Drawing is how we explain things in pictures. It is a language we seem to be able to read and write instinctively without any formal training.
As soon as a child can hold a crayon, it is mesmerised by the marks it makes. It grows up joyfully interpreting the world through drawing and colouring in.
Around about the age of eleven, the act of drawing gets confused with the business of Art, style and criticism. Just when students could do with some encouragement and formal training in technique that will help them progress their drawing skills, they give up drawing and drawing becomes part of the Art syllabus.
They should carry on drawing, not as artists but as mathematicians, scientists, geographers historians and linguists. The act of drawing switches off the left side of the brain sending the drawer into a state of flow, so necessary for those leaps of imagination that we call creativity. Drawing is a training exercise for the right side of the brain.
All day long we force right brainers to learn language and sequencing techniques – how strange is it that we do not offer the complete exercise and training of the brain as standard?
Drawing is a universal language that crosses all barriers and boundaries. If you can’t read Japanese, the chances are you could decode a Japanese manga comic from the pictures and have a pretty good idea of the story.
The saying goes, “a picture tells a thousand words.” Every institution of power knows this truth and uses it ruthlessly. Why then do we gag ourselves? Why do we say,”I’m rubbish at drawing,”?
Because we confuse Drawing with Art. Drawing is something everyone can do, and I mean everyone.
You would not expect a room of adults to be writing Japanese at the end of one lesson, but you can bring a smile to their faces with just one drawing lesson. Better than that, you can get them to produce a piece of work that surprises them, that they can be proud of and happy to show to their friends and family. Sometimes they are so excited you cannot stop them!
Like learning Japanese, it takes practice and technique to get better.
We don’t teach drawing technique anymore because the artistic establishment has become sacred of influencing artistic style. But if someone doesn’t want to be an artist, who cares? At art college, my lecturers refused to show me any techniques – they didn’t want to spoil my natural style – I didn’t have any, because I’d never been taught any technique. However, they didn’t mind it when I taught them techniques I’d learned as a commercial artist, signwriter and mapmaker before I went to college!
Drawing is not an art – it is a skill that can be learned. Like any other skill it takes practice and perseverance. It’s benefits far out way the effort put in.
