hello I’m an artist which in my case means that I do a lot of drawings I also
means that I do a lot of drawings I also
means that I do a lot of drawings I also run a project called the mobile comics
run a project called the mobile comics
run a project called the mobile comics Factory this is it
Factory this is it
Factory this is it this is the mobile comics Factory it is
this is the mobile comics Factory it is
this is the mobile comics Factory it is what it looks like it’s a painted box
what it looks like it’s a painted box
what it looks like it’s a painted box that’s been bolted to the back of a
that’s been bolted to the back of a
that’s been bolted to the back of a tricycle but inside that box is
tricycle but inside that box is
tricycle but inside that box is something special we have a library of
something special we have a library of
something special we have a library of comic books and zine Zayn’s are handmade
comic books and zine Zayn’s are handmade
comic books and zine Zayn’s are handmade magazines in this case made by local
magazines in this case made by local
magazines in this case made by local artists we also have a load of resources
artists we also have a load of resources
artists we also have a load of resources and materials on there so that ever
and materials on there so that ever
and materials on there so that ever whoever comes to engage with the project
whoever comes to engage with the project
whoever comes to engage with the project can make their own comics and scenes
can make their own comics and scenes
can make their own comics and scenes which we then distribute to the wider
which we then distribute to the wider
which we then distribute to the wider community so I get invited to parks to
community so I get invited to parks to
community so I get invited to parks to school playgrounds youth clubs
school playgrounds youth clubs
school playgrounds youth clubs classrooms and all kinds of other public
classrooms and all kinds of other public
classrooms and all kinds of other public events where I invite young people to
events where I invite young people to
events where I invite young people to free workshops where they can discover
free workshops where they can discover
free workshops where they can discover their creativity and find their voice
their creativity and find their voice
their creativity and find their voice through drawing it’s a it’s a really fun
through drawing it’s a it’s a really fun
through drawing it’s a it’s a really fun project and it’s something that has
project and it’s something that has
project and it’s something that has proven to me in new ways just how
proven to me in new ways just how
proven to me in new ways just how important drawing is as a tool and
important drawing is as a tool and
important drawing is as a tool and that’s kind of what I want to share with
that’s kind of what I want to share with
that’s kind of what I want to share with you today when I go into a primary
you today when I go into a primary
you today when I go into a primary school the kids go crazy for it they mob
school the kids go crazy for it they mob
school the kids go crazy for it they mob round the trike and they just can’t wait
round the trike and they just can’t wait
round the trike and they just can’t wait to get hold of some paper and start
to get hold of some paper and start
to get hold of some paper and start drawing themselves but then when I go
drawing themselves but then when I go
drawing themselves but then when I go into secondary schools and these
into secondary schools and these
into secondary schools and these children get a little bit older into
children get a little bit older into
children get a little bit older into their teenage years the reaction is a
their teenage years the reaction is a
their teenage years the reaction is a little bit different kids are a little
little bit different kids are a little
little bit different kids are a little bit more skeptical as teenagers are with
bit more skeptical as teenagers are with
bit more skeptical as teenagers are with everything perhaps it takes them a
everything perhaps it takes them a
everything perhaps it takes them a little bit longer to warm up and to
little bit longer to warm up and to
little bit longer to warm up and to engage with the project at that point a
engage with the project at that point a
engage with the project at that point a phrase starts to creep in as well which
phrase starts to creep in as well which
phrase starts to creep in as well which is this I can’t draw I wonder this
is this I can’t draw I wonder this
is this I can’t draw I wonder this reminds you of of adults if and if you
reminds you of of adults if and if you
reminds you of of adults if and if you can empathize with that feeling of not
can empathize with that feeling of not
can empathize with that feeling of not being able to draw if you feel today
being able to draw if you feel today
being able to draw if you feel today like you can’t draw if you’ve ever felt
like you can’t draw if you’ve ever felt
like you can’t draw if you’ve ever felt that way and if you can just raise your
that way and if you can just raise your
that way and if you can just raise your hand now yes so it’s fairly unanimous in
hand now yes so it’s fairly unanimous in
hand now yes so it’s fairly unanimous in this room and that’s interesting to me
this room and that’s interesting to me
this room and that’s interesting to me that there’s this increase in that
that there’s this increase in that
that there’s this increase in that feeling and we can all empathize with
feeling and we can all empathize with
feeling and we can all empathize with those young people who say I can’t draw
those young people who say I can’t draw
those young people who say I can’t draw but it bothers me when I hear it from
but it bothers me when I hear it from
but it bothers me when I hear it from them because it’s not that they’re
them because it’s not that they’re
them because it’s not that they’re saying I’m not interested in drawing you
saying I’m not interested in drawing you
saying I’m not interested in drawing you know that would be one thing to which I
know that would be one thing to which I
know that would be one thing to which I could say well fair enough you can’t win
could say well fair enough you can’t win
could say well fair enough you can’t win them all but to say I can’t draw says
them all but to say I can’t draw says
them all but to say I can’t draw says nothing about drawing but it says
nothing about drawing but it says
nothing about drawing but it says everything about the person about their
everything about the person about their
everything about the person about their confidence in themselves about their
confidence in themselves about their
confidence in themselves about their beliefs in their ability and their
beliefs in their ability and their
beliefs in their ability and their willingness to take a risk and try
willingness to take a risk and try
willingness to take a risk and try something new
something new
something new and I think that for people so young to
and I think that for people so young to
and I think that for people so young to be that locked up is a really sad thing
be that locked up is a really sad thing
be that locked up is a really sad thing to put it in no uncertain terms I hear
to put it in no uncertain terms I hear
to put it in no uncertain terms I hear it so often I can’t draw I can’t draw I
it so often I can’t draw I can’t draw I
it so often I can’t draw I can’t draw I can’t draw but it seems to become the
can’t draw but it seems to become the
can’t draw but it seems to become the very definition of the word drawing it’s
very definition of the word drawing it’s
very definition of the word drawing it’s their first and last thought on the
their first and last thought on the
their first and last thought on the subject but the thing is this that’s not
subject but the thing is this that’s not
subject but the thing is this that’s not true and I can’t is a terrible
true and I can’t is a terrible
true and I can’t is a terrible definition for anything so what I
definition for anything so what I
definition for anything so what I thought we could do in this room if you
thought we could do in this room if you
thought we could do in this room if you somebody’s got a notebook out taking
somebody’s got a notebook out taking
somebody’s got a notebook out taking notes not only you’re really cool but
notes not only you’re really cool but
notes not only you’re really cool but you can join in with something with me I
you can join in with something with me I
you can join in with something with me I and if you have pen and paper you’re in
and if you have pen and paper you’re in
and if you have pen and paper you’re in your bag please take a second to get it
your bag please take a second to get it
your bag please take a second to get it out we’re going to just do a little
out we’re going to just do a little
out we’re going to just do a little something that will demonstrate to all
something that will demonstrate to all
something that will demonstrate to all these many young people that I work with
these many young people that I work with
these many young people that I work with that anybody can draw and while you’re
that anybody can draw and while you’re
that anybody can draw and while you’re getting that ready I’ll just address the
getting that ready I’ll just address the
getting that ready I’ll just address the folks at home and say hi you can join in
folks at home and say hi you can join in
folks at home and say hi you can join in with this to just pause the video get
with this to just pause the video get
with this to just pause the video get yourself a pen and paper we’ll all be
yourself a pen and paper we’ll all be
yourself a pen and paper we’ll all be here when you get back it’s fine okay so
here when you get back it’s fine okay so
here when you get back it’s fine okay so we’re more all more or less ready in the
we’re more all more or less ready in the
we’re more all more or less ready in the room what we’re going to do is I’m going
room what we’re going to do is I’m going
room what we’re going to do is I’m going to give you three simple instructions
to give you three simple instructions
to give you three simple instructions that you’re going to have to do your
that you’re going to have to do your
that you’re going to have to do your best to interpret on the page and
best to interpret on the page and
best to interpret on the page and hopefully together we’ll all come up
hopefully together we’ll all come up
hopefully together we’ll all come up with a drawing the first thing I want
with a drawing the first thing I want
with a drawing the first thing I want you to do is right in the center of your
you to do is right in the center of your
you to do is right in the center of your paper do a nice big circle now if you’re
paper do a nice big circle now if you’re
paper do a nice big circle now if you’re nervous or anxious about drawing a
nervous or anxious about drawing a
nervous or anxious about drawing a circle got an artist trick for you just
circle got an artist trick for you just
circle got an artist trick for you just do a big capital o instead that’s all I
do a big capital o instead that’s all I
do a big capital o instead that’s all I do
and once you’ve got that once you’ve got
and once you’ve got that once you’ve got your circle you need to find a point
your circle you need to find a point
your circle you need to find a point within the circle it’s roughly halfway
within the circle it’s roughly halfway
within the circle it’s roughly halfway between the center and the top so
between the center and the top so
between the center and the top so appointment circle roughly halfway
appointment circle roughly halfway
appointment circle roughly halfway between the middle and the top once you
between the middle and the top once you
between the middle and the top once you found that point just put a nice neat
found that point just put a nice neat
found that point just put a nice neat tick there to show that you found it and
tick there to show that you found it and
tick there to show that you found it and the last thing I want you to do is going
the last thing I want you to do is going
the last thing I want you to do is going to take these two abstract forms and
to take these two abstract forms and
to take these two abstract forms and turn them into a drawing it’s putting
turn them into a drawing it’s putting
turn them into a drawing it’s putting your pen or your pencil back at the base
your pen or your pencil back at the base
your pen or your pencil back at the base of that tick on that spot then this is
of that tick on that spot then this is
of that tick on that spot then this is bit more difficult this one heading off
bit more difficult this one heading off
bit more difficult this one heading off to the right heading off to the east as
to the right heading off to the east as
to the right heading off to the east as it were draw a teardrop shape and once
it were draw a teardrop shape and once
it were draw a teardrop shape and once you’ve done those things hopefully if
you’ve done those things hopefully if
you’ve done those things hopefully if everything’s gone to plan and my
everything’s gone to plan and my
everything’s gone to plan and my instructions were clear you should have
instructions were clear you should have
instructions were clear you should have all compass something it looks a little
all compass something it looks a little
all compass something it looks a little bit like this just a fun I’ve colored my
bit like this just a fun I’ve colored my
bit like this just a fun I’ve colored my name so hopefully most of you will have
name so hopefully most of you will have
name so hopefully most of you will have come to the end of your drawing and had
come to the end of your drawing and had
come to the end of your drawing and had some thought equivalent to oh it’s an
some thought equivalent to oh it’s an
some thought equivalent to oh it’s an apple or maybe you thought ah that’s a
apple or maybe you thought ah that’s a
apple or maybe you thought ah that’s a tomato it’s a bit open to interpretation
tomato it’s a bit open to interpretation
tomato it’s a bit open to interpretation I’ll admit but it may be you’ve drawn
I’ll admit but it may be you’ve drawn
I’ll admit but it may be you’ve drawn something that looks completely
something that looks completely
something that looks completely different to this that’s okay as well if
different to this that’s okay as well if
different to this that’s okay as well if your drawing doesn’t look like this what
your drawing doesn’t look like this what
your drawing doesn’t look like this what you’ve done is you’ve drawn an abstract
you’ve done is you’ve drawn an abstract
you’ve done is you’ve drawn an abstract apple which in many ways yeah is more
apple which in many ways yeah is more
apple which in many ways yeah is more impressive and more difficult if we were
impressive and more difficult if we were
impressive and more difficult if we were in art school you’d be top of the klutz
in art school you’d be top of the klutz
in art school you’d be top of the klutz as to what this experiment if we can
as to what this experiment if we can
as to what this experiment if we can call it that demonstrates these two
call it that demonstrates these two
call it that demonstrates these two things firstly you can all draw even as
things firstly you can all draw even as
things firstly you can all draw even as if you raised your hand to say I can’t
if you raised your hand to say I can’t
if you raised your hand to say I can’t well we’ve just proved that you can
well we’ve just proved that you can
well we’ve just proved that you can so either you’re all liars but I don’t
so either you’re all liars but I don’t
so either you’re all liars but I don’t think that you are because you like nice
think that you are because you like nice
think that you are because you like nice folks or you were lied to at some
folks or you were lied to at some
folks or you were lied to at some significant point during your
significant point during your
significant point during your development either by a person who said
development either by a person who said
development either by a person who said a cruel word just when you are feeling
a cruel word just when you are feeling
a cruel word just when you are feeling it your most vulnerable or you were
it your most vulnerable or you were
it your most vulnerable or you were lighted by culture a culture which tells
lighted by culture a culture which tells
lighted by culture a culture which tells us that drawing is all about proficiency
us that drawing is all about proficiency
us that drawing is all about proficiency so over here in this category we have
so over here in this category we have
so over here in this category we have the good drawings these are the drawings
the good drawings these are the drawings
the good drawings these are the drawings that look like stuff or they’ve been
that look like stuff or they’ve been
that look like stuff or they’ve been nominated some other arbitrary form of
nominated some other arbitrary form of
nominated some other arbitrary form of artistic merit if you can draw like that
artistic merit if you can draw like that
artistic merit if you can draw like that you get to continue but if your drawings
you get to continue but if your drawings
you get to continue but if your drawings fall outside of that box then culture
fall outside of that box then culture
fall outside of that box then culture tells us they’re not drawings at all
tells us they’re not drawings at all
tells us they’re not drawings at all they’re dude
they’re dude
they’re dude and they’re not to be shared and so you
and they’re not to be shared and so you
and they’re not to be shared and so you get cast out never to pick up a pencil
get cast out never to pick up a pencil
get cast out never to pick up a pencil again a third way you could have been
again a third way you could have been
again a third way you could have been lied to is just by your own subconscious
lied to is just by your own subconscious
lied to is just by your own subconscious our own fears and anxieties causing us
our own fears and anxieties causing us
our own fears and anxieties causing us to doubt our abilities whatever the
to doubt our abilities whatever the
to doubt our abilities whatever the reason whatever the source of that lie
reason whatever the source of that lie
reason whatever the source of that lie I’m not really here to diagnose I’m just
I’m not really here to diagnose I’m just
I’m not really here to diagnose I’m just here to observe and show you that it
here to observe and show you that it
here to observe and show you that it isn’t true you can all draw it’s open to
isn’t true you can all draw it’s open to
isn’t true you can all draw it’s open to all of us
all of us
all of us the other thing demonstrated through
the other thing demonstrated through
the other thing demonstrated through this is just what drawing really is like
this is just what drawing really is like
this is just what drawing really is like I said for many of young people I work
I said for many of young people I work
I said for many of young people I work with when they say I can’t draw it seems
with when they say I can’t draw it seems
with when they say I can’t draw it seems to become like a definition and maybe by
to become like a definition and maybe by
to become like a definition and maybe by looking at this we can find a better
looking at this we can find a better
looking at this we can find a better definition of drawing one that does away
definition of drawing one that does away
definition of drawing one that does away with any notions of proficiency any
with any notions of proficiency any
with any notions of proficiency any notions of style or aesthetics any
notions of style or aesthetics any
notions of style or aesthetics any notion of who can and who can’t so I
notion of who can and who can’t so I
notion of who can and who can’t so I look at this and I think that’s an apple
look at this and I think that’s an apple
look at this and I think that’s an apple but of course it isn’t it’s an ink
but of course it isn’t it’s an ink
but of course it isn’t it’s an ink pattern dogged on a sheet of bleached
pattern dogged on a sheet of bleached
pattern dogged on a sheet of bleached and dried wood pulp it’s worse than that
and dried wood pulp it’s worse than that
and dried wood pulp it’s worse than that this is a projection of a digital
this is a projection of a digital
this is a projection of a digital approximation of an ink pattern dogs and
approximation of an ink pattern dogs and
approximation of an ink pattern dogs and sheep bleats and dried wood pulp it’s
sheep bleats and dried wood pulp it’s
sheep bleats and dried wood pulp it’s not an apple but we say it’s an apple
not an apple but we say it’s an apple
not an apple but we say it’s an apple because we understand that it’s a sign
because we understand that it’s a sign
because we understand that it’s a sign it’s a symbol it’s an icon you can
it’s a symbol it’s an icon you can
it’s a symbol it’s an icon you can decode and at its core that’s what
decode and at its core that’s what
decode and at its core that’s what drawing is some of you got there
drawing is some of you got there
drawing is some of you got there that’s what drawing is it’s about
that’s what drawing is it’s about
that’s what drawing is it’s about passing an idea between people it’s
passing an idea between people it’s
passing an idea between people it’s about communication so I think a better
about communication so I think a better
about communication so I think a better definition of drawing is this it
definition of drawing is this it
definition of drawing is this it drawings are marks which become vessels
drawings are marks which become vessels
drawings are marks which become vessels for meaning or containers for ideas
for meaning or containers for ideas
for meaning or containers for ideas that’s how I define it as definition I
that’s how I define it as definition I
that’s how I define it as definition I use but you could argue that that could
use but you could argue that that could
use but you could argue that that could also be an equally good definition of
also be an equally good definition of
also be an equally good definition of writing idea marks as vessels for
writing idea marks as vessels for
writing idea marks as vessels for meaning so let’s think about that this
meaning so let’s think about that this
meaning so let’s think about that this is another drawing that I did this is a
is another drawing that I did this is a
is another drawing that I did this is a series of five drawings and together
series of five drawings and together
series of five drawings and together rather than represent a vague
rather than represent a vague
rather than represent a vague approximation of a physical object
approximation of a physical object
approximation of a physical object they’ve been abstracted to represent the
they’ve been abstracted to represent the
they’ve been abstracted to represent the sounds in a word but they’re still
sounds in a word but they’re still
sounds in a word but they’re still drawings drawing and writing is
drawings drawing and writing is
drawings drawing and writing is connected on a deep deep level I think a
connected on a deep deep level I think a
connected on a deep deep level I think a good way to think about this
good way to think about this
good way to think about this relationship between writing and drawing
relationship between writing and drawing
relationship between writing and drawing is to think of them as related languages
is to think of them as related languages
is to think of them as related languages and just like with spoken languages
and just like with spoken languages
and just like with spoken languages there are some ideas that don’t
there are some ideas that don’t
there are some ideas that don’t translate well between the two to give
translate well between the two to give
translate well between the two to give you an example just imagine we were
you an example just imagine we were
you an example just imagine we were going to go on a journey to somewhere
going to go on a journey to somewhere
going to go on a journey to somewhere none of us had ever been before and help
none of us had ever been before and help
none of us had ever been before and help us find your way would you rather have a
us find your way would you rather have a
us find your way would you rather have a map some kind of visual drawn
map some kind of visual drawn
map some kind of visual drawn representation to help you find your
representation to help you find your
representation to help you find your route where you could take your bearings
route where you could take your bearings
route where you could take your bearings along the way would you rather have a
along the way would you rather have a
along the way would you rather have a wall of text with no visual cues giving
wall of text with no visual cues giving
wall of text with no visual cues giving you your directions I know which I
you your directions I know which I
you your directions I know which I prefer
prefer
prefer no of course situations where writing
no of course situations where writing
no of course situations where writing just wins if you want to reproduce an
just wins if you want to reproduce an
just wins if you want to reproduce an idea between people with a certain
idea between people with a certain
idea between people with a certain amount of clarity specificity and
amount of clarity specificity and
amount of clarity specificity and brevity writing is great for that
brevity writing is great for that
brevity writing is great for that drawing on the whole is not so good it’s
drawing on the whole is not so good it’s
drawing on the whole is not so good it’s a much blunt instrument it’s much more
a much blunt instrument it’s much more
a much blunt instrument it’s much more open to interpretation that of course
open to interpretation that of course
open to interpretation that of course makes drawing great for thinking about
makes drawing great for thinking about
makes drawing great for thinking about new ideas or ideas we might not even
new ideas or ideas we might not even
new ideas or ideas we might not even have words for yet that’s what makes
have words for yet that’s what makes
have words for yet that’s what makes drawing so exciting so we have these two
drawing so exciting so we have these two
drawing so exciting so we have these two languages and depending on the context
languages and depending on the context
languages and depending on the context and situation we’re in there’s going to
and situation we’re in there’s going to
and situation we’re in there’s going to be times where drawing is better times
be times where drawing is better times
be times where drawing is better times when writing is better but for some
when writing is better but for some
when writing is better but for some reason in our culture many of us get to
reason in our culture many of us get to
reason in our culture many of us get to adulthood
adulthood
adulthood and we’ve put away drawing like it was a
and we’ve put away drawing like it was a
and we’ve put away drawing like it was a childish thing and so we continue on
childish thing and so we continue on
childish thing and so we continue on with this one form of language one form
with this one form of language one form
with this one form of language one form of communication through writing and we
of communication through writing and we
of communication through writing and we find ourselves reaching not quite able
find ourselves reaching not quite able
find ourselves reaching not quite able to get to where we want to get to this
to get to where we want to get to this
to get to where we want to get to this is an idea I think my three-year-old son
is an idea I think my three-year-old son
is an idea I think my three-year-old son gets better than most adults he is
gets better than most adults he is
gets better than most adults he is capable if asked of drawing a pretty
capable if asked of drawing a pretty
capable if asked of drawing a pretty good person so he will put five fingers
good person so he will put five fingers
good person so he will put five fingers on each hand five toes on each foot
on each hand five toes on each foot
on each hand five toes on each foot he’ll get the facial features in more or
he’ll get the facial features in more or
he’ll get the facial features in more or less the right spots
less the right spots
less the right spots he can draw a pretty good figure but
he can draw a pretty good figure but
he can draw a pretty good figure but most of the time he still chooses not to
most of the time he still chooses not to
most of the time he still chooses not to he is just as happy doing tight little
he is just as happy doing tight little
he is just as happy doing tight little scribbles and big gestural marks across
scribbles and big gestural marks across
scribbles and big gestural marks across the page but I love to watch him draw
the page but I love to watch him draw
the page but I love to watch him draw because very often when my son draws he
because very often when my son draws he
because very often when my son draws he talks to himself at the same time he
talks to himself at the same time he
talks to himself at the same time he tells himself stories or retells things
tells himself stories or retells things
tells himself stories or retells things that have happened to him during the day
that have happened to him during the day
that have happened to him during the day and as I watch his crayon glide across
and as I watch his crayon glide across
and as I watch his crayon glide across the page it’s like it’s interpreting
the page it’s like it’s interpreting
the page it’s like it’s interpreting things that he’s saying it’s like
things that he’s saying it’s like
things that he’s saying it’s like watching dance and so by the time he’s
watching dance and so by the time he’s
watching dance and so by the time he’s finished and he holds up his sheet you
finished and he holds up his sheet you
finished and he holds up his sheet you could objectively say it’s a bad drawing
could objectively say it’s a bad drawing
could objectively say it’s a bad drawing it doesn’t look like anything because my
it doesn’t look like anything because my
it doesn’t look like anything because my parental bias kicks in and I say Jesse
parental bias kicks in and I say Jesse
parental bias kicks in and I say Jesse that’s the best drawing I’ve ever seen
that’s the best drawing I’ve ever seen
that’s the best drawing I’ve ever seen let’s put it up on the fridge we allow
let’s put it up on the fridge we allow
let’s put it up on the fridge we allow our young children to drawing that way
our young children to drawing that way
our young children to drawing that way because we understand that in a way
because we understand that in a way
because we understand that in a way they’re working out their relationship
they’re working out their relationship
they’re working out their relationship to the world when they’re very young
to the world when they’re very young
to the world when they’re very young that’s in a simple tactile sense how
that’s in a simple tactile sense how
that’s in a simple tactile sense how does this material interact when I rub
does this material interact when I rub
does this material interact when I rub it against this other material then as
it against this other material then as
it against this other material then as they get a bit older like I said with my
they get a bit older like I said with my
they get a bit older like I said with my son Jesse he’s working out his
son Jesse he’s working out his
son Jesse he’s working out his relationship to the world he’s working
relationship to the world he’s working
relationship to the world he’s working through the things that he’s learnt
through the things that he’s learnt
through the things that he’s learnt working out his responses to them and
working out his responses to them and
working out his responses to them and generating new ideas from that I think
generating new ideas from that I think
generating new ideas from that I think that’s an amazing thing as amazing
that’s an amazing thing as amazing
that’s an amazing thing as amazing function of drawing but for many
function of drawing but for many
function of drawing but for many children they get a little bit older and
children they get a little bit older and
children they get a little bit older and they begin to feel that’s very important
they begin to feel that’s very important
they begin to feel that’s very important to stay within the lines and at that
to stay within the lines and at that
to stay within the lines and at that point something begins to be lost
point something begins to be lost
point something begins to be lost something begins to be eroded that will
something begins to be eroded that will
something begins to be eroded that will eventually lead
eventually lead
eventually lead to the teenager that says I can’t draw
to the teenager that says I can’t draw
to the teenager that says I can’t draw and then will eventually lead to the
and then will eventually lead to the
and then will eventually lead to the adult sitting in an auditorium thinking
adult sitting in an auditorium thinking
adult sitting in an auditorium thinking I don’t even remember the last time I
I don’t even remember the last time I
I don’t even remember the last time I drew a picture so it makes me ask a
drew a picture so it makes me ask a
drew a picture so it makes me ask a question what would happen if we never
question what would happen if we never
question what would happen if we never stopped drawing if we never shut
stopped drawing if we never shut
stopped drawing if we never shut ourselves off to that way of drawing
ourselves off to that way of drawing
ourselves off to that way of drawing that we allowed ourselves to do when we
that we allowed ourselves to do when we
that we allowed ourselves to do when we were young I suppose maybe that’s why
were young I suppose maybe that’s why
were young I suppose maybe that’s why great art can inspire us many many
great art can inspire us many many
great art can inspire us many many artists able to speak to us about the
artists able to speak to us about the
artists able to speak to us about the human condition are just kids that never
human condition are just kids that never
human condition are just kids that never stop drawing or they’re people that
stop drawing or they’re people that
stop drawing or they’re people that rediscovered drawing and creative
rediscovered drawing and creative
rediscovered drawing and creative expression as they got older another
expression as they got older another
expression as they got older another group of people who still draw results
group of people who still draw results
group of people who still draw results would be architects I think of The Shard
would be architects I think of The Shard
would be architects I think of The Shard this amazing building in London this
this amazing building in London this
this amazing building in London this huge shining obelisk towering over the
huge shining obelisk towering over the
huge shining obelisk towering over the city that speaks a message to anyone
city that speaks a message to anyone
city that speaks a message to anyone will see it of a future focus London
will see it of a future focus London
will see it of a future focus London it’s a it’s an amazing building designed
it’s a it’s an amazing building designed
it’s a it’s an amazing building designed by an architect named Renzo Piano you
by an architect named Renzo Piano you
by an architect named Renzo Piano you can find many of his sketches for the
can find many of his sketches for the
can find many of his sketches for the shard online I did not get permission to
shard online I did not get permission to
shard online I did not get permission to reproduce them here so you get my
reproduce them here so you get my
reproduce them here so you get my artist’s impression
but honestly his early drawings looks
but honestly his early drawings looks like this just a triangle for the shard
like this just a triangle for the shard
like this just a triangle for the shard in some little boxes to represent the
in some little boxes to represent the
in some little boxes to represent the rest of the skyline it’s a very simple
rest of the skyline it’s a very simple
rest of the skyline it’s a very simple sketch a very quick sketch a bit done in
sketch a very quick sketch a bit done in
sketch a very quick sketch a bit done in a way but it carries something something
a way but it carries something something
a way but it carries something something of the scale and grandeur that would
of the scale and grandeur that would
of the scale and grandeur that would eventually become the shard and that
eventually become the shard and that
eventually become the shard and that very real very physical building that
very real very physical building that
very real very physical building that you can go and touch up that London
you can go and touch up that London
you can go and touch up that London would not exist were it not for this
would not exist were it not for this
would not exist were it not for this picture well not this picture obviously
picture well not this picture obviously
picture well not this picture obviously another example this time from long long
another example this time from long long
another example this time from long long ago cave paintings these scenes of hunts
ago cave paintings these scenes of hunts
ago cave paintings these scenes of hunts from our ancient past I like to think
from our ancient past I like to think
from our ancient past I like to think about them anyway because they it kind
about them anyway because they it kind
about them anyway because they it kind of blows my mind it’s like our ancient
of blows my mind it’s like our ancient
of blows my mind it’s like our ancient ancestors are speaking to us from beyond
ancestors are speaking to us from beyond
ancestors are speaking to us from beyond the eons even if that message is nothing
the eons even if that message is nothing
the eons even if that message is nothing more profound than a handprint on a wall
more profound than a handprint on a wall
more profound than a handprint on a wall that says we were here but the other
that says we were here but the other
that says we were here but the other thing that’s amazing about cave
thing that’s amazing about cave
thing that’s amazing about cave paintings is that people that know about
paintings is that people that know about
paintings is that people that know about this stuff tell us that there’s this
this stuff tell us that there’s this
this stuff tell us that there’s this period when the first early humans
period when the first early humans
period when the first early humans turned up started building more complex
turned up started building more complex
turned up started building more complex societies and communities started using
societies and communities started using
societies and communities started using fire and working at how fire worked
fire and working at how fire worked
fire and working at how fire worked inventing and using more and more
inventing and using more and more
inventing and using more and more complex tools as a period between those
complex tools as a period between those
complex tools as a period between those early humans doing recognizably
early humans doing recognizably
early humans doing recognizably recognizably human stuff between them
recognizably human stuff between them
recognizably human stuff between them turning up and inventing language and
turning up and inventing language and
turning up and inventing language and then an even huge a track of time if we
then an even huge a track of time if we
then an even huge a track of time if we worked out any way of writing that stuff
worked out any way of writing that stuff
worked out any way of writing that stuff down so that means for a hugely
down so that means for a hugely
down so that means for a hugely significant part of our development as a
significant part of our development as a
significant part of our development as a species the main means we had to talk to
species the main means we had to talk to
species the main means we had to talk to each other was grunts and shrugs and
each other was grunts and shrugs and
each other was grunts and shrugs and drawing drawing was necessary to bring
drawing drawing was necessary to bring
drawing drawing was necessary to bring us to where we are today and so I think
us to where we are today and so I think
us to where we are today and so I think it’s slightly insane if we today drop
it’s slightly insane if we today drop
it’s slightly insane if we today drop drawing as a means of looking for a way
drawing as a means of looking for a way
drawing as a means of looking for a way to our future both individually and as a
to our future both individually and as a
to our future both individually and as a species so I want to encourage you to be
species so I want to encourage you to be
species so I want to encourage you to be people who draw more drawing your office
people who draw more drawing your office
people who draw more drawing your office meetings draw when you on the train draw
meetings draw when you on the train draw
meetings draw when you on the train draw in the margins of your books I promise
in the margins of your books I promise
in the margins of your books I promise you that the more you draw the more you
you that the more you draw the more you
you that the more you draw the more you will find that you have something
will find that you have something
will find that you have something to say and may you never think of the
to say and may you never think of the
to say and may you never think of the doodles that you do why on the phone
doodles that you do why on the phone
doodles that you do why on the phone talking to your friend those drawings
talking to your friend those drawings
talking to your friend those drawings that you do to help you think don’t ever
that you do to help you think don’t ever
that you do to help you think don’t ever think of them as trivial and may you be
think of them as trivial and may you be
think of them as trivial and may you be a people who put to death that voice in
a people who put to death that voice in
a people who put to death that voice in your head that says I can’t thank
your head that says I can’t thank
your head that says I can’t thank [Applause]
”
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