(Yes, this is a long post, but there’s a lot of pictures so it’s a fun one.)
I’ve never fancied myself an artist when it comes to the visual medium. I can do a great stick figure guy, and a mean rectangle, but that’s about it. I figured I could learn, but I’d be starting late and I’m unmotivated, so what’s the point? I mean, look at these ducks I tried to draw for a bluegrass event poster:
I mean, what are those flaps on their heads, bills? Are those stingers on their butts? And why are they wearing oven mitts? ‘Nuff said. (In the end, our friend Billy Pitrone drew some excellent ducks for the poster.)
I thought that maybe, with enough practice and experience, that I could learn to be a decent artist, but I wasn’t very motivated so I never really tried. I figured I might as well leave the drawing to the experts. (Heh, sounds like I need a taste of my own medicine. 
) But recently, something very interesting happened. I started carrying a pad and paper everywhere I go.
Part of my new “system” for Getting Things Done is having a “collection device” on hand at all times…that way if I have a thought or idea I can write it down and not have to worry about remembering it. I’ve opted for a simple stack of 3×5s and a binder clipâ€â€also known as a Hipster PDA (don’t ask me why). More on the effectiveness of my GTD system at a later date. The point is, a few weeks ago we were at the beach doing our morning yoga, and I saw this beautiful scene. Out across the water was the wharf, with the morning light shining through rows and rows of black pilings, with the silhouettes of sea lions resting on the beams underneath. It was so pretty! I thought about taking a picture, but realized we didn’t have our camera, so I drew instead:
Yeah, it’s bit rough, but that’s what’s neat about it, to me. I’m such a perfectionist that it’s hard to ever draw anything because I try too hard to “get it right.” But hey, no eraser here, so I did the best I could in five minutes, and voilà. I was surprised! Next, I drew this cliff face (from the San Lorenzo river mouth, if you’re a Santa Cruzian):
Here’s one I drew from the backseat of the car, on the way to a playing by ear class we were teaching (replacing the scenery with the Arizona skyline):
Here’s a sketch of some Santa Cruz shoreline (Cowell beach):
And a picture of me drawing that picture: 
The point of all this? I never would have even tried to draw if I didn’t have this “PDA” with me. I’m happy I did. And it wasn’t like I “worked” at it, I just have myself the opportunity to try, by carrying around pen and paper. Similar to how we tell people who want to learn to play music to keep an instrument on hand at all times, hanging or standing in their room. You can’t help but doodle on it that way, and doodling can work wonders. The main thing is giving yourself the opportunity to do so. Food for thought.
(See also parts one and three…)
