Monday was the Member Livestream and someone asked a question about drawing.
The main demo I did was based on a photo of Lady Gaga from a magazine advertisement. This is how it turned out:
But, as you may have guessed from the title of this post, I've got a bit of a lecture to deliver.
Drawing is a skill, like writing. Some people may be naturally more gifted at it, but with practice, everyone can draw. The key here is practice.
When you say, "I can't draw," I hear, "I don't practice drawing."
I'm pretty sure that I can't just pick up a violin and start to play it. And even after a few lessons, I will still need to practice, practice, practice and learn, learn, learn. Drawing is a skill. You can absolutely learn how to draw, but it's up to you to put in the work.
Drawing is a foundational skill for all artists. Printmakers should learn to draw. Painters should learn to draw. Abstract artists need to learn how to draw. Because drawing is mostly about seeing. And artists need to see the world around them more keenly than regular people.
Why is seeing so important to me, as an artist? I believe that the job of the artist is to capture the world as I see it, and to share that vision. One of the ways I begin to put form to my vision of the world is through drawing. I draw the things I see in the way that I see them.
If you're an artist in search of your "personal style" and that thing that makes you original, drawing is the key to finding it.
But drawing is even more. It's also a wonderful thinking tool. It's visual brainstorming.
Drawing allows you to make connections, come upon discoveries, and explore ideas.
Drawing is a powerful way of unleashing your imagination and capturing your thoughts.
Drawing can even help your memory. In fact, in 2018, a study was released that demonstrated that drawing is a more effective memory tool than activities such as reading or writing because it forces the person to process information in multiple ways: visually, kinesthetically, and semantically. Across a series of experiments, researchers found drawing information to be a powerful way to boost memory, increasing recall by nearly double. This is probably why sketchnoting has become so popular!
All of this is to say: Yes, you can draw. Yes, you should draw.
If you're interested in exploring some drawing possibilities with me:
- Sketchbook Habit: Keeping a Visual Diary is all about drawing bits of your life, with lots of drawing tips along the way.
- The Carve December Workbook has a strong drawing component in it. Coming up with original ideas for printmaking projects involves a lot of drawing.
That said, the best way to begin drawing is to begin. And to keep going. The paper you use doesn't matter. The pen or pencil you use doesn't matter. Just do it. And don't stop.
Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
Thank you so much for this post. I forgot!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I’m so glad that you found it useful!
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.
I so agree with you. I get so tired of people who say they can’t draw. even to the point of making it almost sound almost as if it’s a virtue! I also hate and am a bit insulted when people say “OH, but you are so gifted at it” as if I hadn’t practiced it nearly every day of my 60 years. what they don’t see, they don’t take into account. don’t just practice, learn to enjoy that practice itself rather than looking for a perfect product which will never happen.