Andy's Window

This study by David Hockney is a typical example of his drawing practice from direct observation. In fact he once spoke about a real moment in his early years, when he realized that the academic convention of his time taught drawing as a way to explore mental ideas, but it was not nearly as informative as drawing from life.

From that moment on, his work has reflected his profound interest to how we see the world under our nose, which has kept his work fresh from one’s eternal beginner’s mind.

Colored pencil drawing by David Hockney

What I love about this small drawing is first of all its simplicity, done with a few colored pencils. Yet this informal study also contains several layers of visual richness that any work of an experienced artist-observer like Hockney embodies.

There is first of all the charm of the subject, a fragile fresh-cut flower placed by someone in the window light as a little altar of contemplation that joins color, shape and the texture of leaves, water and glass.

Then there is the magic of turning white paper into the presence of light, both outside light and its reflection that illuminates an interior living space.

And finally there is the abstract composition a subliminal pattern all great art understands enchants the inner eye, and keeps it engaged—in this example with a vertical pattern of alternating dark and white bars.