“Faites des lignes. Faites beaucoup de lignes.” ("Draw lines - draw a lot of lines") Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres French Neoclassical painter. (This was his advice to a young Degas who had announced he wanted to become a painter)


“Faites des lignes. Faites beaucoup de lignes.” (“Draw lines – draw a lot of lines”)
Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres French Neoclassical painter.
(This was his advice to a young Degas who had announced he wanted to become a painter)

Tuesday 26 April 2016

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How do you make your mark?

Years ago when I was teaching drawing and painting, I encountered students that were reluctant to start moving pen and brush.  They were so concerned with “doing it right” that they wouldn’t move.  They needed play by play instructions on how to move.

Before we could start to fine tune hand eye coordination, we had to begin moving.

And so, I covered tables and walls with paper and we moved.

We moved tight and small from our fingers and big and expansive from our shoulders.

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How do you move in the world?

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In circles gathered with others?  In straight lines moving all things forward?

Where do you make your mark?

In books?  Via adventure?  With task?  With people?

Do you worry about getting it right?  Have you practiced over and over?

“Do not think that love in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”   ~Mother Teresa

 

Making your mark requires simply that you make marks.

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Some of us will have the privilege of making huge waves in the world.  And some of us will wash dishes and hold babies and tend to the elderly.  Some of us will move paint and graphite.  We’ll sew a dress or run a business.

Perhaps it will be grand; perhaps not, but it will be faithful.

There is so much power in making marks every day.

Love repeatedly

Tend to your practice

BE in your life,

Betsy