Art Insights: Just DRAW!

If someone commanded my husband to do this, he would not be wielding a pencil!

When I was a shy seventh grader, my Dracula-like biology teacher caught me sketching. He slammed his yardstick next to me, and asked, “Would you rather draw, or listen to me?” After gulping, I answered, “I’d rather draw than do just about anything.” He sat me at his desk, and had me draw until the class ended. He held up my silly princess, and the class clapped. His generosity visited me as I taught high school art.

One must focus on drawing in beginners’ art classes. Supplies are comparatively inexpensive. It’s all-encompassing in teaching the elements and principles of art, and in the development of basic skills. A popular teaching phrase is, “Drawing is a skill of the eyes, not the hands.” If you can hold a pencil, you can draw. How well you draw is totally dependent on how critically you are looking, allowing your eyes to guide your hand. This is a great mind stimulus! Most artists grew up drawing. Few continue this as a focus, but relegate it to the planning process of a work to be done in another medium.

Small children love being given paper and crayons. They are in control in telling a visual story about things they know. It is appreciated by others. There is a sequential progression of skills. With maturity comes the desire to make things look “real.” They become frustrated, and find other interests. Here, many adults are stuck. They claim they cannot draw a stick figure, though I’ll bet they once did! They say, “I wish I could draw.” One wouldn’t expect to pick up a trumpet, and magically turn noise into music. One shouldn’t expect to pick up a pencil and turn a mess into an artistic composition. There are needs, books help, and a good teacher is invaluable.

Robert Brekke, of Brekke Art Classes, says, “Proficient draftsmanship is the result of being trained in, and practicing, how to see and analyze. He states: “Drawing is a skill that can be taught and learned. Like any other skill, it does not require talent or giftedness. Desire is the main component in learning any skill. I’ve had many people come to me and want to learn to paint. I ask to see their drawing sketchbook, and they tell me they don’t like to draw. Perhaps they’ve taken painting lessons for years, and spent lots of money on painting supplies. Eventually those supplies get stored in a closet, because they find painting too difficult. Why? They don’t know how to draw! Painting is essentially just drawing with a brush.”

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Diane Barron is the secretary for the Coeur d'Alene Art Association and the 2023 artist of the year.

    Barron