Why you can't learn to draw.
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2022
- Let's talk about the main reason people give up before they learn to make art. And what to do about it. A fresh perspective from best-selling author Danny Gregory.
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I am 75 years old. My why? Just because it makes me happy.
You are 76 now.
I have recently lost my mum and dad in the span of one and a half years.
I have been lost for a while. After the Almighty, I see light and hope in art and very much in your videos.
These comforting words are like a warm hug that says.. 'go find your reason to live again. Go find your 'why'.
Thanks so much for yet again a motivational message, which came to me at the right time.
Much love
Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your story, Naveeda. I hope you continue to heal.
@@SketchBookSkool Am trying my best. I hope i do. Thanks once again.
How it`s going on?
i lost my mum last month. it's tough. i love your message. i hope you're okay.
All the best and take care! God bless!
I'm an introvert. I don't want to share anything with the world. But there are things I would like to share with my future self. I'm at high place in my life raising the young children, soon to be four. Maybe I'm at the hight of my whole life. Can it possibly get better? But I'll forget. I'll never be able to experience these days again. And they are flying by. I feel the need to keep a record. That's why I'm learning to sketch. I'm not even trying to draw. I just need a memory trigger for myself later
I really enjoyed this talk. Drawing has always taken a back seat to painting for me because I find it a bit harder. I'm impatient to be great at it, but I like the idea that a practice takes practice. Thanks for the inspiration.
Drawing for me is a way to deal with my impatience and problems with focus/concentration. Its also what i call active meditation. A way to relax by doing something. There is nothing that is more stressful than doing nothing. Such a waste of time. Even if my mind is less active, my hands needs to be active. Either by fiddling with something or to draw and get something out of it. Its also a really interesting way to express yourself instead of using words.
I'm about a year late to this video but I think now was the perfect time for me to hear this. Like most people, I end up comparing my art to other people's. I thought I would get over that as I got older, but it just got worse. I became an adult and suddenly, people my age and YOUNGER were already leagues ahead of me in skill, some even having the art careers I've dreamed of since I was a kid. And for years I've blamed myself for not being at that level, that I'm too lazy or undisciplined or something I'm doing wrong that everybody else has already figured out. It got to the point that drawing, my true passion, gave me panic attacks, made me angry and sad and depressed. Pure misery.
Just yesterday, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, at 24 years old. And it's like a light came on; that I'm not a bad artist, or stupid, or lazy. My brain just works a bit differently. I learn things a bit differently. And I've finally realized that's okay. This is my reason to keep going, to keep building at these skills. Now that I know I just need a little more time, I feel like I can do anything. I finally feel like I can show art without fear of ridicule for not being "as good" as another artist. I'm at where I'm at, and I'm moving forward, and everything is going to be okay.
Danny, this was one of my favorite video chats you've put on UA-cam! It really made me think. And increasingly, you're one of my favorite people! Thank you for all you contribute and share with your many fans. You give me hope. 😊
This is such a helpful reminder and a push to dig a bit deeper. As folks who like to make art, we also like looking at art. It’s easy to get lost in comparing your work or skills to that of a more experienced artist-social media makes that incredibly easy. Initially, we might look at another’s work and say to ourselves, “I want to practice more so I can do THAT.” It’s important to take that a step further like you said and consider WHY you want to make art-what will it allow you to communicate or feel? Are you focused on the process or the product?
Thanks!
Thank you very much. I was very touched when I listened to your speech. You answered all the questions I had in my heart and I was afraid to say them aloud.
Lots to think about in whatever chosen form of art someone is working with. Thanks so much for putting a little more thought behind the activity than just wanting to do something like drawing.
So true!
I really love your videos, thank you! This is so timely and supportive as I embark on a journey of self discovery and exploring my artistic expressions. I spent some time earlier drawing and after I felt all sorts of things. The part about pushing through the self conscious phase was really good and clarifying 🙏
I hear every word, they are precious! Thank you!
Thank you so very much.
Your words are exactly what I need to hear.
BEGIN Breathe, Energize,Gaze, Intently focus, Notice :Deeply and widely. Many years ago I studied Betty Edwards drawing in the right side of the brain. Lately I have been wanting to start and complete a sketch book. And get back into drawing and get into the groove(Right Brain drawing) First page complete. thanks for what you do.
I didn’t know what to expect from this video but as I was listening, it was like you knew exactly what I needed to hear in that moment. I had to take a moment after watching this just to cry. After a good cry and a night’s sleep, I have come back to this video to tell you how grateful I am to have heard this message, and to have found your encouraging channel. You just gained a subscriber and a student! Thank you so much. I desperately needed this.
Just signed up for your Newsletter! So enjoying it. Thanks for all you give to so many.
I hope you enjoy!
The message was so damn powerful. Thank you for your beautiful perspective 🙏🏿
Interesting. Back in school, I never drew doodles at the edges of the pages - I wrote little phrases or sentences of my own thoughts and musings, on the topic in class or whatever came to mind ... and now I'm a writer. I guess we all find our niche LOL. But I also love color so much - I could sit for hours mixing watercolors to see what comes out of my brush onto the paper (and I'm never surprised: it's always what I imagined - another little talent). I'm getting a late start as a non-doodler, but I'd like to learn to draw so that I can do something more with (water)colors than just making pretty blotches on the paper. So glad I found your YT channel! 😊
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I really needed it, because lately I’ve had so much ideas that I want to draw but just couldn’t find myself actually doing it. ❤tysmm!
Thank you Danny, very meaningful and insightful thoughts
Beautiful points in this speech - especially when you take the perspective of different reasons for learning a given skill and how at the end of the day it's really just an exploration of self. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and perspective with the rest of us :)
Of course! Glad you enjoyed
You make some very good points in this little talk. I kicked the procrastination monkey out years age...he don't pay rent....but with ADHD my problem can be the Distraction monkey :D it seems that once I have learned what I need to from a project, the distraction monkey goes...'OK. Done. What's next?' ... and starts looking around for something interesting to explore. While this saves a lot of time in the learning proccess it can be a pain in the butt if I get 3/4 through something...the distraction monkey is used to coming out by now and goes ... 'I'm BORED!!' At this point you just have to be really strict with yourself if you want to complete the task...leaving it to the last minute is generally disastrous...lol
I can relate in some level. I find it difficult to 'practice' the same subject more than once - especially if I'm happy with the first one... I guess I get bored with it. I also find it difficult to 'let it dry' for a few minutes, much less a few hours - or God forbid day - to then come back to it. I like to finish it in one sitting, even if it takes over 3hours - which in turn gets me annoyed at 'interruptions'... your know... chores, kids, meals, hubby LOL
Can definitely relate! 🙄
IMHO many creative types are a bit Distracted. The Great Leonardo DaVinci was as well know for his unfinished works as his completed works.
@@jroisblessed5730 lol...I know exactly what you mean...I was always getting into trouble in art class for refusing to draw the same thing twice. My art teacher finally relented when I drew something twice and the second was worse than the first. I found that learning the Bob Ross technique with oils was a great help in getting me past 'wait for it to dry' as you can complete a painting in half an hour with practice...it also got me over the 'oils are expensive, what if I am crap' type thoughts. Sometimes I think that artists should be hermits...no interuptions....but then we would all go a little mad, so I just put my foot down and say... 'this is my time, go away' :D I am getting quite belligerent as I approach my mid fifties...long may it continue :D
I relate to everything you said here! I get bored and want to try something new. My personal path is doing what brings me joy, not to make a living or hang it in a gallery, so there is no pressure unless I self-inflect. I feel validated knowing that getting bored is not uncommon among others creating “art”.
Why I learned how to draw when I was a young teenager was to be cool to the kids around me as well. But at the same time I found three things that would sweep me off my feet and alter the rest of my life . One was comic books and Anime. And the other was hip hop and graffiti culture. All of which have their own unique forms of visual arts. And I completely immersed myself into all of these different subcultures. And from learning the basics of drawing to moving to lettering and characters. Art gave me a focus it taught me how to organize plan execute and most importantly it gave me a voice to express myself at an age when I was desperately looking for myself.
Thank you. This is amazing!
This resonated so much, thank you Danny! 🙌
So glad!
Sometimes I think the ability to effectively deliver ideas is as important as having them. Everything you said was poignant but the way you expressed yourself was deeply engaging. Thank you.
Thank you, wonderfull.
You go so deep. You make me love art more and more.
This is meaningful and a great reminder to all of us. Thanks, much appreciated
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for this my friend
I still need to believe in myself, however this was a powerful message that has my wheels turning. Thank you and much appreciation to your work behind the screen and on the screen. ~*Shana signing out for now.
You are so welcome
Thanks for your thoughtful words. Long ago, I became convinced that no one was interested in anything I had to say, so now, I’m speechless. I hope that drawing and painting can give me a voice. I’m trying to stop procrastinating, but I feel that I’m barely trudging along. It’s really hard.
I was just listening and thinking I wish this was a podcast and yay there is!!
I appreciate your words.
I am learning at 31 because my current job has no creative outlet. I can draw better than the average person but not good compared to people who are good. I am finally learning to draw properly
I needed to hear this today. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
i feel u me too
Im definitely with you on this topic Danny. Really ....really with you🤪
Danny, how do I get over wanting to I,press other people, or to at least satisfy myself that what I’ve drawn is good? I can’t seem to find the time to actually practice this drawing skill. Motivation is not here, but the desire is. I really enjoyed this essay.
Merci Danny.
HA! MY first car was a 1966 Ford Fairlane, which was ALSO $800!! Made me grin. 😁
Thank you - so inspiring💐🌈🙏
Figure out your WHY........I like that. Thanks for this talk.
The why is always important
Yes!
This talk can be about anything in life if you think about it. College, classes, any hobby or skill! I really loved this video and helped me out a lot :)
Thank you
You’re so welcome
We can do this! 👊👊👊
off topic but i love your voice.
I just signed up to receive your essays🥰
Wonderful! I hope you enjoy!
@@SketchBookSkool Thank you!
i used to draw decent when i was little for my age.
i lost it and haven't draw for many years.. but something is telling me to come back..
bought some sketch books and i tried drawing from reference.. oh my.. i am really bad..
now i am not moving forward after few months.. on and off with drawing.. thinking if i wanna
quit or not.. until i found a video that is basically telling you to draw whatever.. lines.. cubes.. shapes
the worst you could make them.. don't feel pitty for the sketchbooks.. first is that your brain will have
to get comfortable with drawing.. and then, only then will make something out of it.. but it will take time, patience and persistence
so i set myself a goal.. 1hour every day only.. just draw.. whatever.. do that for a year.. if i fall in love with it.. i will try to study better on
how to draw.. if not.. give up FOREVER!
Amen.
I have the motivation and drive but lack direction, any ideas on where to get direction
Merci pour ces mots très agréables sur la motivation, ses flux et reflux, intrinsèques et extrinsèques :) les langues et le dessin: les deux nous amènent à reconstruire différemment le monde autour de nous.
Mon plaisir!
Wanna know my creative goals?
I want to be able to draw things that look like they weren't scribbled by a 4 year-old. I would like to draw silly little cartoon characters in perspective without the muscles in my temples and around the sides of my eyes aching as my brain struggles to comprehend 3D space. It would be just great if I could imagine a shape, see it in my head, and then give it a spin. It would be even better to take that imagined object and depict it on paper. You know what I would absolutely love? To be able to look at some references of silly little cartoon characters on my computer screen and then with a pencil in hand, draw what I just looked at a second prior without having the shape completely vanish from my head and require me to look back up at the screen only to realize that I'm forgetting what I'm looking at before I even take my eyes away. But maybe that's a bit too lofty a creative goal.
I want to be able to hold a pencil and have it not feel as unwieldy as a sledgehammer.
Do you think everyone can learn to play violin well enough to perform in a symphony orchestra? Not be a virtuoso but be able to sit down with a group of other musicians and perform a Mendelssohn symphony. How about splitting the population up into string quartets and tasking them with practicing their instruments, working up to eventually performing a chamber piece? This isn't a question of motivation but ability.
Can you take a gallon jug and fill it with 1.2 gallons? What if you hit it with a heat gun and stretch out the material; surely you can fit some more water in, right? Of course. Make it 2 gallons. Try and do that.
Are you really going to tell me that people are any different when it comes to skills? Do you think that people like Botticelli, de Bray, and Dali just decided, "Hey, I think I'll just work a bit harder than everyone else."? There is no more saccharinely sick lie in our society than, "You can do anything you put your mind to." If you want to learn to play violin, and you work hard and end up being able to play a solo worthy of a concert hall, then you had it in you. The dexterity, acuity, and speed of cognition was there, ready to be trained and brought out like a sculpture hiding within a block of marble. And if, after performing that solo, you put your instrument down and proclaim that anyone else can do just what you did, then you are spewing a cloud of survivorship bias into an atmosphere already saturated with wishy-washy fallacies.
If there is such a thing as natural born talent, and there most certainly is, then how can there not also be natural born deficiency? Perhaps there are people born as lacking in physical capacity as there are those born with a glut of it. But that's just a theory of mine. What I do know is that learning is a skill, and like all skills, some people are born with a higher capacity for improvement. When you can do something well, you know it. You can feel your ability for it just as surely as though it were a heavy object that you are trying to lift. It might be so heavy that you can't support the weight for long, but you definitely know if you can pick it up off of the ground. And you also know when gravity has it pinned with no hope of budging by your body alone.
I feel like I can say this confidently because I've experienced both sides and felt their effects on a visceral level. I am a very good writer. I'd say that I can write poetry or fiction or an essay better than 75% of the population. It might even be higher because I scored in the upper 90's in areas that concern language, abstract reasoning, and the like, and yet I was somewhere below the 50th percentile in quantitative reasoning, working memory, and things of that nature. The psychologist administering the test said that this disparity was, "Unexpected." It's interesting. It's also palpable. I can sit down and write a story, and the words just come to me. I can read a chapter of a book and then write in a similar style while the tone of that writing is still fresh in my memory. I got a 4.0 in grad school because it was almost entirely composed of writing papers. I barely eked out a 2.7 in undergrad and performed even worse in high school because the emphasis was on rote memorization.
And wouldn't you know it! When I try to draw, the pencil feels like a big, clumsy tool. My handwriting is so poor that I can barely read it, and when I try to write nicely on something like a birthday card, I find myself straining to form those simple shapes that are the letters of our alphabet that we have drawn all our lives on a level above your average elementary schooler. I can practically feel words coming to me when I write, but if I try to write those words down with a pencil, barely a hint of that mental dexterity makes its way down to my hand and gets translated into actual dexterity.
I have tried drawing. I've attempted to push past my pessimism and brute force the muscle memory into existence, and well, you can reread the first paragraph of this little essay that was so easy to type.
No, not anyone can draw well. No, not everyone can practice at something and demonstrably improve. We are differently sized buckets, and there is only so far we can stretch our capacity.
Maestro
Drawed your portrait with ballpoint pen while watching this video ☺
I cried 😓
I probably would do well ...to listen to this until it is deep within my subconscious. Thx.
I have an obsession with wanting to draw cause every person I'm ever friends with can draw and they seem like they have fun with it so I wanted to be included on it. But I can't really see pictures within my mind which frustrates me which soon turns to low self esteem and just not pushing myself cause of all the frustration yet at the same time I end up jealous which makes me wanna draw more so yet it's always a repeat of frustration and self doubt ;-;
You don’t have to draw pictures from your mind. Start by looking and drawing things around you. In time you’ll develop confidence and then might feel more comfortable with creating new images. And try not to make it so emotional and judgmental. It’s just for fun and not a statement about whether you are a good person. Take it easy on yourself and just start playing.
What If it’s just as simple as I want to learn to drAw, and paint with watercolor.
i was born with a talent...the talent of drawing...but i didn't use it ...i didn't try to improve it.... never drew for years... went to college in 2013 at 18 for English literature didn't graduate...three years wasted...in 2016 March college ended... didn't take life seriously...did couple of different jobs between 2016 and 2019 and was not happy with my life, just sat at home for the next 2 years. tried studying VFX in those two years but didn't have enough money, i could have tried to look for a part time job to pay my fees...i did look but didn't look hard enough...so dropped that course too... and now at 26 i have nothing no skills, no bank balance, just alone and sad...i had a two year relationship with my gf which ended this January... after all of that wasting almost ten years of my life i finally picked up a pen and a book and tried drawing again...I'm practicing now...i hope I'll find happiness...i quit watching porn, i quit social media, trying to sleep more, trying no fap, trying to change my life around and i hope one day I can become an artist.
I'm sure your parents were thrilled you didn't graduate...
@@karlabritfeld7104 what's your problem lady
@@karlabritfeld7104 Sure, kick them when they're already clearly down
I don't have anything meaningful to say, nothing worth to say outloud. Since my childhood even my mother didn't listen to me, nor my father nor wider family etc. So why would any stranger want to listen to me now? Even if I had anything to say?
I’m listening to you.
Im just stuck at this level. I cant progress
I study, I practice, exercise them. And I cant
My whys because I like it. And I want to advance. But I cant
Advice?
Wow. It sounds like you are turning art into a grind. Just try to make it into a fun habit and stop worrying about progressing. I draw well sometimes, badly others. If I obsess about that, it becomes a real drag. So I don’t and just carry on regardless. This isn’t a competition and you aren’t being graded.
😂Danny, I think you are far too handsome to be mistaken for Jean Paul Belmondo, ha , ha...!
If you think about it you learn how to "draw" when you learn how to "write" the alphabet. To me writing and drawing are interchangeable terms. It just comes down to semantics.
Funny
OK - I get the "why" and the "want to" - but where's the "how"? I keep getting this feeling that I'm watching an art version of "The Music Man"... Where do I start? How do I start? Scribble lines on a page? Draw with the eraser instead of the lead? Listen to the right kind of "draw music"?
You cant leanr to draw because you cant its quite obvious it cant be taught or learnd you either have it or you dont effort and time are irrelevent it is said so to sell product as hope is a good seller.
I came to learn how to draw, not listen to a life story.
Too bad.
sorry, i couldnt watch video. My attention span is too low for this video, please add more attention drawing things
Seriously?
This video is about the message, please click away if u can’t stand it.