No Secrets, No Quick Fixes
The quick and easy trend seems to be getting worse. We want everything reduced to One Rule, and that rule has to be Simple. And as if we weren't having enough trouble dispelling the Inborn Talent myth, it seems there's some Secret Knowlege that will make you an Artist. Seriously. Do people really think there are 'secrets' that they need to uncover, or just one special bit of knowledge that will make the difference between ordinary and excellent? It would be nice if we could shell out a few dollars and be given the secret handshake to artistic success. But there is no such magical answer.
Drawing can be as simple and as natural as speaking - but try speaking in a foreign language, and you know that that simple, natural process is actually very complex. You can't boil it down to a single rule. To learn to draw well, you need to spend time learning the vocabulary and syntax of line, tone, form, structure, perspective and composition. You need to practice and work at it. You need to think about what you are doing and be willing to change how you do it.
'The Knowledge' is out there - there's a shelf full of wisdom, for free, at your local library. And there's plenty here online. But a good teacher is valuable, and if you like an artist's work and are confident that they are reputable - caveat emptor, and all that - attending seminars and workshops can be worthwhile.
I'll tell you my Magic Key to Drawingtm. Practice drawing from life. (Yep, that's it. Well, I never said anything about it being a secret.... but it does work!)
Comments
What you say is true I like doing pencil drawings I know I want to express that which I feel I can see but it turns out gibberish and there is the problem books can’t tell me where I am going wrong.I get the feeling that without an educated opinion I wlll continue to draw the same gibberish.A bit like reading the Illiad in its original form While I have only two words of Greek
I almost always do my sketches in pen. It forces me to COMMIT!! And I can always shape or redraw any particular line. A series of life-drawing classes made a HUGE difference as did the encouragement of the Everyday Matters interest group. Looking at others’ sketches helped me see what was wrong AND right with mine.
Anyone can learn to draw if they commint to it, but it does take a committment.
Even talking took us 3 years to learn just the basics. We did not really learn to talk overnight, we just think we did.
And we don’t learn to draw overnight, we just think we do because we keep building skill upon skill.
A drawing takes as long as it takes.