To Draw or If Not To Draw, To Sketch

If you’re like me, the inability to draw was my biggest hurdle to creating art.  I can state without exaggeration that I loved to paint as long as I can remember, but as a young child I looked around and I knew by watching people who could easily draw that I could not.  I certainly had very straight, neat lines; a sense of good composition; and I finished my drawings with perfectly even coats of crayon.  As I grew I took every variety of art class I could, but none of this compensated for the fact that drawing wasn’t/isn’t taught in our schools; and that ability to draw is looked upon as a “talent” by our society.  The result was I had some aptitude, but although I worked on attempting to learn through books I never became comfortable until I was taught.  Gregor

Drawing takes time and practice.  In that respect, it is like any serious discipline.  The more you do it, the more you practice, and the more you learn, the easier it becomes.  Drawing and painting can be complex and deep as well as light and fun.  Yet for those who yearn to draw and paint there is no greater satisfaction than to complete a piece with competence.

You may have to give up some things:

            being a perfectionist (some of the time) – that can get in the way of learning;

            being embarrassed by mistakes or lack of knowledge - mistakes are part of learning

            and expecting every drawing or painting to be perfect – that’s why we “practice”.  Great pieces will emerge from practice.     

Still, if you want, you can learn to draw:  Take classes.  Read books.  Copy masters.  Have fun with the process.  Find the joy in what you choose to do! 

If you would like to have help kick-starting your drawing or just learn enough so you can enjoy sketching, come join a fun workshop that I teach starting next week: 

Sketchbook Journal Workshop,  May 14-15 and May 21-22, at Civic Arts in Walnut Creek.  It’s class # 16782 and you can sign up by going to www.arts-ed.org , following the link:  http://ezreg.walnutcreekrec.org/Activities/ActivitiesCourseDetails.asp?cid=17304 or calling (925) 943-5846.

There’s a full description under “Classes” on this site, close to the bottom of the page as well as on the Civic Arts web page.  See you there? 

Keep Drawing and Painting!Sketches from Journals