Losing to win.

Here's a biblical verse that I believe can apply to portraiture and figure drawing.
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Matthew 16:25-26)
This is not seeking profit but God, acknowledging that God has ultimate control and enjoying the process. Redirecting one's focus to what really matters.
I find that looking for and drawing the abstract shapes around an eye will inevitably reveal the true shape of the eye without seeking it and when applying this to the entire portrait the likeness will be there without seeking and worrying about getting it all right, perfect and, for that matter, wondering what the model will think about capturing their likeness. The marks also tend to be fresh and full of life when enjoying the process and not seeking a product but the joy in God reflecting him as a creator.
It may sound silly but I don't find this to be much of a stretch just the application of the much deeper principle within these two verses.
Humbly attempting to apply my life to the work of my hands. Who really wants a stiff, stale, soulless portrait of anyone anyway?
Craig Hawkins
craighawkinsart.com
(sent from iPhone)