People often ask the question why is drawing so hard but is it really? There is some contention to this statement. In order to classify drawing as hard, we need to understand what drawing actually is. There is a multitude of definitions present on the internet to describe the process of drawing but the crux of this litany is that it is a skill and a piece of art. Nobody is born an artist but we all have our qualities, talents and faults, and flaws. Some of us develop better spatial understanding and dexterity.
Why are some people good a drawing than others
Like every other skill, drawing requires effort. When we are born our skills are undeveloped and raw but it is a consistent practice that helps us evolve and become victorious. In order to get better at something, we would have to learn it, immerse ourselves into it so we can explore the subject, and find our strengths and weaknesses. Getting better at something requires zeal, passion, and enthusiasm without these strong emotions we would not devote ourselves to the goal and end up failing which leads us to the presumptuous conclusion that drawing is hard.
Only children who draw for fun because they enjoy the process are the ones who get good at it. Because they enjoy the process they do not find this subtle learning hard or boring. Their passion makes them better with every drawing. But keep in mind that they were not born amazing artists and that can be easily proved by comparing their first and latest drawings. The difference in the end products is a result of hard work, consistency, and passion.
What makes a drawing good
So now one may wonder what actually makes a drawing attractive and beautiful to the eye. Because you can only be considered a good artist when others find your work attractive. However, when questioned about beauty it is hard to describe what actually makes something beautiful or ugly. It is ironic how we can’t define beauty or what are the qualities needed to be beautiful yet we categorize things such as art beautiful or ugly
Some believe it is the symmetry that the eye loves, As Aristotle defined beauty to be measurable, and qualities such as symmetry, organization, and definiteness which can be measured help evaluate beauty. Pablo Picasso described beauty as vague and somewhat dangerous. Then there is the idea or belief that beauty lies in imperfections and some say that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. As Kant would describe beauty:
• It is free from perspectives
• It is objective
• It is due to the interest of the viewer
• It is not equivalent to perfection
All these different perspectives make beauty seem more relative and objective but we also know when to classify someone as a good or bad artist. Beauty and art are closely linked together and both come under the study of aesthetics. The realm of art is vast and takes many forms. However, all these different forms fall in either one of the three categories which are: Drawing being an art can be defined as
1. Representation of something
2. Expression of something
3. Form
Drawing fall in the representation category as it is a visual representation of the model. . Drawing can take various forms it can be either a portrait of humans or some non-living thing or could even be a landscape drawing. Drawings, when added colors become paintings. Painting and drawings are different realms of art. Though drawing may seem more complex, Painting actually requires much abstract think, from mixing colors to get the perfect mix to making measurements in their minds to ensure perfect delivery.
Qualities of a good artist
Drawing requires dexterity, good spatial sense, and creativity. It requires us to take things abstractly. One is required to make measurements. Artists often measure their models with their pens or brushes to get an idea of the sizes of different components of the model and how they differ in size. Some artists draw lines to delineate different components and at the end of the drawing, they erase these lines which were for the sole purpose of measurement. The 2 major qualities could be improved with practice however creativity is a relative aspect.
Dexterity
Dexterity refers to manual expertise, artistry, agility, inventiveness, and proficiency. It is not an innate skill and evolves as we grow. Gamers, programmers, and musicians have dexterous fingers which help them in the quick execution of the job. Artists achieve manual dexterity through consistent practice. Hence just like learning how to play a musical instrument, drawing too can be learned by consistent lessons and practice.
Good spatial sense
Spatial intelligence is also known as Visuospatial ability is to see objects abstractly from different angles. It involves creating, retaining, and retrieving images and objects in the mind. This too can be attained or improved via consistent practice. Spatial development exercises involve seeing, understanding, remembering, and recalling the model from different angles as it helps in a better understanding of its spatial composition.
Creativity
Creativity is a relative quality as some people are more creative than others. Creativity is the phenomenon of generating novel ideas by imagination and innovativeness. People who are more creative tend to be abstract thinkers and indulge in fantasies and have vast imaginations which help them come up with new ideas. For some people, inspiration ignites creative dormancy.
Qualities of a good drawing
What most people fail to see is that there is a lot of thoughts, thinking, and abstract calculations that need to be made when drawing. One does not simply start drawing. To draw the model properly we need to make sure we draw the components as precisely as possible. Because the slightest errors could have egregious effects, Artists need to make sure they take the measurement properly to ensure that does not happen. Given below are a few qualities of a good drawing:
Neatness
The drawing must be clear and eliminate any irrelevant marks or lines, These lines give a vivid look and the drawing looks lively.
Precision and accuracy
The component of the model should be drawn accurately because visual flaws are easy to capture, even the slightest difference would be conspicuous and we will not get the result that we want.
Line control
Drawings or sketches in simpler terms are multiple lines drawn at different angles, sizes, and shades for these lines to give us that realistic look we need to have control and draw them as precisely as possible. Line control can be achieved by consistent practice and there is much evidence present on the internet to prove that.
There is much evidence present to prove that no one is born an artist. Most students who take art class start off with either raw skills or skills at all but it’s their love and passion which drives them to be consistent and get better. At the end of the course, most of the students make get much better and develop the basic skills required for improvement. It is a lot easier to draw and draw well when we do it fun and enjoy it. People who draw just to get better have a hard time because they are forcing growth and learning which is tiring.
Reasons why you are bad at drawing
Drawing like any other skill requires us to consistently devout some of our time. Patience and diligence are crucial to learning. Here are a few reasons why you are bad at drawing
Observation
You have not fully understood your reference or model. In order to draw the model properly, you must first acquaint yourself with the spatial composition of the model. Study the model from several different angles and retrieve it in its absence. If you cannot retrieve the model in its absence you have not learned the model well enough.
Perspective
We often see things how we believe they are supposed to be and not how they actually are, this limits us from seeing things from a different perspective. To avoid these mistakes, most artists exercise drawing their models upside down as it averse to reality.
Practice
One major problem with most people when learning or trying out something new is that they want instant results or else they drop out. You need to be patient and consistent and you will see small improvements with practice. A good way to stay motivated is to compare your first drawing to your most recent one and see the improvement. Another quality crucial to learning is discipline because motivation is an ephemeral feeling; you must try to be more disciplined.
How to get better
To get better at drawing or any other skill all you have to be
- Consistent: try drawing the same model every day until you can draw it perfectly.
- Diligent and Discipline: Work hard and do not give up when you feel unmotivated.
- Do not force learning: learn drawing for the fun of it.
- Patience: Be patient with yourself as it takes an average of 3 years to become good at drawing.
- Creativity: indulge in imagination and give your thoughts a face.
- Inspiration: Look for inspiration in different models.
- Reach out: try reaching out to other artists and ask them about their tricks and techniques.
To sum it up, the statement “why is drawing hard” is controversial as most people who were once bad at drawing became exceptionally good through practice. It is because they have acquired the necessary qualities of a good artist i.e dexterity, spatial intelligence, and creativity through practice. There are several reasons why people find drawing hard but the actual reason why it is hard for them is that they do not understand their reference or model properly, they have a limited point of view, they haven’t been drawing enough or haven’t put in enough hours to start seeing results. However, like other skills drawing too can be learned with hard work consistency, and discipline.
