Drawing
not only involves what the pencil is doing on paper, but also what is going on
in the brain between the mark-making. In fact, drawing begins before the first
line is drawn.
During
my years teaching, I came across students who struggled to draw. I noticed that
a common feature of this low drawing ability was the tendency not to look at
what is in front but to draw what is believed
to be in front. A struggle to draw often comes in tandem with a low visual
awareness.
Cure
for Low Drawing Ability
 |
| Optical Illusions can Occur in Real Life when Drawing |
Low
visual awareness means taking little notice of how things are arranged around
us. This might be difficulty in judging the angle of a contour, the size of an
object next to another object. An inability to make visual judgments can
manifest itself in many ways, such as the inability to hang a painting
perfectly level, or to arrange objects in a balanced still life.
How
Distorted Perception can Ruin a Drawing
Visual
distortions or optical illusions come in many forms, examples of which can be
seen in this image. The impossible trident would appear to have 3 prongs, but
does it? The dot in the triangle falls midway up, although it would appear to
be higher. The 2 lines within the chevrons run parallel with each other
although they appear to converge. And both squares on the upper right are the
same size. These are crude examples of visual distortions. In fact, such
illusions can fool the eye in the most subtle ways which can sabotage the
drawing.
See my Youtube clip testing your visual alertness - a key to great drawing. You may need to view full screen during the test.
See my Youtube clip testing your visual alertness - a key to great drawing. You may need to view full screen during the test.
Test
into Drawing Ability
My
Youtube clip examines the issue of distorted perception when it comes to
drawing. A test within aims to give a rough indicator to how prone your eyes
are to deceiving you. Get pen and pencil at the ready, as there are 10 multiple
questions within. These questions ask for visual estimates of four figures. Simple
shapes can be found within the clip which will test your ability to visually
judge angles, sizes, the relationship of one object to another and even its
tonality.
 |
| Look before Drawing |
No
visual aids are allowed and don’t pause the video. Some questions are more
difficult than others. Guessing the right answer does not award a point.
Where
Drawing Talent Really Lies
Answers
to the test are given at the end of the clip. 8 out of 10 or more indicates a
keen eye for making visual estimates. You may not need the spirit level to hang
that painting, or you may have a natural flair for arranging flowers. 5 – 7 out
of 10 and you have good visual awareness, but there is room for improvement.
Less than 4 out of 10 and you may have low visual awareness.
Improve
Drawing Quickly
Don’t
worry if a low score is the result. Practice is the key to good visual
awareness. Practice looking around you regarding:
The
size of one object in relation to another (is it bigger, smaller? By what
degree? (a half, a third, a smaller fraction?) How does the object’s width
relate to another? Is it twice as wide, etc?) Use a pencil and hold it at arm’s
length with one eye closed. This can be used as a visual measuring tool.
The
position of one object in relation to another (is it higher, lower? And what
about the distance between?
Estimate
the angle of straight lines. Is it fairly horizontal, vertical? Estimate the
number of degrees out it might be?
The
contour of an outline. Is it quite curved, jagged? Does the line thicken in
places?
Learn
to Look at Things
Drawing
involves setting up an internal dialogue regarding how things look. Question
assumptions. Tables do not always appear to have four legs; a drinking cup may
appear to have no handle and a hat can look like a tortoise.
By
increasing your awareness of how things look around us may result in a better
score on this drawing test in the future, not to mention drawing.
The
Most Important Part of Drawing
Low
visual alertness to how objects look can create a drawing that disappoints.
Learning to really look before lowering the pencil to paper can result in a
drawing that holds truth. Check how visually astute you are by watching the
video clip which includes 10 questions within. A high score would indicate a
good eye for judgment. This skill is an asset to drawing. A low score can be improved
upon when practicing the skill of looking. Overcoming distorted perceptions
means dispelling assumptions about how objects ‘should’ look.
Articles on Drawing Tips
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