...Mad About Drawing - part 1/2
PART - 1
In this two-part scroll, you’ll discover what it takes to learn how to draw, the true definition of drawing, the mindset needed for growth, and the answer to the question, ‘What is talent?
Red Warning:
This scroll contains the truth, which may hurt—proceed at your own risk.
I wish I Could Draw
It’s no secret that many people wish they could draw. I’m not talking about those who are planning to go to or have 'done' time in art schools or academies. I’m also not talking about those who genuinely haven’t had the time or opportunity to pursue it. These people usually aren’t in the 'art' business, they work hard, have families to provide for, and don’t really have time for hobbies, and they also don’t use any excuses. These people deserve respect.
Here we’ll be focusing on those whose only or main excuse is ‘I don’t have talent,’ and those who want results ‘right now.’ They might have lived with the idea of starting to draw for just a month or their entire life. Their dream could be to become as good as Rembrandt, or perhaps they simply want to be good enough to draw a tree or a cat. Maybe they’re teenagers who’ve just caught the drawing bug and think—or have been told—they have no talent.
How do these people approach learning to draw? What mindset do they have, or need to have, to achieve proficiency? How much time will it take for them to reach the level they envision? Some buy instructional books, attend courses, and many—if not the majority—spend time watching Instagram and YouTube videos. But before we dig deeper into the subject, let’s see if we can answer one simple question:
What is Drawing?
So, what does the mighty Encyclopædia Britannica preach about drawing?
‘‘Drawing, the art or technique of producing images on a surface, usually paper, by means of marks, usually of ink, graphite, chalk, charcoal, or crayon.
Drawing as formal artistic creation might be defined as the primarily linear rendition of objects in the visible world, as well as of concepts, thoughts, attitudes, emotions, and fantasies given visual form, of symbols and even of abstract forms. This definition, however, applies to all graphic arts and techniques that are characterized by an emphasis on form or shape rather than mass and colour, as in painting. Drawing as such differs from graphic printing processes in that a direct relationship exists between production and result. Drawing, in short, is the end product of a successive effort applied directly to the carrier. Whereas a drawing may form the basis for reproduction or copying, it is nonetheless unique by its very nature…’’
Wow! Wow! Wow! What the hell! So boring, isn’t it? But, in case you wish to read the rest (over 12000 words), here’s the source.
Okay then. And what about Merriam-Webster:
‘‘Drawing: the art or technique of representing an object or outlining a figure, plan, or sketch by means of lines.’’
Well, not much. Besides, lines aren’t the only marks we can use. And here’s the source.
Let’s ask Wikipedia. (The whole article is about two gazillion words, so if you’re interested, here’s the link to the source.) I actually did read a big chunk of that Wiki article on drawing, and, funny enough, I found a couple of interesting lines between the lines. These should’ve been mentioned in all the other dictionaries:
…Drawing is one of the oldest forms of human expression, with evidence for its existence preceding that of written communication. It is believed that drawing was used as a specialised form of communication before the invention of the written language…
Keep this one in mind as it’s important and we’ll talk about it later.
I tried more searches, visited more sites, and the majority of definitions orbit around the technical aspects of drawing. This is probably also why people think drawing is all about technique. Of course, we need to develop the technique, training our brains—hence our eyes and hands—to be able to depict what we see, what we don’t see, what we imagine, or what someone else asks us to portray. One thing to note, though—technique is just one of drawing’s many sides.
So, let’s dig deeper.
Why is it that some can draw, and some can’t? Why do some acquire that knowledge and technique while others don’t? And it seems that there are far more who don’t. What is that secret knowledge that some possess and others don’t?
The Secret Knowledge
No, no Order of Masons or the Vatican secret service are involved. There’s no knowledge reserved only for the chosen few. The secret is simple. So simple, in fact, that those who don’t draw invent many scary stories, mostly for their own comfort...
Remember the Red Warning at the beginning? If you read beyond this point, you will never be the same again. And you’ll never be able to say, “I didn’t know.” Still want to continue? Can you handle the truth?...
The secret is—stop making excuses. Stop being a couch potato. Stop saying you don’t have talent. Because it’s not talent you lack, but synapses… and courage! Yes, my friend—COURAGE to actually embark on the long journey of developing those synapses. All that ‘talent’ talk is pure B.S. People continually reinvent this excuse—why? Because it’s so much easier not to lift a finger—all it takes is a nice-sounding excuse. An excuse to stay comfortably close to the fridge, justifying laziness by claiming a lack of talent. An excuse to reinforce their lack of confidence and the willpower needed to commit to a long, hard, and tedious process.
Has no one ever mentioned the word ‘long’? Let alone ‘hard and tedious’? Well, that’s because people don’t want to hear things that aren’t sweet and fluffy. That’s why sugar-coated lies are so popular. Sorry to disappoint you… I’ll put it painfully honest: it’s one hell of a time-consuming, often frustrating, often maddeningly slow, and often difficult journey with no-visible-progress-for-months. Yes—for months! And it can be physically painful too—I know what I’m talking about. I’ve been down this road. A few times. I’m still on it. I’m still learning.
Why is it long, hard and tedious, you ask?
The Science Behind Skill
Because that’s how our brains work. It’s all about those synapses—the brain’s way of building neuronal connections. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a very long, slow grind—especially when you’re learning something entirely new.
And yes, your will might be stronger than that of your friend, and yet he/she might still be better than you. I know—it sucks. Life’s not fair. You might develop synapses slower than your friend or some dude on Instagram. But you know what? That’s perfectly cool! This isn’t a competition. Yes, I know, this statement contradicts what we’re constantly being told. They also say sugary breakfast cereals are healthy—but you don’t buy that, do you?
So, it’s only up to you not to take that road. And if you stop comparing yourself to the rest of the world and instead compare yourself to who you were last month, last year—you will grow faster. Your brain will work on creating synapses more efficiently. Instead of comparing yourself to those who are better than you—learn from them. Your brain will develop those connections even faster. Allocate your energy towards self-development instead of being envious of others’ success or constantly making excuses, including the famous “I don’t have talent.”
I think we’ve reached the point where we need to ask another question—
What is Talent?
Talent is nothing but the will to commit yourself to achieving your goal and to work hard towards it—no matter what. As long as it takes. No excuses. Ever.
So whenever you say, ‘I’ve no talent,’ now you know what you really lack. You need to stop looking for a million reasons why ‘not to’, and instead, find that one reason why you ‘should’—then go and do it. Mastering a skill requires dedicating a substantial part of your life to creating connections between neurones in your brain.
That’s the whole secret. There’s no such thing as “I’m not gifted,” “I’ve no talent,” “I can’t,” or any other derivative of those. The only acceptable variables are: “I want,” “I don’t want,” and maybe this one: “I want, but I genuinely don’t have time.” So, what’s your answer? If you’re still here, that means you already know which one gets you to where you want to be. Did you just say…
I Want.
This is the only attitude you need to catapult yourself to where you want to be. Yes, I agree—sometimes it’s not that simple. There are certain situations and constraints that can simply be impossible to overcome. But maybe you don’t have to be another Rembrandt or the best of the best. Being just good, or just okay is great too!
Let me give you two examples of people I personally knew to illustrate what I mean by ‘I want.’ I’ve changed their real names for privacy.
End of Part 1
Part 2:
So, ready to dive deeper into real stories?
In Part 2, you’ll meet Jenny and Val—two people who weren’t born with ‘talent,’ but they had something that made all the difference.
And beyond that, we’ll dig into: ‘The Problem Is…,’ ‘This is Why,’ and reveal ‘The Painful Truth.’ Plus, we’ll get the Master’s Perspective to wrap it all up.
