Letters from the Equator

I used to draw a lot in school. It was halfway through secondary school where I finally succumbed to the use of pens as the de facto tool for writing. Pencils were dear to me. There was a big difference between 2B, HB, and 6B. Even with pens, I only fancied those which matched my writing style accomplished with a pencil.

I often used other people to portray my emotions on paper. Or I would try to ‘be’ that person, or figure out what makes that person real,… and try to put that into a picture. Then I would hide behind casual glances and impressions of onlookers. I seldom drew portraits of people who were very close to me. That would expose too much of myself. I’d usually do people I am not emotionally attached to, but have a generally good (or anonymous) relationship with.

I’ve moved past that now, because I don’t draw anymore. It was something I did because I needed it, at the time. It was something other people appreciated, but didn’t use to expose me. So, in a way, it was a trump card for a nerd like me. Other nerds do computers, some show off the size of their tongues, I just did it by drawing people’s faces.

Once in awhile I’ll have that urge to draw again… to paint an imaginary place, a fantasy, where I would live in for awhile. But I never really get around to it, probably cos it does take up a lot of time. Besides, it’s easier to write songs… which I’ve also done.

What was your mode of nerd expression?