Spirituality and Drawing: the Inspiration of an Apple

By Amy Choi, Cheung Chau, Hong Kong, March 26, 2017

DDPHong Kong Double Doodle Instructor Training special guest Stuart Allen shared his insight in drawing. He said that drawing was actually a process of quiet observation and expression.

He guided participants to draw an apple. Firstly, he asked them to draw it from memory, and then with an apple placed in front of them. In drawing, one should put aside all the thoughts such as things one needs to do in daily life, judgment, and expectations. One should not use man-made symbols such as written words, numerals or language expression. Observation is to look at an apple in detail, look incessantly. “Look, look, look!” and that is the key, he said. When you are really looking, you can see things you have not seen before. Finally, draw what you see in a playful way.

appleHis talk makes me think of “The Observer” in Visioncircles of Educational Kinesiology, which can help one to observe peacefully, focusing attention on the thing that one wants to concentrate on. “The Internalizer” helps one to connect with the inner eyes of the soul such as imagination and dreams. “The Builder” helps one to make impression on paper by hands easily. The playful spirit of Double Doodle Play makes the drawing process easy and amusing. My understanding is that drawing from the spirit is a process which connects the person with the outside world and his/her inner eyes of the soul, and a playful process of self-expression.

The perspective of a cartoonist makes me understand more clearly an effective process and direction for drawing Double Doodle. It also helps me to know how to draw peacefully in the future.

Thank you Stuart Allen for the inspiration!