Seeing


When we were born, we got two beautiful eyes. Black, brown, gray, blue or green eyes, 
all of them are machines to interpret light in different forms and shapes. These two eyes 
are masterpieces in every human body. With these eyes, we can see everything around 
us; we see the shapes colours and the beauty of nature and human life.

What do we do with these two eyes in life? NOTHING! Yes nothing, because people do 
not really look. They do not really look, why? I have been working in the field of art for over 
50 years and I always have the same problem with my students. THEY CANNOT SEE! 
Many people nowadays are totally blind! Now you think I am crazy, for almost everybody 
can read, drive and see what is happening around them. Yes that is right, but it is not the 
"seeing" that I am writing about. I made a drawing course just to teach people to see 
what is in front of them and it is incredible to see the problems they have in seeing 
simple objects. When I ask somebody the colour of the t-shirt I was wearing an hour ago 
they do not know. How many times do you think by yourself, "what did the man I was just 
speaking to look like?"  We all have a big problem indeed; we do not really register what 
we see around us. We talk a lot but we forget to listen or to see! What is going on with us? 
We think things do not change or we think the information is not important enough. 
A man who is ugly and who is bothering you, his face will stay in your memory for weeks. 
In that case, you are able to burn that face into your brain and hold it. Why is it that 
negatively things stay in your mind more easily? Why do we not keep the positive things 
in our brain and erase all the negative images? People who had a car crash see those
pictures for years. Why do we not see that peaceful seascape for a long time in our mind? 
Our brain is so busy with absorbing negative pictures that it has no time to get all positive 
things in our mind. However, it is more as if we are waiting for these negative pictures 
and that we are hungry to see them, because deep inside us we like them! Yes, you are 
the one who holds on these negative pictures.

It is so important that you learn to see and store everything positive into your brain. 
When you look around and you see children playing, watch them and enjoy their game. 
It will give you an extra pleasant feeling on a beautiful day. What about that butterfly sitting 
on a colourful flower that gives you such a happy feeling. There are thousands of examples 
a day, you only have to open your eyes and the power of these images will give you a 
feeling of happiness.

Learning to see is not easy, because for thousands of years we have lost our way of 
seeing. However, if you want and if you accept to learn you will find the beautiful world 
of images again. Therefore, everyday from now on will be an exceptional day.

One simple exercise;
- Sit somewhere.
- Focus on an object in front of you, not too difficult.
- Look at that object for one minute.
- Close your eyes and see that object in your mind.
- Do you see its shape?
- The colours?
- Look carefully with your eyes closed and if you are ready open your eyes and see what 
you were missing in the image in your mind.

(BR061129)