Yes, You Can Learn to Draw
Every artist was at first an amateur
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
The first step in learning to draw is practicing the fundamentals and skills of making marks or lines. We improve the quality of our drawings by continuing to learn and PRACTICE. The more we draw, sketch, doodle and make marks, the further we progress towards accomplished drawing. We tend to be very demanding of ourselves and expect to be able to draw instantly, often claiming that artists either have talent or not.
Some ideas on practice:
Keep a sketchbook and pen or pencil with you. Try to sketch something every day. It can be something you see and think you might like to remember for later. Instead of taking a photo with your phone, try to sketch what you see. You can also draw something you don’t see – an idea or thought or invention that pops into your head. Just draw! The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam encourages visitors to draw the collections – click here to see more! You See More When You Draw
Keep your old drawings. If they’re in your sketchbook, don’t rip them out and toss them. It’s great to see your progression and with practice, you will improve and have a record of your journey.
Artists with no inhibition progress faster so don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone learns at different speeds and our early drawings are nothing to be ashamed of – they are just a starting point in our progress – see above #2!
Learning and practicing a complicated skill can improve brain function and memory at any age. Check out this article from the New York Times that focuses on better aging through practice. Children and teens also benefit from practicing drawing. Drawing enhances fine motor and problem-solving skills, and activates our imaginations.
Even DaVinci had to start somewhere and learn through practice. So learn a new skill and practice drawing often. You will see progress!
