The Eastern horizon is becoming lighter and the coffee in my cup is extremely fresh and hot. The paper is soft ivory in color; stark white would be too intimidating at this hour. The pencil is mechanical. Forever sharp and always at the ready.

I begin quickly and draw in the left eye, all sketchy and scribbly. Its importance is not lost on me however, for it determines the placement of every other feature. Still, it is an almost automatic gesture. At this point, thinking is not warranted and overthinking is not allowed. This first part of the drawing must be bold to compensate for any uncertainty.

To go from a blank page to a finished drawing is foremost a journey of discovery and a good amount of courage. Every drawing is another search for an undisclosed destination. One which you can’t easily name, but you know once you've arrived. Sometimes it is just a mark or a tone, or the swoop of a single line, that lets you know indisputably that what you're doing is worth it. And indeed, that you will attempt it again. Somewhere along the way, for the artist, drawing becomes your voice and in many ways says things you could never vocalize. It’s a subtle magic.

Drawing is an ancient language. It predates the written word. And I am keenly aware of that sacred history every time I pick up a pencil or piece of charcoal. Mark making is our legacy.

With all that is going on around us these days, (and I won't go into the specifics, because you are well aware of what they are) I think it is important to go inward at times. There are many ways of doing that, of course. Meditation, yoga, inspirational reading are just a few that quickly come to mind. But I think drawing is another way. Drawing, making marks, doodling, or whatever you wish to call it, shifts our thought patterns. Drawing focuses our concentration and taps into our individuality. And at some time or another we have all drawn. So, whether you consider yourself an artist or not, pick up a pencil, a pen, or a marker and rediscover that part of yourself. Go inward. Make your own sacred marks today. See how it makes you feel 🖤