Four brushstrokes

He could see the picture that he wanted to make - a woman bending to pick a flower. He visualised the strokes that would be needed - the places where extra pressure would broaden the line. He was ready to dip the brush into the ink when he realised that, by continuing the line of the back along the woman's arm, he could make a better picture using four brushstrokes than he had planned using five.

He smiled and put the brush down. The picture was complete and perfect in his mind - it did not now need to be drawn.