Blind Sketching

Throughout my travels over the last few months, I have been compiling a small portfolio of sketches. I draw these sketches without looking at the paper, nor at the subject. I am reliant only on my sense of touch and generative imagination to produce these works.

The subject?

My sacred flower.

I'm not sure exactly where the inspiration came from, but I know it had something to do with couples practicing sensual exploration without the use of sight. Since I have been traveling solo, I tailored it to a personal experience and went from there.

The first attempt at this unorthodox practice was slightly frustrating. There was nothing sensual about the experience. I was so focused on trying to create something that was coherent, I didn't have the capacity to access the true purpose of the exercise. By the third drawing session, I had begun to accept the practice for what it was, and let go of the perfectionism of what "good" meant. The sketches started to feel more coherent, while still greatly abstract. My level of satisfaction with the final product was directly correlated to what I decided the purpose of the experience was. It went from being an assignment, to being a blessing of exploration.

It was a beautiful way to explore my body in a non-sexual context, and to transmute myself into another physical iteration