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?

IMO it depends what you mean by drawing.

If it’s drawing a passable copy of something right in front of you, a still life, or perhaps a landscape, then yes, I think you can learn to do it to a reasonable standard.

If OTOH it’s drawing a scene or a person or animal just out of your head, then IMO it’s a bit like being able to sing in tune - some people can, others are just tone deaf.
If my grandchildren’s lives depended on it, I could not draw even a halfway passable person or animal just out of my head, like many of my school friends could.

OTOH even before I ever had a piano lesson I could play a tune by ear. So many people can’t. Different people - different abilities.

"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"

Exactly this. While you might be able to learn to improve, if you have literally no natural ability you are going to struggle. In the same way that if you have no musical ear at all you will struggle to be able to sing in tune.

I am incapable of even copying a simple flat drawing, let alone draw something from life or from my head. My daughter on the other hand just has a sense of how to do it.

I know some professional artists and not one works out of their head. That's just not how art is done. They can of course - after years of practice anyone can throw together a drawing from memory. But the skills and ability to do so is learned. I have had lessons on the theory of putting together images and how to create reference materials from professional artists. It really is all taught I'm still not very good but it's because I don't put in the work. The good ones do.

I started learning to draw with You Can Draw in 30 Days by Mark Kistler. It's absolutely brilliant. I found it much more engaging than Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. I've attached my first page of my drawing skill when I started followed by days 9 and 11 so you can see how quickly your drawing improves.

Brilliant question OP i would love to learn to draw and also calligraphy writing ✍

It is possible, I couldn't draw to save my life but my son who is a professional artist has been teaching me bits and pieces as I wanted to be able to do paint effects on the dollshouse I'm making.
I've been able to draw passable plants but you need to practice over and over again and you need a book on how to draw, shading etc. It won't be overnight, it took me a couple of years.

Absolutely. I have no natural talent but believe everything is easy when you know how. I joined an art class and I’ve done some things that resemble what they are Supposed to be. Still learning.

Absolutely you can learn to draw. Take a pen and a bit of paper and make a mark... that is drawing. Make more marks, think what you want those marks to do and do some more and more and more.

Realistic drawing takes practice...just as becoming a writer, musician, doctor, chess master or any other profession takes practice to be really good. I can write a briefing note, hum a tune, put a sticking plaster on, know the pieces on a board and have a professional job.

Being able to imagine something and draw it is a completely different skill from being able to copy something from life. I'm pretty good at drawing/painting from life (to the extent that I have taught in the past) but have zero skill at drawing from my imagination because I don't have a "mind's eye". I think this actually makes me better at drawing from life as I don't get distracted by imagined images. So yes you need to figure out what type of drawing you want to be good at as those two are quite separate things.