two paths

thoughts from today:

robert frost's crooked line.

pippi longstocking's house.

true artists don't erase.

i'm reading why we draw.

in grade one i drew a picture of pippi longstocking's ramshackle house, like lots of kids. only i had to - had to - use a ruler to do it. i insisted, and my teacher thought this was a bit strange and mentioned it to my mom, who thought it was no big deal. but i have another memory that goes hand in hand with this one, of my mom telling me that true artists don't need to erase. i think she was just trying to prevent me from making erasing shavings and making a mess, but it has stayed with me. sometimes i find myself pausing in the moment before making a mark, overwhelmed by expectation and for grace in the lines, and i feel like i'm drowning, like whatever sure footing i had is gone. i'm drawing in straight lines once again. i'm not seeing but only to blindly editing myself to make it perfect.

robert frost said, 'we enjoy the straight crookedness of a good walking stick.' i once understood exactly what he meant by that, but i have to pursue that understanding, again and again, everyday. the feel of the wood rubbed smooth in your hands, the strengths of curves and knots that make their way to the ground, the weaving rhythm of my limbs with the stick as we walk. these are not perfection but so much more. understand this and i trust what i see is enough. and most importantly, i am in the world while i draw.

Comments

[mati]

i am in love with your writing. it is beautiful and i love your restraint and paring down. i am on a "blog break" and was peeking at flickr and am really delighted on this saturday morn to be leisurely reading your entries. i also, i've said this before, think you have impeccable taste, and am ohhing and awwing over all that you share visually. thank you, jerusha.

[jerusha]

thank you, mati! *beams* i think you made my week!