The Introduction

The Introduction All quotes from Betty Edwards unless otherwise noted.

People feel they shouldn’t take a drawing course because they don’t already know how to draw. This is like deciding…you shouldn’t sign up for a course in carpentry because you don’t know how to build a house.

If you…can print legibly then you have ample dexterity to draw well.

While you may not be interested in becoming a full time working artist, the exercises in this book will provide insights in the way your mind …works.

Many of my students have told me their lives seem richer because they are seeing better and seeing more.

PERCEPTUAL SKILLS Skills we will cover as we learn to draw: • PERCEPTION OF EDGES • PERCEPTION OF SPACES • PERCEPTION OF RELATIONSHIPS • PERCEPTION OF LIGHTS AND SHADOWS • PERCEPTION OF THE WHOLE (GESTALT)

Pre and Post Instruction Drawings Paul drew this picture on the right before receiving any lessons on how to draw. At the end of 3 months of instruction Paul had improved this much from the “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” method

Another example:

Differences in the Left Brain andRight Brain Left brain • Verbal • Analytic • Symbolic • Abstract • Temporal • Rational • Digital • Logical • Linear Right brain • Nonverbal • Synthetic • Concrete • Analogic • Nontemporal • Nonrational • Spatial • Intuitive • Holistic

Right brain – The halve of the brain dedicated to certain functions that are nonverbal, synthetic, concrete, analogical, non-temporal, non-rational, spatial, intuitive, holistic • Left brain – the halve of the brain dedicated to certain functions that are verbal, analytic, symbolic, abstract, temporal, rational, digital, logical, linear • Symbol – a small simplistic drawing that represents a more complex object. • Verbal – Using words to name describe, and define. • Synthetic –using smaller parts connected to form wholes. • Concrete – relating things to how they really are at the present moment. • Abstract – Simplified information. • Temporal – keeping track of time, sequencing steps. • Spacial – Seeing where things are in relationship to one another. • Holistic – seeing whole things all at once.

You have probably seen the face/vase illusion. In this picture you probably see the vase (or table) real well. But can you see the face?

If not here it is in reverse.

The following slides are a drawing exercise. Follow the instructions carefully and do not skip a head.

Draw the top of the vase

Draw the face on the left but no more. It does not have to be perfect. Just try to draw a forehead, then nose, then lip, then bottom lip, then chin and lastly the neck.

Trace the face 4 times repeating to yourself the parts of the face.

Draw the bottom line. And then complete the “vase” by drawing the right side face.

It does not have to (and probably will not) look as good as this. Go to the next slide.

Let me explain… • When you drew the left face your left brain brought to mind what you should draw; a forehead a nose and so on, this was not to difficult. You usually draw this way, but when you completed the “vase” you knew in your mind that the right face had to match the left face. You might have drawn the fore head as normal but most people have to “switch gears” (or brains) when they get to the nose. Instead of thinking “draw a nose” you think “the curve should be like this” or “the length of the line is like that”. Thinking about curves and lines instead of noses and lips is a significant difference when it comes to drawing. You might think you can not draw noses but you most certainly can draw lines. This is the right way to draw. This is “drawing with the right side of the brain”.

The Introduction