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I want to learn how to draw and I'm studying architecture?

  • Help me please! I'm desperate. I'm studying architecture now, I told them I couldn't draw, they said don't worry, we'll teach you what you need. The studio days are not helping me, I've already asked for extra help. They are geared for people who already know how to draw albeit badly. I've been told over the years, drawing can be taught which is ok with me, I would be pleased to graduate to the level of drawing badly. I enjoy photography and origami so I'm not too bad on the creative side. I've sat down with a teacher and he's not helping. I don't think he KNOWS how to teach someone to draw, someone with basic skills yes and improving them, but I'm not even there. Fine, I'll just have to work with what I've got but the other problem is that I don't know what to ask for him to teach me to draw better. I have the drawing ability of a 3 year old. I have seen 3 year olds that draw better than me. Except I have the advantage that I've been able to develop my fine grasping abilities sort of. 3 year olds can't hold the pen properly. I can though it took me years to write properly. If I get tired, my writing starts looking like I just learnt it. I can't cut straight with a ruler with scissors and or knife. Many people can't draw, and even those who can't draw tell me I'm really bad. The last time I took art class was when I was 14, and those in the class who couldn't do much like myself were left to piss about. I'm 28 now. I'm a mature student, it's my first year and I was previously studying computers and tourism management a couple of years ago. At IB level (kind of A level), I studied Biology, English and Chemistry for my higher levels, and Math Methods, Economy and Spanish. For IGCSE, I did Biology, Chemistry, Physics, English and something else can't remember. So I'm a science person through and through They keep saying practice, practice, I don't mind doing this. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO PRACTICE. I've bought books on how to draw over the years but they don't help me, and I'm lost. I'm tired of buying yet another book that tells you it will help you draw. I'm asking everyone I know for help, they just keep mouthing practice. If it was merely a matter of practice, I would be able to sketch by now as I'm a doodler by nature, abstract swirls I'm great at. I'm ADD and I always need to keep my hands busy so I like fiddling with pencils on paper so practice I've gotten a lot of. Not the right one though. I've found that people are not really good at teaching basic skills, they always assume you know the basics. It's like everyone I know who has been trying to teach me to swim for years. They just said kick, kick, and I kept on sinking. It wasn't until two years ago that someone told me I had to kick from the hip not the knee like I was doing. AHA! That took 10 years to figure out. This is so frustrating for me, I've no problems with my other courses, I enjoy learning every other thing, even things about structures and flows of energy which everyone on my course seems to find incredibly boring and would rather be in the studio drawing stuff. Concrete is quite exciting and I have so many ideas floating in my head that I will want to create one day. I'm actually quite good at puzzles and reading maps and I'm very visual, I just can't get it from my head to paper. The course started a month ago and I'm getting really frustrated and find myself crying myself to sleep. I don't care about the sleepless nights or studying the formulas for thermal energy or writing 2000 word essays, that's simple for me. It's just this mysterious skill I was assured I would be taught and I don't know what to do. It's very frustrating for me and I don't want to fail. Other people on the course tell me not to worry, that they draw badly as well and I will only get better, and I look at their work, and I wish I could draw as badly as they do. What do I need to do? I've heard that learning how to draw different kinds of ellipses is good and to learn how to draw a line, which I'm trying to do but I don't know the base line I'm trying to copy. How do I draw a straight line? I really enjoy my other Architecture classes, I'm reasonable at math, I don't fear it. I grasp concepts easily and this is what I want to do for the rest of my life, it took me long enough to reach this stage (I'm 28, just starting to study Architecture) so any help and advice will be greatly appreciated.

  • Answer:

    One simple answer. BUY the book 'DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN' by Betty Edwards. It scientifically and practically explains what art teachers have been banging on about but failing to actaully teach for hundreds of years. I bet youve heard teachers say "just draw what you see" or some other impractical and vague things - well, this book TELLS you HOW to do it. Edwards explains that drawing is moving from the symbolism and categorization of the logical brain to the pure detached observance of form and tone on the left brain. Basically your'e learning to use the creative half of the brainby entering a trance state. The book is practical, insightful,easy to read and a complete course in drawing. It shows before and after examples of people who couldnt draw. I can draw and have been able to since being little becuase I practised and practised. However, I stopped for a while but this book really helped me again,and it confirmed my suspicions about the mind and being able to draw and that the skill CAN be teached and CAN be learnt. Of course if we have drawing in our genes it can help,but the myth of the artist-draughtsman as genius is not altogether true. people CAN learn to draw. Then it is just a question of PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE AND DEVELOPING your own STYLE. You can proably pick it upon amazon for a few quid or dollars so I'd give it a go! http://www.drawright.com/ Good luck with your studies and i wish you all the success! I know you can do it!

honeylea... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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The best advice would be to constantly practice drawing. Spend some time just at home, drawing anything you can see. First, learn to draw geometric shapes, and soon you'll be able to draw straight lines by freehand. Reading drawing books can also help, though it may not be the most practical way to learn. Look at how perspective is created. You'll soon add in little things you learn to your drawings. Good luck :)

I did architecture and here's my advice. Although personally I had that "sort of" ability to draw from an early age, you don't necessary need to be like that in order to start drawing. Ditch the books and dvd's etc for now, pick up a pencil and have a rubber in hand. Use a clear piece of paper and put something easy in front of you such as an apple, or a basket (you can then add things as you progress). start by placing very light guidelines by pressing very lightly with the pencil onto the paper, do vertical lines, horizontal, curves etc that will help you draw the object (and don't worry you can erase them later). So draw one horizontal line, one vertical so that you get a box shape in between them. Now in that box draw a circle (the apple) and then by pressing hard try adding details to that circle such as the curves of the apple, the stalk and the leaf for example. then try shading it (darker near the edges to give depth and cuviness) and then place shadows. It's really not hard if you just keep practicing and not giving up. Even if it looks bad to you at first, you will get there if you keep practicing.

Julios

use your left hand to draw, practice eye and hand coordination by bouncing a basketball with both hands each till you can do it without stopping. That particular motor skill is undeveloped. when you are drawing, turn the paper upside down and try to draw that way, trust your eye to guide your hand. switch hands and do the same. start with simple shapes first then move on to ellipses and circles and squares. practice ,practice,practice makes perfect.

Jose B

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