Life Drawing
She was a man that loved tea I (was) am an artist
that (liked) likes nudes I drew half a woman (last night) tonight
I drew her soul (that was) a woman
I (was) am unusual I (was) am an artist that loves
volumes I like(ed) her (in her Japanese robe))
to drink (drinking) tea
(liked) like my (art) teacher
I measure postures with a stick
She (teacher) says there are no errors only changes in thoughts ()
life is movement
put your eraser (pout (Eeyore)) away
Let me show you
[see note]
first note: that night I drew
with the incandescent light on her skin
a body of pillows on stage (that she set up)
one arm (over the heart) raised on her hip
other arm (across the leg) in the air
a red Japanese robe draped on the hanger
my hand (flew off) shading on the paper
the shape of a navel (between my hands)
the shape of the letter C is her (one) head
(a heart of heads a heart in my right hand)
my hand (flickering) grinding the pastels
molding you
soft skin, molding you,
soft skin, molding you,
soft skin, molding you,
[continue]
white pastels smoothed out becomes lips and skin
((newsprint) white paper pastel in (chalk and) sienna pastel in (chalk and) sienna)
(teacher) she says don’t forget the hand is the size of one head
the length of two heads foreshortening
second note: her belly (was) swelling
the size of cantaloupes
(tender buttons) two buttons
round and darker than the rest
tilting the hips
pointing the tip of the foot like a ballerina
[continue]
(teacher) she says step back — step back — straight line — draw with left hand
third note:
difficult poses are quick
3 minute sketch
one leg pressed into chest
other extended
eyes closed
lips soft
mole on breast
chin lifted
turned to the side
arms resting like a bird’s wing
bones beside bones
about the author