On Drawing

Drawing from life is a record of what you see, so learning to draw is learning to see for the purpose of drawing. 
We can say that we see, that our eyes allow us to move around without bumping into things. But that kind of seeing is like breathing; we don't even think about it. But consider drawing as a meditation; during meditation we pay attention to our breathing, for example. In drawing we pay a different attention to our seeing. Our seeing becomes deliberate in that we now examine what we see in terms of the elements and aspects of drawing, in terms of light: we look at shapes; we look at the edges of those shapes; we look at the values (degree of lightness or darkness), and we look at contrasts, the degree to which shapes stand out, or not, from those around them.
Notice that I speak of shapes rather than things. It is something of a paradox that to draw things well, it serves one better to learn to see everything as shapes rather than things. 
I will show some exercises here the study from which you may practice on your own.

Haiku on drawing

I find the writing of haiku a creative way to express my thoughts by limiting them within the confines of the form. I think it actually helps to bring precision to the thought.

​​To draw what you see,
you want to draw only shapes;
squint your eyes way down.

Squinting lets you see
the shapes of light this moment;
draw those shapes you see.

Another reason:
Squinting helps you remove details,
not important now.

Draw thumbnail sketches;
these can save a lot of time,
getting the essence.

Shapes of light and dark
form present reality
that includes objects.
​

Let the shapes create
all the proper proportions;
all falls into place.

​With those proportions
you create the space you need
for all the details.

​​Check your value range;
Does it include all you want?
What’s really needed?
 
Now watch your edges;
Unless you want outlines drawn,
don’t draw them too dark.

​Occasionally
look at your art with fresh eyes;
Turn it upside-down.