This is a photograph of a pencil drawing I did in high school. The assignment:
- Choose a photograph from the materials provided, a pile of magazines really.
- Cut out the photo, and paste it to a paper
- draw grid lines on it
- Take a large piece of paper, and draw larger grid onto it
- Purpose is two fold:
- reproduce the original photo
- enlarge or shrink original size
- Purpose is two fold:
- using various pencil lead softness, draw what is in each grid
- do not spend much time in each grid box, keep moving so that whole picture develops evenly
Results…
What I remember from doing this is of course the final picture. Its the best drawing I’ve ever done. When I stood back from the process, I was just as amazed as anyone else, feeling it was/is something that was done outside of myself.
I was obedient to the process assigned to me by my art teacher, Mr. Randy Marchinko. My favourite teacher ever, shout out to him!
By breaking up the photo into little chunks, I was able to use the negative and positive space relative to the immediate grid lines, to draw them exactly in relation to where they ought to be. By moving around on the page, going from general to more and more detail, there is a cohesiveness that develops. Of course not much of any part of the sprocket can fit into each grid square, so there’s always a line that ceases in one grid, and starts up in another. Using different softness of lead, hard lead for lighter, soft lead for darker… and the eraser of course! The picture develops by itself, paying attention to the process.
I’m using this picture to tell another story, though.
Its the story of my life, as I step back from being up close to “the drawing” I am amazed in much the same way as all those years ago in High School. I feel outside of myself, hardly believing its my life.
I’m thankful is what I am. And often I experience a kind of survivor’s guilt for where I’m at, because I am more than just ok. The pain in my life at present is for those around me who find themselves also at the end of art class, with a picture that isn’t giving anyone any cause for awe.
NOW right there I know that I need to stop, and have YOU step back. I’m thankful for where I’m at because this is my personal best, this pencil drawing. Are there things I wish I’d done differently? Yes, for example I wouldn’t have used newsprint paper, I’d have used a higher grade of linen paper, thicker and to withstand the wear and tear of time.
Being thankful is more than half the battle. Thankfulness is for any and all of us on this side of the grave!
Look at this scripture:
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else…
Galatians 6:1-10 NIV
I’m humbled daily by the folks I see doing the best they can with what they’ve got! It’s the ones who think they have no HOPE that my heart breaks for.
It was only a study. Just something to teach me how to draw. What do they call that now, hmmm, I can’t quite recall. Our teacher taught us many other skills, and had us look into famous artists. I did an essay on Pablo Picasso, and found out that he had extremely good skills who was capable of photograph like reproduction of his objects, but his was impressionist / expressionist realm stuff. The idea was to communicate the emotion of his heart, by limiting what we see, and thereby trying to create in you, the one viewing his art, the same feeling in himself. Use of line, colours, media, subject matter… but I digress… LOL
While in high school, I had other things going on, and one I’m most grateful for is parents who took me to God, and his word. There are many scriptures that come to mind on this whole topic, but here’s this one for now:
31-33 “So don’t worry and don’t keep saying, ‘What shall we eat, what shall we drink or what shall we wear?! That is what pagans are always looking for; your Heavenly Father knows that you need them all. Set your heart on the kingdom and his goodness, and all these things will come to you as a matter of course.
34 “Don’t worry at all then about tomorrow. Tomorrow can take care of itself! One day’s trouble is enough for one day.”
Matthew 6:31-34 J B Phillips
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Matthew 6:31-34 New King James Version
And of course I think once more about what Augustine said on this topic of where to focus your attention(s)
I really have come to appreciate J B Phillips over the years, as one truly inspired translator of the Bible. Look at that line
“Tomorrow can take care of itself!”
In another key scripture that comes to mind, J B Phillips says, “Make it your ambition to have no ambition!” What a thing to say! I can hear folks wanting to scoff at that, just as loudly as at Jesus words there in Matthew chapter 6! And I’ve heard plenty of scoffing as I went from there to here. From once upon a time a young man, to this old man that I am now.
Next, as regards brotherly love, you don’t need any written instructions. God himself is teaching you to love each other, and you are already extending your love to all the Macedonians. Yet we urge you to have more and more of this love, and to make it your ambition to have no ambition!
Be busy with your own affairs and do your work yourselves. The result will be a reputation for honesty in the world outside and an honourable independence.
I Thessalonians 4:9-12 J B Phillips
Just think of this, though. Jesus was and is the ULTIMATE success story, for he lived and died his life in complete sacrificial obedience to the Father, his Father, Our Father, which art in heaven! Just think of how they scoffed, as he hung there on the cross, bleeding and dying, for the sin of this whole world, all of creation.
If you were to look closely at my life you might only pity me, the lens you use to look upon me being such that it is. But as for me,
They knew all the time that there is a God, yet they refused to acknowledge him as such, or to thank him for what he is or does. Thus they became fatuous in their argumentations, and plunged their silly minds still further into the dark.
Romans 1:21 J B Phillips
I’m just really thankful today, and yet I still suffer, for I cannot have pure joy when I look out into the world and see those still lost, and without HOPE in your heart and soul, its never ever too late, to look to God and live… drop me a line, I”ll talk you through it 🙂
Running Down Vimy 