January 17, 2020 DRAW THE LINE

Drawing is hard work. It's hard because artists have to really SEE. I know you SEE things every day and that's part of  the problem. The brain has preprogrammed images stored up about what things look like so when someone tries to draw--say a tree-- the brain  takes over  and the person draws what the brain THINKS the tree looks like from stored memories instead of what the person actually sees. An artist must learn to OVERRIDE the brain and draw only what he or she SEES. It's really difficult at first but with practice it gets easier. It's the same with all shapes. Take the nose--the brain tries to take over and its a disaster. But if you really take the time to SEE--you will notice that the nose is really  just some curvy shapes with two oval-like shapes for the nostrils. Anyone can  learn to draw--it's just a matter of SEEING and PUTTING in the effort it takes to get better.
Many things in life take a lot of effort and this is seen in Sally Rooney's new book Normal People. This lovely novel is the story of Connell and Marianne and their relationship. It begins in a small town in West Ireland and continues when the two attend Trinity College. Connell is from a poor but loving family while Marianne is from a  wealthy but  unloving, dysfunctional family. These factors determine how they relate to each other and the world around them. The story is told from both points of view where often times each misinterprets what the other says or means leading to a series of break ups. Even when they break up, Connell and Marianne are still drawn to each other because they share a strong bond and mutual attraction. This is ultimately a story about relationships and how they shape our lives. It's also about friendship, misunderstanding and the damage family can do that can shape the way someone sees world. I really enjoyed this book and think you will too. It's only 290 pages or a 3 mile run that will leave you with a lot to think about.  Enjoy.