Figure Drawing
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Jamie looked intently at her face and said out loud, “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You’re perfect.” He paused, “I wish I could know you in real life. I wish…” He didn’t finish the sentence but let out a sigh, turned out the lights, and went to bed. After fits and starts of sleep, he arose, turned on the lights, and again stared at the painting. Would the woman be just as beautiful in natural light? Would other people see the same beauty that he did? Looking at the painting gave him pleasure, but a pleasure that was unfulfilling, mixed as it was with a deep yearning--for something, for someone. “I wish I could make you real,” he said out loud. “I wish a real you…would love me.” After having felt so elated earlier, he now felt despondent. As he stared intently at her face and eyes, the figure appeared to move as in an animation. She seemed to whisper, “I could love you. He asked out loud, “Did you really talk to me?” He thought he saw the young woman nod in assent. How can this be? What’s happening? He continued to stare at the woman, but she neither moved nor spoke to him again.
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About the Book
Figure Drawing is a love story involving two artists: one, Jamie Nez, is an extraordinarily gifted Navajo artist, estranged from his Navajo family and culture and living in Boston, and the other, Lina Page, is a beautiful young woman whom Jamie paints and brings to life. In an almost supernatural way, she is in touch with aesthetics and art because she was created from art. Art is still a part of her. The story includes this supernatural, creative incident, and then explores how these individuals would negotiate this “Pygmalion” like creation in today’s modern, real world. As the two protagonists come to develop a clearer understanding of each other, while negotiating challenges and separations, and with the help of friends they make along the way, they come to learn who they are and develop a deeper love of each other. Lina (who as she develops has a name change to Rachel) becomes the means through which Jamie overcomes his own demons and finds his way back to his Navajo roots and family, and confidently accepts his artistic gifts. Lina comes to accept her own unique identity and gifts and her connections in this world, though it involves much sadness along the way. She must deal with having a baby she wants to nurture and help to grow, and, yet, she must come to terms with the possibility that she may not remain in this world for long. The story arc and perspectives involve both protagonists. It is both of their stories, individually, and together. The story takes place in Boston, New York City, northern California, and Navajo Nation in Arizona.
About the Author
Malcolm Watson is a professor emeritus of Psychology, and taught, did research, and published scholarly papers at Brandeis University for 40 years, where for part of his career he was the Dean of the Graduate School. During that time, he developed a friendship with several people in Navajo Nation in Arizona and became interested in the views of child development and child rearing ideals of families in that culture. Along the way and particularly since his retirement, he has been passionately involved as an artist and also as an author of short stories and essays. He lives with his wife in Massachusetts. This is his first novel.