Working with Charcoal and Paper

My relationship with charcoal is one of indifference. As much as I adore stirring the hot coals in a bonfire, boxed-up uniform artists’ charcoal for me leaves something to be desired. I sat back, committed to observing the toddlers as they confronted this new material in their space. As I watched, I started to make marks with the broken bits of charcoal that had scattered across the paper. I found myself distracted by the movement of the little bodies all around me. Distracted in a good way…

I began to attend to the physicality of the experience—the energy shifts, the varying density of the marks they left behind on the paper. Afterwards, I looked at the paper and there were definite dark patches interspersed with trickles of lighter marks and trails of smudges. I started to think about how we walk together on the path adjacent to the forest.

When we find something of interest on the path, a crowd forms and energy lifts. Eventually, the little bodies disperse, trailing off to investigate on their own. Without a doubt, another “crowd” moment is just around the corner, followed by more muted experiences. The marks that the toddlers left on the paper became very symbolic of the energy that I feel exists when we walk together. In my mind, I equate this to fireworks…

Fireworks

Like fireworks.

Energy

Hot and focused

Brief

Then dissipates.

Like fireworks.

Attention

Intense and passionate

Radiates

Then fades.

Like fireworks.

Flicker and flash

Independent paths

Reunite in booms of concentrated energy.

Explosive bursts

Give light to a million sparks

To wander once again on their own

Like fireworks trail across the night sky.