Creative Journaling (3) – Reading a Line

In a broad sense, what is drawing?  It is making a line or a mark, though it can be more than that.  A signature, really, a line, which each of us has learned to “draw” – and which, over the years has become unique and identifiable as particularly our own.  It has the characteristics of the hand which makes it.  It can even take on the feelings of the person at the time it was written.  Perhaps they were in hurry or a bit sleepy, or were sitting in car on a bumpy surface, or the paper was lumpy.  But we know that is our signature.  In fact, it is just a mark, a line, but it is a “telling mark.” (Ref: “Drawing on the Artist Within,” by Betty Edwards, Ch. 6, pp. 56+). 

Recently in the journaling class, we composed a fictional first and last name (with closed eyes, using a pin and the telephone book ).  Then we asked everyone present to write the name, as though it was their own, on a piece of paper.  We then laid all the “signatures” out on the table and had an interesting time looking at all these signature-lines, making up a “story” about person it represented.  What kind of “person” was this?  What were they feeling?  What can we tell about them?  In effect, we were learning to see a line and to “read” it. You can try it also.

Activity:  And then for homework, we all shared another line activity.  (Ref. ibid., Ch. 7, adapted from p. 65-67, “Drawing Out Insight”)  Fold a sheet of paper in half (lengthwise), then fold it in half again, and then fold it in half again.  Then open it up. You should have 8 little spaces.  Number each section at the bottom 1-8, and label each panel with a descriptor:  1. Anger.  2. Joy.  3. Tranquility.  4. Depression.  5. Power.  6. Femininity.  7. Illness.  8. _________.  The #8 is the choice of the individual (I chose “Hunger), or any human trait.  Using a pencil (not a pen), in each section, one at a time, make a drawing that to you represents what the word at the bottom stands for.  One exception: “You must not draw any pictures whatsoever or use any symbols at all.  No raindrops, no shooting stars, no hearts and flowers, no question marks, no lightening bolts, no rainbows, no clenched fists.  Use only the language of line: fast lines, slow lines, light, dark, smooth, rough, broken, or flowing.”  Let “expression” be in the line(s) alone. 

The next week, we again laid them all out on the table.  There was lively discussion, as you may guess, as everyone tried to “read the line.”  And the discussion turned to the difficulty of finding out how to make an expressive line without using language or cartoon-like patterns.  It was an investigation of a totally new concept:  how to make feelings visible.  In fact, several people submitted more that one page of panels, as they struggled to achieve what they considered to be the proper expressiveness (to themselves).  We’ve re-done the assignment three times, using different human traits, always gaining more insight into drawing lines expressively. And we agree it works best if we can try to feel or imagine the condition inside ourselves, and then proceed to make the line-marks.  Try it.  See what you think.

“Thus, every line is a statement, a form of communication between the individual who made the line and the individual who views it.  A drawing is a far more complex mode of expression, revealing of a wide realm beyond conscious awareness.  We can “read” a line.  Can we  “read” a drawing?  If so, perhaps we can take a step in the direction of gaining access to that part of the mind which knows…more than it knows it knows – the same part of the brain that asks the beautiful question, ponders the unsolved problem, takes the initial step in the creative process: First Insight.” [Ibid., p. 65]

.Some Words of Encouragement:

·        “The first steps of a creative act are like groping in the dark: random and chaotic, feverish an fearful, a lot of busy-ness with no apparent or definable end in sight… the idea, however minuscule, is what turns the verb into a noun – paint into a painting, sculpt into sculpture, write into writing, steps into a dance.  I call it scratching.”  [Ref: The Creative Habit: Learn it and Use It For Life, Twyla Tharp, p. 94-5.]

·        Do a verb or an adjective in the activity.  Try something new.

·        “Those who wonder are not necessarily lost.”  [Kobi Yamada]

·        “Oh, for a life of sensations rather than of thoughts!” [John Keats]

·        “Look closely.  The beautiful may be small.” [Emmanuel Kant]