The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

1. Drawing is about perception, not talent

"Drawing is a curious process, so intertwined with seeing that the two can hardly be separated."

Artistic proficiency is a skill that can be acquired through training rather than a quality determined by birth. The fundamental requirement for drawing is the refinement of visual perception. This process involves reconfiguring how the brain interprets visual stimuli, prioritizing the observation of actual physical forms over internalized mental concepts or symbols.

Psychological hurdles often prevent individuals from pursuing drawing. Many adults assume a lack of ability because they were never instructed in the specific mechanics of visual observation. Often, these inhibitions are rooted in early educational settings where artistic output was judged without a proper understanding of the developmental process. Recognizing that drawing is a technical competency comparable to literacy allows individuals to systematically improve their performance.

Common misconceptions about drawing:

• It requires natural talent
• You need to be creative
• You must be able to draw straight lines
• It's only for "artistic" people

2. Shift to R-mode: Accessing your brain's artistic side

"To empty one's mind of all thought and refill the void with a spirit greater than oneself is to extend the mind into a realm not accessible by conventional processes of reason."

Cognitive functions are divided between two primary processing styles: L-mode and R-mode. L-mode operates through verbal, analytical, and linear frameworks. Conversely, R-mode processes information through visual, spatial, and simultaneous patterns. Successful drawing requires a cognitive transition from the dominant L-mode to the more perceptual R-mode.

To facilitate this mental shift, one must engage in exercises that frustrate or bypass L-mode’s analytical tendencies. Methods such as replicating inverted images or focusing on the contours of negative space force the brain to stop relying on simplified symbols. By presenting the brain with data that cannot be easily categorized by language, the individual can achieve a more precise and objective representation of the subject.

Signs of R-mode engagement:

• Loss of sense of time
• Difficulty with verbal tasks
• Increased focus on visual details
• Feeling of being "in the zone"

3. Seeing edges: The foundation of drawing

"In drawing, an edge is always a shared boundary."

In a technical drawing context, an edge is defined as the intersection where two distinct planes or objects meet. Understanding edges as shared boundaries is essential for producing realistic imagery. This perspective allows the artist to document the spatial relationships between different components of a scene accurately, moving beyond mere outlines.

A primary method for mastering this is the contour drawing exercise. This involves a disciplined synchronization between the eye and the hand: the artist tracks the physical boundaries of an object with their gaze while simultaneously recording that movement on paper without looking at the page. This technique discourages the brain from using preconceived "symbols" of an object and instead forces it to process unique, observed data.

Types of edges in drawing:

• Contour edges (outlines)
• Implied edges (suggested boundaries)
• Lost and found edges (varying visibility)
• Shared edges (boundaries between two forms)

4. Negative space: The secret to better compositions

"Nothing is more real than nothing."

Negative space consists of the unoccupied areas that surround or exist between primary objects. By concentrating on these "empty" shapes rather than the objects themselves, the artist can bypass the brain’s interference. This shift in focus makes it easier to achieve objective accuracy because the brain lacks pre-existing symbols for the shapes of empty spaces.

Applying a focus on negative space improves the structural integrity of a drawing. It assists in maintaining correct proportions and helps the artist organize complex visual information into manageable components. When the surrounding spaces are rendered accurately, the central subject often takes shape with greater precision and less effort.

Benefits of focusing on negative space:

• Improves accuracy in proportions
• Enhances overall composition
• Simplifies complex subjects
• Helps overcome symbolic thinking

5. Perspective and proportion: Creating depth and accuracy

"Sighting is a two-part skill. The first part is sighting angles relative to vertical and horizontal, and the second part is sighting proportions relative to each other."

Sighting is a technical method used to calculate angles and determine proportional relationships within a subject. This practice is vital for translating three-dimensional observations into a realistic two-dimensional format. By utilizing physical reference points, such as a pencil held at a fixed distance, an artist can obtain objective measurements to guide the placement and size of elements on the drawing surface.

Perspective involves the application of geometric principles to simulate depth on a flat plane. Key concepts include the establishment of horizon lines, the identification of vanishing points, and the use of foreshortening to represent objects receding into space. Regular application of these spatial rules allows for the creation of convincing environments and structural volume.

Key elements of perspective:

• Horizon line
• Vanishing points
• Foreshortening
• Scale and proportion

6. Light and shadow: Bringing drawings to life

"Light logic also requires that you learn to see differences in tones of light and dark."

Value represents the scale of luminosity, ranging from total darkness to pure light. Developing the ability to perceive and replicate these variations is necessary for suggesting three-dimensional form and environmental atmosphere. This requires the artist to look past the local color of an object to see the actual gradients of light and shadow hitting the surface.

Technical rendering of light and shadow can be achieved through various marking techniques, such as layering lines or blending tones. Success depends on the careful observation of how light behaves on different textures. By identifying specific components like highlights, core shadows, and reflected light, the artist can create a logical representation of volume and mass.

Components of light and shadow:

• Highlight
• Mid-tone
• Core shadow
• Cast shadow
• Reflected light

7. Unleashing creativity: The Zen of drawing

"Drawing can reveal much about you to yourself, some facets of you that might be obscured by your verbal self."

Engaging in the drawing process can serve as a meditative practice, quieting analytical internal dialogue and heightening sensory awareness. This state of concentration facilitates a deeper connection to one’s perceptions and can lead to increased cognitive flexibility. The practice encourages a move away from verbal dominance toward a more holistic way of processing information.

The acquisition of drawing skills is a continuous developmental path. As technical proficiency increases, the practitioner encounters more complex visual problems that foster further cognitive growth. Maintaining a consistent practice not only improves artistic output but also refines general observational and problem-solving abilities applicable in various professional and personal contexts.

Benefits of regular drawing practice:

• Enhanced observational skills
• Improved problem-solving abilities
• Increased self-awareness
• Stress reduction and relaxation
• Greater appreciation for visual beauty in everyday life

THE NEW DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN

Drawing On Memories: Your History as an Artist

"Drawing is a curious process, so intertwined with seeing that the two can hardly be separated."

The capacity to draw is intrinsically linked to the capacity to observe. Developing an artist's perspective can significantly change how one interacts with visual information. Instruction in drawing is often compared to learning a physical skill like riding a bicycle; it is difficult to convey purely through verbal explanation. Often, instructors struggle to define the internal shift required for "seeing," leading to a pedagogical approach based on trial and error. While most people eventually master physical tasks like cycling, many fail at drawing because they never receive clear instruction on how to transition their visual processing.

Drawing as a magical ability

Because the specific mental shift required for drawing is not widely understood, those who possess it are often viewed as having an exceptional or innate gift. To the uninitiated, the ability to render the world accurately appears as a mysterious talent that exists outside the realm of standard learnable skills.

Last updated: January 22, 2025