“To be shaken out of the ruts of ordinary perception, to be shown for a few timeless hours the outer and the inner world, not as they appear to an animal obsessed with words and notions, but as they are apprehended , directly and unconditionally, by Mind at Large – this is an experience of inestimable value to everyone”
– Aldus Huxley
The Doors of Perception
The next day I was in Penzance and eagerly continued reading ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ which I had started the night before in a pub in Truro. Betty Edwards was promising me great things with regards drawing, principally that “Drawing is not really very difficult. Seeing is the problem…” and that she wasn’t going to teach me how to draw, but rather, how to see. I was ready for my first assignment which was to document my current level of drawing ability:
“A picture of someone – the head only”
As I was sat in a B&B, in front of a mirror, a quick self-portrait seemed to be the best option.
“Draw a picture of a person without looking at anyone”
No comment!
“Draw a picture of your own hand”
“Draw a picture of a chair”
This is one of those wicker chairs with a thin cushion on top found only in B&Bs.
So, reference pieces done, I settled down to learn the secrets of seeing….
I, James Laurie 