Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

CHAPTER 2 FIRST STEPS IN DRAWING

Drawing Materials• 11” x 14” Paper, 80lb• One #2 ordinary yellow writing pencil with eraser at the

top• One #4 drawing pencil• One non-permanent and one permanent 5 point black

marking pens

• #4B Graphite stick• Pencil sharpener• Erasers • 3M Masking tape • Clips• Drawing board• 8” x 10” piece of glass or 1/16” thick clear plastic• Two viewfinders made by black cardboard• 5” x 7” small mirror

Gathering these materials requires a bit of effort, but they will truly help your learn rapidly.

These aids are so essential to your understandings of the basic nature of drawing.

Once you have learned the basic components of drawing, you will no longer need these teaching aids.

ViewfindersIt’s the perceptual aids that will help you “frame” your view and compose your drawings.

10”

8”

10”

8”

Construction paper or thin black cardboard

2” 1”

10”

8”

10”

8”

Pre-instruction drawing1. Make a record of your present level of drawing skills. JUST DO IT!

Soon you will know something.2. The degree of criticism keeps pace with progress3. The pre-instruction drawing provide a realistic gauge of progress

What You Will Draw1. A Person, Drawn from Memory2. Self-Portrait 3. My Hand

MaterialsPaper#2 pencilPencil sharpener Making tapeSmall 5” x 7” mirrorDrawing boardAbout an hour of uninterrupted time

Pre-instruction drawing #1A Person, Drawn from Memory1. Call up in your mind’s eye an image of a

person2. To the best of your ability, do a drawing

of the person. You may draw just a head, a half figure, of a full-length figure

3. Title, sign and date you drawing in the lower right-hand corner when finish

Even a trained artist would find it difficult, because visual memory is never as rich, complicated and clear as is actual seeing.Visual memory is necessarily simplified, generalized, and abbreviated

For a beginning student, drawing a person from memory brings forth a memorized set of symbols. It is caused by the so-called symbol system of early childhood drawing, memorized by countless repetitions.

Pre-instruction drawing #2Your Self Portrait 1. Tape the mirror to a wall and sit at arm’s length

from the wall. See your whole head within its edge2. Look at the reflection of your head3. Title, sign and date your drawing when finish

Pre-instruction drawing #3My Hand1. Seat your self at a table to draw2. If you are right-handed, draw your left hand in whatever

position you choose. Left-handed persons draw your right hand

3. Title, sign, date your drawing

The symbols repeated in both drawings: eyes, nose or mouth similar in shape

Your symbol system was controlling your hand even when you were observing the actual shapes in your face in the mirror.

The “tyranny” 專制 of the childhood symbol system explains why people untrained in drawing continue to produce “childish” drawing right into adulthood and even old age.

Learning to perceive is the rock bottom “ABC” of drawing

Instead of drawing skills, what you will learn is how to set your symbol system aside and accurately draw what you see. It’s necessarily learned before progressing to imaginative drawing, painting, or sculpture.

People came with different levels of existing skills. The pre-existing drawing skills have nothing to do with potential to

draw well.

The pre-instruction drawing represent the age at which the person last drew

Every student made significant progress in the five-days, eight-hour drawing workshops

with effectively using all five of the basic perceptual skill of drawings

Practice Perceiving and Drawing

EdgesSpaces

RelationshipLights and Shadow

Gestalt

Styles of drawing are NOT taught in this book.

Each unique style is true self-expression in drawing. It’s personal.

Style in drawing is similar to the development of an individual’s style in handwriting.

Your handwriting is a fundamental element of art: line.Every time you write your name, you have expressed yourself through the use of line.

Personal and individual style is embedded in drawingSome people may be more painterly style (emphasis on shapes), some people may be more “linear” style (emphasis on line)

Though the exercises concentrate on realistic drawing, a closer look at realistic art reveals subtle differences in line style, emphasis, and intent.

As your skills increase, you will see your unique style become firm and recognizable.