stories and art celebrate our essential differences.
Most of the time one is discouraged by the work, but now and again by some grace something stands out and invites you to work on it, to elaborate it or animate it in some way. It's a mysterious process.
Too often, if you look back through the history of representation and you take the work of African-American artists, the work is on such a modest scale that it becomes sort of inconsequential.
There is something about riding a unicorn, for those people who still can, which is unlike any other experience: exhilarating, and intoxicating, and fine.
Color is a plastic means of creating intervals... color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions. We differentiate now between formal tensions and color tensions, just as we differentiate in music between counterpoint and harmony.
A good design is not a democratic consensus.
I write scenes - often quite long scenes - mainly because I still get seduced into writing six lines where one and a half will do.
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