When I look at a tree I see shapes that occur between the branches of the tree.
There are shapes with no names that are green with the leaves that hang behind the branches.
There are other shapes that are the stone-gray of the cathedral behind the tree.
Other shapes are the blue of the sky that is broken by the branches.
If the sky is gray, those shapes are gray.
The shapes always have curved edges because trees being organic beings have no right angles or any other architecturally sharp angles.
When I go to draw the tree, I look at those colored shapes and draw them.
Lo and behold, I end up with a tree on paper or canvas!It is gratifying to hear someone else say 'How did you do that?' Shall I tell them the secret?Or should I just shrug my shoulders as if to say I guess I'm just gifted that way? Drawing is a skill.
The skill is seeing.
You can learn to do that.
All it requires is someone to point it out to you.
Instead of thinking about named items -- bush, sky, dog, window, table, chair, etc.
-- look at the shapes you see.
Look out your window.
What shapes do you see?A green rectangle with rounded edges.
A yellow double stripe running horizontally in a field of grays.
A brick-textured irregular shape.
When you look at your eyes in the mirror, do you see the space between them? The great thing about seeing this way is that it keeps you so engaged with your immediate surroundings you forget your troubles!But look out!You may forget what else is going on around you!