Ways of Seeing

Ocracoke Island North Carolina

I stare out to sea and try to take it all in. 

Into my so easily distracted mind.

 Where I need what I see to stay long enough to influence my drawing.

Not that it needs to be accurate. I just want the colour, the movement. 

The colour. The movement. 

And too, the sound, the smell, the wind, the feel of the sand, the rolling shells as the surf 

slides back.

 I want to draw with all of this in my mind.

No need for prep in any other way - that will take care of itself. 

To prepare, I just need to see.

And back at the drawing board, 

I explore my ways of seeing.

Just that.

I refuse to fuss about accuracy, about what is retained, about my materials,

 about time. 

All I need to do is draw.

And wait and see.

Seeing the sea.

The colour.

The movement.

The wind.

The surf.

The sky.

The spirit of it all.

All that I draw from the sea.