I can’t draw for toffee!

Why do so many people feel that they can’t draw? Maybe you are one of them.

I had a great interaction with Luisa the owner of ‘This Writerly Life’ the other day ( a blog you must visit if you haven’t already,) A very creative writer and communicator whose blog is obviously an inspiration to many people including myself. I had mentioned that as well as writing I also cartooned and illustrated to which came the immortal response ‘Oh I can’t draw for toffee!’ I wish I had a fiver for every time I’ve had that said to me over the years. But it set me thinking why do so many people think that? Are they destined from birth never to be able to make meaningful marks on a flat surface or have they been put off trying at some stage in their life? I don’t know the answer to either question for everyone is different and I am sure there are an infinite number of reasons why someone could find no enjoyment in drawing. I think it all boils down to what an individual has learned to perceive drawing as and that may be as simple as feeling it generates a good or bad experience. I get the jitters every time someone asks me to recite my times tables. Bad teaching methods (for me) at an early age undermined my confidence in number work and set me up for a life time of avoiding mental maths wherever possible. Not a good feeling. So I guess for some people it’s the same with a lot of things; playing sport, speaking in public, cooking, singing to name but a few. ‘Oh! I’m no good at sport, I can’t cook to save my life, we’ve all heard it hundreds of times and probably even said similar once or twice.

So! For those who have decided that they can’t draw what can we do? Offer them psychotherapy to establish the exact point in their life that they told themselves that drawing wasn’t for them? No No No……. For those who think they can’t what we can do is show them that they can!

Roll up! Roll up! All of you that think you can’t draw. Wow! a few more than I thought. Okay everyone move forward to let some more in at the back, that’s it. Right grab yourself a pencil and a scrap of paper and simply follow these instructions……….

1. Write the numeral three like this…

   

   Ask yourself did I write the numeral three or did I draw it?

2. Change the flat top for a curly one.

   

3. Now have a bit of fun making your number three have different size curly tops

   

4. Write (or draw) the numeral Zero. It can be a circle, an oval or egg shaped, it doesn’t matter.

   

5. Then have some fun with them. Make tall ones, short ones fat ones and thin ones.

   

6. Now make a dot. You may have to go over it a few times to make it dark.

   

7. Make loads of dots.

   

8. Great you’re doing fine. On to the next level. Make your three with a curly top again. You should have a few different ones to choose from now.

   

9. Now surround it with one of your zeros

   

10. Add two dots. Can you ‘see’ where we’re going? Do you see what I did there? See - eyes a pun? Oh never mind.

    

11. Hey you’ve drawn a face! I knew you’d be able to do it. Now you can really have some fun! Go on give it some ears and a cool hair cut.

    

12. Home work! So now that you can draw why not spend your week doodling loads of these. Try out different shaped threes and zeros and see what happens. I’d love to see some of your results. Go on be a devil send a photo of the ones you like the most in the comments section.

    

Next Sunday we’ll explore how to give your creations expression and emotion. We’ll soon have you doing your own illustrations just think about that! Oh! Yes talking about illustrations did I tell you about my new children’s book out for Christmas on Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com ‘Evie’s big drawing adventure,’

See you next week

Plebo