A Drawing Lesson by Bert Weir 2002

How do I begin to draw the figure?

How do I begin to answer this?

One old master said

‘You first must cleanse your soul’

And he was right, I think



Drawing comes from within

Like a prayer

So you must prepare

Sit quietly

Turn off your mind

Let your feelings wander over, through

And around the model

Then slowly with great dignity

Begin to lay out the drawing tools



When all is ready sit and look

The more you know

The more you see



There are ways of knowing



Think of the air

The breath of the creator

Full of his energies



Watch as the model fills her lungs

Feel the warmth

Then expel the air

Mixing her energies

With those of the source



As you breath the air

Feel your energies blend with hers

And others

Let your thoughts follow the air

As it enters the models lungs

What happens?

The oxygen enters the blood

Travels through the body cleansing



Think of the activity

Beneath the surface



How to express it?



Watch the air

Surrounding the figure

Does it move

Lie silent or have weight

It too must be drawn