Is it possible to learn to draw?

[BiggerTallerFaster]

I can't draw, at all. I don't think I've ever even done a stick man I was pleased with.

Is it something you can learn? If so, how would I go about it?

Following as I'd love to know too!

I absolutely think it's possible to learn, I've taught my mum who always said she was terrible and couldn't draw to save her life. Some people naturally have an eye for it but in the end it's just practise really.

I did lots of 'Draw with Rob' during lockdown with our kids- step by step videos (liars of other artists do them too I am sure). We all enjoyed it and felt proud of the outcome but not freestyle drawing if that's what you are after. Maybe a good starting point though?

I’m sure it is. I got a long way by simply trying harder to look and draw what I saw. It takes a lot longer than you might think. Adding light and shade would be the next big improvement.

Like anything else yes you can learn to draw or at least improve your drawing skills. Look up basic elements of drawing, do that step by step and go from there.

Yes, of course. It's a learned skill just like writing. The reason some people are good at art is because they practice a lot.

The very basics are breaking things down into shapes and practicing technique. Your stick figure is a good example of breaking things down. Draw one. Look at what's wrong with it. Is the head not circular enough? Draw a bunch of circles until you can do it reliably. Is the spine too wobbly? Draw straight lines until you can do them relatively straight. If you always wobble at the same place look at why and try to correct it.

Correct the overall image too. Are the legs too short? Are the arms not where you want them? Is there a different pose that would convey the emotion you want your stick figure to have? Look up images of people doing things and see if you can stick figure it. It'll be fun

Once you've nailed shape work, you'll want to look at light and shade. Don't waste any time feeling bad about not being 'good' at it, enjoy the learning. Every single artist has done a bad stick figure and plenty of work they're not proud of. Plus, being good at art doesn't remove those feelings, your standards just adjust to make you feel terrible whatever you do, it's a complete waste of time. Enjoy the process and you'll get much more out of it

You can learn anything. Some people have a natural ability and others have to learn it but everything is learnable

It's not something learnable. Do you think Salvador Dali's art teacher told him to draw a bunch of circles?

Kenzo Life Drawing tutorials can be found at www.lovelifedrawing.com and they are free!
There are also tutorials available via the Croquix Cafe.
If life drawing could be a starting point for you.
The Jake Spicer series of books are also very good.
Just go for it!

@purrswhileheeats

It's not something learnable. Do you think Salvador Dali's art teacher told him to draw a bunch of circles?

Of course it bloody is, don’t be so ridiculous.

I think it's very likely he learnt to draw circles once

There really is no such thing as natural talent for drawing that you must have to be good at it. Some people have a better eye straight off and good motor functions and that makes it easier but they still have to learn. It's mostly in the practice. A 'natural' artist that doesn't practice will be worse than a naturally mediocre one that does.

www.boredpanda.com/drawing-skills-progress-before-after/

To draw what you see is a learnable skill - that's what people did before photography was invented.
How good you get depends on practice and motivation.

The drawing becoming art is sth entirely different,

It's like any craft, you just need to learn how to do it. There are lots of good tutorials on YouTube.

I think school can sometimes give this false impression that it's something that you're either good at or you're not. There can be a tendency to set an art task and just let the pupils get on with it. Without teaching perspective, or colour theory, or composition theory etc.

You wouldn't expect to just "know" how to do long division or algebra, someone tells you the basics on how to do it. Drawing and painting are the same. You can teach yourself from books or videos, and there's no reason you can't get very good.

Plus it's a very enjoyable pastime, I hope you decide to take the plunge.

'Drawing on the right side of the brain' by Betty Edwards really helpful way to de mystify it all

Thank you ginandbearit, is that a "course" to follow?

I quite fancy treating myself to a nice sketch book and seeing if I can make any progress over the course of the year.

@ginandbearit

'Drawing on the right side of the brain' by Betty Edwards really helpful way to de mystify it all

I was just about to recommend this program! It's a game-changer!

People who can draw say anyone can learn because they can't comprehend that some people (like me) are simply missing the bit in their brain that links what you see to movements you can make with your pencil. It's nothing like teaching someone to solve algebraic equations. (Though it is also true that some people have the ability to visualise relationships between numbers and some don't.) It's more like singing - lessons will improve your technique but if you can't pitch a note then you'll never be able to sing.

I don’t have a natural eye at all, but I can copy, and I am hoping that will eventually lead on to creative talent.

At the moment I am stuck on cartoon like drawing, like this, which I did the other day.

I bought some drawing and watercolour Domestika courses during lockdown as have always wanted to be able to draw - I am better than I was but still shit. There was one course specifically for adults who are afraid of drawing and it did help me gain a bit of confidence to try and forget how crap I am, which is the biggest battle.

I used to be a paper cutting artist, selling quite a lot of work, but it was all based on photographs so no drawing needed.

@SinkGirl

I bought some drawing and watercolour Domestika courses during lockdown as have always wanted to be able to draw - I am better than I was but still shit. There was one course specifically for adults who are afraid of drawing and it did help me gain a bit of confidence to try and forget how crap I am, which is the biggest battle.

I used to be a paper cutting artist, selling quite a lot of work, but it was all based on photographs so no drawing needed.

I’d love to try paper cutting

I like stylised drawings, and worked my way through this course a few years back (it was free, don't know if it is now):
www.creativebug.com/classseries/single/daily-drawing-challenge

I also bought a couple of books in the series 50 ways to draw a flower/tree/whatever (there are loads!), must dig them out again. I like drawing but I'm not very good at it. I definitely improved while I was working on it though!

Facade, I'd bet that's because you've not been taught to how to look at things for drawing. I could draw for a long time before I could draw anything from life. It absolutely can be taught.

I have also had art classes that felt like being taught equations

@OhCormoranAllYeFaithful You should! Much more about patience and precision (perhaps perfectionism!) than drawing ability. I developed a technique to turn photos into layered cuts, although a lot of people do it now but I can tell do it differently from how I did it.

I used to sell beginners kits but haven’t sold physical items since my twins were born - there are quite a few on Etsy etc though.

Another thing I have learnt (apart from ‘try harder’ and ‘it takes longer than you think’) is that seeing your drawings is a bit like hearing a recording of your voice. Other people may find them perfectly pleasant and natural, but, having your own internal idea of what you thought it would look like, you can’t believe that that’s what you draw like. There’s an element of just learning to accept that that’s how you draw.