"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up." ~ Pablo Picasso
Hello Tom,
Of course you're totally right Tom, you can use direct learning for drawing, as well as many other skills.For years I was frustrated with drawing, because I knew I could do it but it was like I had thought myself into a stance that I couldn't do it.As with the quote above, we're all artists, but many forget they are.When I was very young I won an school art competition out of the whole school.When I was about 13 my art teacher took a self portrait I had done and showed it to my whole class as an example of how a creative mind draws.I found it somewhat embarrassing, as I thought he was joking.The art teacher asked me later "I didn't know you could draw so well.How come you've never done this before" and my bemused reply was "well because I'm rubbish at drawing aren't I?".That is the kind of doubting thought I had you see, that held me back.It was only when I let go and just did it, that I found I could do it, and do it extremely well.Those two examples were glimpses that I could do it, even though the rest of the time I only drew if I was made to in a class or something.I dropped art in school and my last grade was an E or something.
Anyway like I said these many doubts, belief systems I had picked up, meant that I never really did any drawing.But the nagging feeling in me that wanted to express myself was always there in the back of my mind and eventually it became too much, so I decided I would go for it and make direct learning the approach to remember again that I, like everyone else, is an artist.After direct learning some art books, photoreading images I liked, and really having the attitude that "I will do this, I can do this, this is me!" well things took off.I sat with a pencil and paper one day and just stared at it for a while.Then I decided to draw some items in the room.Everything felt completely natural and ease and flowing as I put pencil to paper and began to draw.I just knew what to do, I felt so confident in my own abilities.Now and again I would catch myself thinking "I can't be doing this, this isn't possible, I can't draw" but that was silenced as I kept going and kept focus.
Now I feel I can draw anything.Nothing intimidates me at all.In fact I revel in drawing the "impossible", it makes it more of a thrill.People comment on my drawings and say "wow, that is amazing.I wish I could draw like that".Though it's nice to be complemented, I am very humble because I know that everyone can draw, so I'm no different than anyone else, only in that I am one of those who has remembered I am an artist.Now I can express myself so much more and that nagging feeling (which I guess you have, which is why you want to be better at drawing) goes and in place of it is a very good feeling knowing that you have let loose even more of the potential within you.
How's that for encouragement.All the best Tom.
