Observation of perception, considered through drawing

Abstract

The article presents and discusses an observational approach to drawing, where the objective is to articulate some features of visual perception implicated in and by the drawing process. Besides drawing, the author recorded such investigation through an action camera placed in front of his eyes and simultaneously recorded his spoken comment on the activity. The camera became the principle motif of the drawing, along with observation of certain operative biological features of perception, especially binocularity and peripheral vision. The article reflects on a first drawing involving three layers that simultaneously generated three videos and monologues. A second drawing was then developed from a more knowing stance, based on the considerations raised by the first drawing. Of such considerations, these were principally the question of timeframe, framing of experience, procrastination and doubt and, as it were, disengaged focus. The theoretical bases of the latter were founded in part on the author's existing knowledge brought to the first drawing, and in part explored in the second drawing through what reflection on the article's question had raised during its development. While the spoken monologues were intended to shed light on the objective of the drawings, consideration is given to how they also shaped the drawings. Sections of the monologues as transcripts are shown in relation to video screenshots and discussed for their contribution to the drawings.