Why You Can't Draw (It's Not Your Fault - Well, It Is Somewhat.)

Rediscovering Your Creative Self

People make all kinds of excuses for why they can't draw, trust me, I've heard just about every single one of them. But the truth is, I believe anyone can draw, and draw well. It's all about understanding a few misconceptions regarding drawing and dispelling a few myths.

Hello there, everyone! Matt here with the Virtual Instructor, and in this essay, we're going to dive deep into the world of drawing, uncovering why you might believe you can't draw, and most importantly, how you can change that belief.

Why is it that so many of us believe that we can't draw? In fact, if you were to ask a room full of a hundred adults who can draw, I bet only a handful of people would raise their hand. But if you were to ask a room full of five-year-olds how many of them can draw, I bet the entire room would raise their hands.

What happens to us from childhood to adulthood to make us believe so much less in ourselves? What happens to make us lose our confidence in so many things, not just drawing?

The Artist Within

Picasso is quoted as saying, "Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain one once we grow up." As children, we truly are all artists because we believe we are. There's no reason to believe otherwise.

Think back to first grade. What were your favorite activities, besides recess and perhaps lunch? I bet you enjoyed coloring, sculpting, or building things with blocks. You enjoyed creating because we are all innately creators in some form or fashion, and drawing is the most foundational form of creating for most children.

The moment a child is handed a crayon is the moment they first create something. The marks made are far from representational, but they are pure, made without any preconceived notions or past negative experiences. It's a magical moment, and it's happened to all of us at some point in our lives.

Many of us continue creating for the next several years, blissfully making things without judgment from others. We may receive compliments that encourage us to continue, but we don't hear condemning comments. We start to notice that some of our artistic peers receive more praise than we do for what they create. We wonder why we don't receive the same level of praise.

The Judgement Begins

This transition often happens to children right before moving into adolescence, and it doesn't just apply to the arts; it applies to athletics, performance arts, and anything else that is skill-based. We start hearing that some folks are talented because they are somehow better than us. We start wondering if we're talented and we start searching for our so-called hidden talents.

Adolescence marks the beginning of a difficult and fragile period of life. We are quite impressionable and believe what imperfect adults tell us. We're also quite concerned with what others think about us as we search for our place in life. We're sensitive to any form of judgment. Unfortunately, this sensitive period of life is when judgment starts to play a major role in who we become.

Grades received in school start to matter with greater weight, athletic programs begin to cut players, performances require auditions, and children at this stage are brutal to each other regarding physical appearance and social status. Impressionable students start to believe that there are things they can do, but there are other things they'll never be able to do.

The False Notion of Talent

This is one reason why a middle school student may cover their drawings as they work; they fear the judgment that may come, either spoken or unspoken. They also may make excuses before you can even take a peek at their work, uttering things like "I can't draw" or "mine looks awful." They may truly love the process of drawing, but unfortunately, fear holds them back. Over time, if not righted, this love of drawing and creating becomes suppressed, and the student begins to believe that they can't really draw.

Does this sound like you or something similar that's happened to you? If so, I'm not surprised because it really happens to all of us at some point in time. In order for us to be successful with drawing, we have to believe that we can actually draw and that drawing is a skill that can be attained by anyone, including us.

The Myth of Talent

Now let's debunk the myth of talent. Far too many of us believe that our life and who we are are determined largely based on our DNA. These people believe that we are either born with a talent or we're not, and that our abilities are somehow inherited from our parents, grandparents, or another ancestor.

The truth is, skills are acquired. Acquiring a skill requires knowledge and practice, and drawing is no different. Anyone can draw, but only after they have a bit of knowledge and have practiced quite a bit. If you believe that it requires talent to draw well, then you're likely never to overcome this hurdle. You'll simply say to yourself, "I'm not talented," and you'll give up far too early.

Overcoming Challenges

The development of a skill is a series of challenges that you overcome one at a time. It's not something that just happens overnight. But if you stick with it, face the challenges that await, and keep working and practicing, people will be calling you talented too.

Our beliefs guide our lives. If we truly believe that we can achieve something, then we're likely to be successful. The opposite is true as well. If we believe we're incapable of something, then we're likely to fail at it.

Henry Ford is quoted as saying, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right." If you started believing at some point that you can't draw, then you're right. However, if you believe that you can draw and you're willing to work for it, then you're also right. If you truly believe, then you will make it happen, no matter the circumstances. If you believe you can't, then you'll make excuses.

Practical Reasons for Struggling

Now that we've established the importance of believing in your ability to draw, let's explore some practical reasons why you might be struggling with your drawing skills.

1. Lack of Practice

This is perhaps the most common reason why people struggle with drawing. To get better at drawing, you need more practice. Practice means making mistakes, lots of them, and that's okay. Mistakes are essential for growth, and you need to invest time in your art to improve.

2. Learning to See

Seeing like an artist is different from simply seeing. Artists see the world as lines, shapes, forms, colors, and values. They can simplify complex objects into abstractions closer to how our eyes perceive things. It's a skill that can be learned through exercises that help you focus on the observed elements.

3. Mastering Your Medium

Different drawing mediums behave differently. Graphite should be applied differently than soft pastels, for example. You need to invest time and effort in understanding and experimenting with the medium you choose to work with.

4. Patience and Persistence

Drawing is called artwork for a reason; it takes work to create a strong drawing. It can be enjoyable work, but work nonetheless. Invest time and concentrate on smaller areas of your drawing for longer periods of time to see noticeable improvements.