Simplify a moment to capture its essence

sketch for finding refuge               ©beth vendryes williams

At the beginning of his career, while a practicing artist, Berger drew his father in his coffin, he realized that, associated with each drawn line, he was also notating time with his pencil marks.

Drawing is a way to abstract or simplify an image to reveal its essence. When you draw, it can make time visible, revealing moments in your memory. Of course, drawing is always from memory because you need to remember what you see to draw it. Your hand is responding to how the head and heart interpret what the eye sees.

John Berger, who wrote the influential book “Ways of Seeing” died on January 2nd this year. He was an English art critic, novelist, painter, and poet. 

At the beginning of his career, while a practicing artist, Berger drew his father in his coffin, he realized that, associated with each drawn line, he was also notating time with his pencil marks.

  “each successive line on the page carries with it, its moment in time. A drawing is a summary of the acts of looking, and being with your subject. For Berger, the portrait offered “a door through which moments of a life” — his father’s — “could enter.” 

                                                                               beautifully written by Elisa Wouk Almino @

Think about that. Each mark can be a visceral,, visual response to what you see, remember and feel over time!   Making marks can communicate in a language that is universal.

Try it yourself. All it takes is a pencil and paper. You also need a nonjudgemental mind. Just rmake the marks.

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