Can 'drawing' be taught ?

So, me and my friend got into the butting of heads about artistic ability. I'm a BAD drawer. I mean, I can't draw stick people well. My points were, I took art as a child and never improved, I just dont have the ability to pick up a pencil and make a picture. I can make one with words, but a pencil is a different story.

He argued that it can be taught but differently for every person. So long story short we got into a little bet. 1 hour a day, he tries to teach me to draw and if I dont drastically improve he owed me 50$, and vice versa in a year.

Cool little bet, might show progress here or something.

What are your opinions on drawing being taught, though.

Just draw.

Sometimes you need to take breaks and see, breathe, taste, smell, and touch.

My drawing didn't just improve from constant drawing, but more from aging and gaining experience.


Everyone learns differently, so a way to learn how to draw for one person, might not be the same way for another.

Everyone brings different strengths and builds upon different strengths, creating unique styles.

Me for example, my lining is "ok", but I can put things I see very quickly on paper and my proportions are very good.

I started drawing when I was 6 years old, cartoon and the likes.

Especially when I was 12 and I saw Dragonball Z for the first time ^_^

I never traced like I saw a lot of others do, it was my golden rule.

My way of learning was to look at the drawing of other artists and adapt bits by bits, learn different ways to draw faces, noses, ears, etc.

What is really important is to learn to draw images from real life, because then can you learn to manipulate objects or people into a sort of good cartoonish/anime/whatever way.

You will develope your own style as you keep drawing and just to emphasis on the aging bit, I sometimes stopped drawing for months inbetween, even had a year where I didn't draw anything, but every time I picked up a pencil, I was better than last time, since I matured and I started paying attention to things I didn't beforehand.


I sometimes give others pointers.. tell them they need to improve on this or that, etc.. or give them objectives to draw me a thousand circles.. triangles, etc.

Why do you people continue to have your posts in color? for people with impaired eyesight this can cause strain on the eyes, I just want to read the context, is that so hard to ask?



anyhooo

I on the other hand used to be (what I like to feel) quite the artist for my time when I was back in elementary school. I've had plenty of teachers, parents, and peers compliment my doodles that I used to busy myself with at the afterschool program I attended. However, as time went on I began to cease doodling often, and as a result my skill drastically decreased. Due to my experience I feel that drawing is all a matter of drawing frequently enough. Every work that you commit to is a learning experience that can better teach you your weaknesses, strengths, and more importantly your unique style.

I believe there's a particular skill and thinking method that has to be thought, when it comes to drawing. Some people pick it up easily, others, like me, completely miss the ball.

A well quoted example that supposedly teaches the method that allows students to draw well, is the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards.

No.

To some extent, yes. But not as far as being professional or actually making some profit out of it.

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Originally Posted by marcipaans

No.

To some extent, yes. But not as far as being professional or actually making some profit out of it.

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Actually that all depends on how well you apply yourself toward making money. I know someone who gets paid to do designs for tattoos and is self taught.

I was born with the drawing skillz.

Yeah, of course it can. If it couldn't, you wouldn't have art schools or art classes.

With artistic ability, though, there is always a degree of natural talent needed to really be considered great. For example: So many great technical and creatively brilliant guitar players have covered Jimi Hendrix, but there hasn't been a guitarist before or since, in my opinion, that has WRITTEN music as amazing.

Even when covered, it doesn't sound as good.

You can learn Hendrix music, but can you create Hendrix music? No.

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Originally Posted by Cereldi

Why do you people continue to have your posts in color? for people with impaired eyesight this can cause strain on the eyes, I just want to read the context, is that so hard to ask?

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Why do you people continue to have your posts in color? for people with impaired eyesight this can cause strain on the eyes, I just want to read the context, is that so hard to ask?

Why do you people continue to have your posts in color? for people with impaired eyesight this can cause strain on the eyes, I just want to read the context, is that so hard to ask?

Why do you people continue to have your posts in color? for people with impaired eyesight this can cause strain on the eyes, I just want to read the context, is that so hard to ask?


I am Paladin Catling.

Yes, right now I'm taking a graphics design course and I can tell how much better my drawing skills have come. The thing is, everyone has their own style and natural talent for drawing. So don't expect to draw like some random "godly" artist, you're going to draw like you.

Although all I went from was drawing stick figures to being able to quickly and accurately draw detailed isometric, top, front and right views of most things. There is no way I'd be able to draw different type of characters like some other people can.

Anything can be taught but not a lot of things are easily learned.

Plus meh drawing is an unnecessary skill! Kinda like playing the guitar just to look cool. Unnecessary.

Even the most talented artist needs to train himself.

But I think the most important thing for someone who draws is their viewpoint.

A lot of the time I find that those who have trouble drawing are people who can't seem to visualize what they are drawing.

They can't get it from their mind to the paper.

It's like someone who sucks at math because they cannot break down an equation and view each piece of it.

I say you pretend to not improve and get the 50 bucks.

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Originally Posted by Paladin Catling

Especially when I was 12 and I saw Dragonball Z for the first time ^_^

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I used to be able to draw stuff like that.
I remember this one time I showed a drawing of Goku and got praised for it but then I stopped drawing at all, started gaming and spending time with other school stuff/friends and now I can not draw to save my life...

I think that if I kept at it I would be decent at it nowadays, so, long story short; if you give it enough time/investment you'll most likely be able to turn decent at it, but the key would be to keep working it.

I've also met someone that was very talented at it, made me jealous and well, she was really critic of her own drawings
Probably saw flaws where I, a less than talented person, could ever see. (anatomy etc)