Mark Making

 -Scrape the point of a pencil across a sheet of paper and it leaves a line of graphite particles.

-Think about it, then make another line but in a different direction connecting with the first, and you have “shape” or the outline of an object. 

-Rub the lines with a finger and the graphite particles slide into the grain of paper to give tone (shade).

-Add more lines, or vary the blending of graphite into the paper, and you get form.

In drawing, one cannot make light, only variations of shade and shadows. Light can be only be created by careful planning where to NOT make a mark. Beautiful art and meaningful life cannot exist without creating these vivid contrasts.

Sometimes I wonder how God planned this universe, to leave spots of light between the shadows.   And then He added color!
                                                                                               Merry Christmas!