Years ago there was a television commercial selling something (what it was selling I don’t remember), but it had a tag line that in many ways has shaped, or at least reflects much of what I hold dear as a craftsperson and as a human being. The tag line was this: “if you want to capture someone’s attention just whisper”. This simple phrase continues to signify that you don’t have to be loud, or large, or in someone’s face to be important, to be powerful, or to make a difference. It parallels the notion that the classic Japanese brushstroke in it’s most simple form can be bold, or that a gentle touch from a friend can be life changing.
