“Learn to ‘See’ like an Artist” - Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Hello Fellow Arters and welcome back to Draw Daily!

Welcome to the first installment of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. A series where I aim to go through the book “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain”, breaking down the exercises, and explaining how they can help you improve your work. This is not currently an endorsement for the book, but rather an exploration, so I will refrain from sharing my personal thoughts on the quality of this book.

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is a book that was originally written by Betty Edwards in 1979. However, it has been revised and re-published a number of times. Most recently in 2012, which is the official 4th edition of this book. The first chapter in both books differ slightly, turning from a more analytical and scientific text in the 1999 version, to a much more anecdotal approach in the 2012 publication. She is a little more inviting as she walks the reader through her thoughts and ideas in a slightly different way.

The best way to explore this book is going to be by reading the book yourself. If you do, I would love to hear your thoughts on this book, and if you found any of the exercises particularly useful.

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CAN YOU “SEE” LIKE AN ARTIST?

This book is intended to help beginner artists “see” like an artist. The exact talent that allows prolific artists to view the world around them and turn their vision into an impactful piece of artwork. This sight is an abstract idea that can only be clearly understood through the exercises in this book provided by Edwards.

The first assignment consists of three individual drawings, and when prompted to complete them, there has not yet been any actual instruction. Why are we getting started on an assignment with nothing to go on; you may ask? Good question!

This exercise is meant to be a straight up challenge for the reader, providing you with a physical depiction of how your eyes are currently “seeing”. There is a saying that refers to the fact that artists see differently, and this is true - but this is not a “you need to be born with it” skill, as many assume. Some may find it easier to tap into this skill, but anyone can learn to see and in hand, learn to draw. That is the point and goal of this educational resource.

EXERCISE ONE, PART ONE

Getting into the meat of the book, with no experience or knowledge under our belt, we’re tasked with completing a self-portrait. Edwards shares what you’ll need:

- Paper to draw on

- A writing utensil (she suggests a #2 Pencil)

- A small mirror

- Something to lean on [a drawing board or a piece of cardboard].

Using this board to lean on, you want to rest its top edge against a wall, and have the bottom sitting in your lap. This will give you a gentle incline to draw on, which is ideal.

Set yourself up so that you are directly facing the mirror, and are sitting about 2 to 2 ½ feet away from that mirror. You want to make it easy to view yourself in roughly the same position so the relative proportions of your face are the same throughout the exercise.

Carefully observe your own face, and draw yourself as you see yourself in the reflection.

THE SELF-PORTRAIT

Drawing one’s portrait is as old as time, and actually has reason beyond the convenience of having a model that is always available and never requires payment. Although that does sound like the perfect model! You can envision artists like Van Gogh, who had little to no support in his lifetime, needing access to a willing model. If needed, who would sit for him?

“I’ve had no chance of getting models… and if I should find models… I would hope to be able to show that I am after something other than… landscapes or flowers.”
- Van Gogh

Some artists say that doing a self-portrait can make a person feel vulnerable because we are allowing other people to view us as we view ourselves - that is, if we are willing to be honest. Others claim that doing a self-portrait can be a journey of self discovery.

You can also use this exercise as a way to mark time. Not only will you see yourself change over a number of years, you will also see how your skills have developed over time. So people use this as a way to remember and mark their tiresome journey of art making. It’s suggested to do a self-portrait at least once every year to commemorate both your own life, and as well as your growing abilities.

Edwards implies that this exercise does not need to take up too much time, as most of her students are able to complete it relatively quickly, but she does maintain that you can take as much time as you would like to finish it.

BETTY EDWARDS’ SEMINAR

In the book Edwards provides a number of examples of her students’ works, in the 1999 version she explains that these students took part in a five-day seminar. Their first exercise was also a self-portrait done at the very beginning as a way to mark the student’s current ability. On day 5, after about 40 hours of instruction, the same students are asked to redo their self-portraits and the results are quite startling.

It is often agreed that learning to draw well is a task that takes years to improve on. It takes many years to learn about the many foundational skills that one needs to be a successful artist - as experienced by art students who are expected to spend four long years (or more) learning their craft. Edwards tries to prove that this practice is ridiculous, and moreover, completely unnecessary. If the student is given the right instruction and exercises, they can improve in a matter of hours or days.

FIN

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is one of those books that everyone has heard of, artist or not. I know many people that have this book on their shelf - who, as of yet - still haven’t cracked it open. The book then remains a mystery for many, including myself as no one has been able to share with me their thoughts or opinions.

After hearing from a passing source that “the book itself isn’t very impressive, but that the exercises are well worth the time,” I decided to take matters into my own hands and put it to the test. Once and for all I will have a definitive view and opinion on it.

I figured I would share this experience with all of you lovely artists, and that I would share my thoughts and insights along the way. If you follow along with me, I would love to see your drawings and how your abilities grow (or don’t) thanks to the exercises provided by Betty Edwards.

I’d love it if you would share your drawings with me as we go through these exercises, show me your self portraits!

That’s it for today, thanks for reading!

I’m MK and this is Draw Daily!