As usual, this morning I was doing my regular drawing ritual straight after breakfast. It’s my meditation – to engender calm.

It’s my therapy – to keep bad thoughts at bay.

My training – to help me focus, to learn – to hopefully make better pictures.

To help me improve my hand, eye, brain coordination.

To be open to accidents, because in art, I believe, every accident is a gift.

I was drawing some roughly symmetrical patterned leaves, starting at the top, gradually getting bigger as they fluttered down the page. Leaves woven together by branches with a suggestion of bark , also, appearing to get closer towards the bottom.

Simple outlines : leaf shape, branch shape.

Simple patterns : decorative.

Unexpectedly, a leaf on the left resembled the beak of a bird. I had no choice but to go with it. The bird wanted to be depicted so it popped up in the picture.

Sitting happily in a simple tree, contemplating it’s existence.

I was pleasantly surprised because, now, the drawing was somehow more purposeful.

And complete.