Drawing With Yo-Yo Ma

Notes, lines and laughter

How do you prepare to draw Yo-Yo Ma?

I have no idea.

How do I capture his music and his movement, his passion and expertise, his knowledge and playfulness in my drawing?

We will have an unconventional “dialogue.”

A wild “conversation” of notes, lines, words and laughter, I am sure.

Yo-Yo Ma has been playing the cello since he was three. I have been drawing since I was six. We both live and breathe our art form, it is who we are.

Yo-Yo “speaks” audibly, I visually. Where do the two intersect? We each communicate in a form other than words.

How do I draw his music? How does he play my line?

I did the sketch above from a photo, something I usually don’t like to do before a live drawing event. But felt I need to have a beginning understanding of his face and body, how the cello sits within his embrace—all so that is in my mind. When I am onstage with Yo-Yo, I want to draw him in that moment, as I feel his music and movement.

I love innovation! Expanding the boundaries of what we know. I plan to learn and push myself and play. Yo Yo and I will be performing together, improvising together, and talking at The Jar in Boston. I can’t wait!

Zoom prep with Yo Yo and his assistant and the directors of The Jar.

Thank you to Guy Ben-Aharon (above left) for founding The Jar and suggesting this “Pairing,” as he is calling it. See more about this innovative space for art, culture and diversity by going to jumpinthejar.org, or @jumpinthejar on Instagram