Drawing Conclusions
Posted by Rey
I didn’t get a cavity until I was off my parent’s insurance. Former-Cityites-Gone-Long-Island sagely (and sadly) say it’s because NYC water was fluoridated, but as I made my way into the dentists office I was afraid, so I brought my sketch pad.I was attached to that thing throughout my college career right up until I started working from home about a year ago (now I just sketch on what’s nearby). But back in those days it was a defense mechanism used to deflect attention from my immediate situation and focus my thoughts on the logic of what was going on.
For example: I sketched in Art History to help me remember the seminar; I sketched on the D-Train so I could figure out a way to outrun nine senselessly angry people; I sketched in my Dentists office to remember the details while squelching fear.)
Oh I’ve been to dentists before, gotten x-rays and cleanings done but it was the first time in a new practice, alone and with my own money. I knew that the visit was going to hurt on so many levels (did I mention my own money?) so the pad helped.
I can’t find the drawing right now (and it’s probably gone forever) but I actually have something that’s the point of view of me in the chair with the doctor hovering over me. Later on one of my professors saw the sketch and showed me an illustrator who had done that exact position (but unimaginably better).
I think I’m going to have to start carrying around that sketch pad again but this time I might have to lend it to my kids; hopefully it’s a focal method and not outright distraction.
(Oh yeah: aced Art History; got cavities filled; didn’t get beat up but did have the nine senselessly angry people sitting around me and saying “yo, this *bleep* can draw Spider-Man!”—Thank God for His foresight!)
One Response to “Drawing Conclusions”
Leave a Reply
June 23rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
So once more, Spidey saves the day!