Doing a 180
My pal, Jim, is directing our commercials out here in LA. After reading Everyday Matters, he's become increasingly intrigued with learning to draw. He told me he knew he couldn't draw, didn't think he ever could, but still always wanted to know how. I told him about Betty Edwards' book and the next day, he showed up with his own
copy of
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.
Each day he reads the book between takes and each night he works on drawing exercises. Just three days in, he drew the drawing above, a copy of Picasso's Stravinsky.
This is one of the most powerful exercises in Edward's book. You are told to copy this image which is printed upside down in the book. You draw each line individually, then move on to the next, building up the picture stroke by stroke. Everyone who tries it describes the same reaction. They are beating themselves up as they do it, 'Oh, you drew that line wrong, this is a mess, you'll never do this, etc.' and yet persevere. When they are finished and turn the page around, they are blown away. They cannot believe their eyes. The drawing looks remarkably like Picasso's original.
For almost everyone, this simple fifteen minute exercise transforms their view of themselves. It flips a switch in your head that says I can draw! and gives you permission to keep going, to polish your skills, to trust that you'll keep improving, and get on the road to drawing as you only dreamed you could.
If you'd like to try this exercise, use Jim's drawing (You can download a bigger scan of it here.). Print it out, turn it upside down, then slowly and carefully copy each line with a pen onto a sheet of paper. Then, brace yourself and turn it around.
What do you think? Let me know.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
In your book, you mentioned that you started drawing really, really slow as you began to “see”. That has changed me. I just can’t get over how wonderful you are for sharing your knowledge within this blog. I look forward to your updates every time.
Harry from VA
Posted by: Big Harry H | April 2, 2005 08:59 PM
Hi Danny -
I tried this exercise about 20 (gasp) years ago and found it very eye-opening. I proceeded on with the rest of Edwards' exercises and have been drawing from life ever since!
A question for you: What kind of pen/nib thickness/ink did you use when you drew the first tree in the series of four trees back in March? The lines came out beautifully! I, too, enjoy doing drawings in ink (or pencil), but since the ink in my favourite pen (Lamy Safari) is not waterproof, I have yet to try to put a watercolor wash on top.
Thanks for a great web site! - Anna
Posted by: Anna | April 3, 2005 10:19 AM
i tried this in eighth grade, many long years ago, in an art class when art was still a required subject in middle school, and i was delighted with the result! this was big for a girl who was constantly told that i didn't put enough effort into my artwork and that was why i was no good at it.
Posted by: Sara | April 3, 2005 10:40 AM
Here's another testimonial from long ago. It's been at least 15 years since I did this. I cannot draw a circle and have terrible handwriting. This is the one decent looking thing I've ever drawn.
This inspired me to get my dog-eared copy off the shelf and revisit.
Posted by: Derek Scruggs | April 3, 2005 06:21 PM
A fellow potter and friend turned me on to Everyday Matters and your blog several months ago. I, too, got the bug to learn to draw, happened to pick up Betty Edward's workbook at the bookstore, and I'm about half way through. So it was fun to see the posting about the "upside-down" exercise. I got my interpertation out and compared it to Jim's and Picasso's and each was alike, but different in a way that exhibits each person's inherent originality. Great stuff!
Also I like the idea of getting folks to work from Jim's drawing. Reminds me of that game gossip we use to play in grade school. The whispered word would traverse the circle and gradually but surely come out some place new and crazy.
Thanks for your efforts on behalf of inspiration. They are very much appreciated. (And Jim, good luck Guy!)
Posted by: Douglass | April 4, 2005 12:27 AM
Yep, this was one of the most influential exercises we did in high school art class. It's great not only for building confidence but for divorcing your mind from seeing the whole and teaching you to see the individual bits that make up the whole.
Since everyone's version of this piece comes out slightly differently, I'd love to see a series of it done as an evolutionary progression. One person begins with Picasso's original; the next person copies the copy; the third person copies the copy of the copy, etc. It would be interesting to see what the 20th iteration looked like. Maybe hang them around the walls in an otherwise empty square room with the final copy coming full circle (so to speak) with the original, and have the viewer try to guess which one was Picasso's original.
Posted by: Oliver | April 4, 2005 12:35 PM
This entry made me pull out my copy of this book and try again too...I also "googled" Betty Edwards. She now has an instructional video/dvd. Do you know anything about it???
Posted by: Beth | April 4, 2005 04:14 PM
I remember doing this exercise in high school. I did it so slowly that I didn't finish it, but it worked! Thanks so much for sharing this one, Danny!!
Posted by: Amy | April 5, 2005 09:47 AM
I tried her book last year, and I just couldn't get into it. Since so many of you are speaking so highly of it, I may give it another try.
~Joy
Posted by: Joy | April 5, 2005 09:50 AM
I love this book! I love how it breaks down the process (that I could never explain to people who asked me) in such a clear way with such amazing results. You certainly don't have to be perfect to be an artist.
ps ~ first time commenter - I love your site!
Posted by: french toast girl | April 5, 2005 10:21 AM
Betty Edwards book helped me a lot not only in drawing but for lots of other things too like software development... That drawing class I took using the book was one of the best class I ever had... the door to my creative world.
Posted by: diong | April 7, 2005 01:13 PM
I read your "PEANUTS" first installment and was very absorbed. Your life's story is sad, funny, inspirational, etc., etc. and I enjoyed every word. Keep 'em coming!
Nancy Grim
Posted by: Nancy Grim | April 7, 2005 10:32 PM
I'm going to give this a try. Looks like fun and I sure could use a drawing exercise. Thanks for your site. I just found it today.
Posted by: kit | May 20, 2005 02:08 PM