HOW TO LEARN TO DRAW?
DRAW, DRAW, DRAW
Many people wonder how to learn to draw. Even more of them are convinced that they have so little talent that it does not make sense to even try. Well I don’t think that there is anyone who does not have enough talent. We are all inherently creative but as we grow older we become too self-conscious and we lose this child-like sense of wonder, curiosity and excitement. How do we restore it?
I love this photo. Back in November 2019 I was preparing my first class that was published on Skillshare. I thought that it was a beginners’ class. However, having already gained significant experience at drawing, I was not sure. I asked my husband if he would like to be my student. He has absolutely no interest in drawing, in fact he thinks that he is barely able to draw a stickman. I found that he was a perfect target for me to check what I needed to know. Then my daughter walked in and (much to my surprise, as she was 17 at that time) told us that she would like to join. We sat down and finished these drawings, one stroke at a time, just as taught by the Zentangle method.
On the left you can see my daughter’s drawing. She used to draw a bit more as a child but at that time and even now she shows no interest for it. Yet she did wonderful!!! My drawing is in the middle. And my husband’s drawing is on the right. Yes, the man who did not draw a thing since he was convinced in elementary school that he was an anti-talent. We were in awe by what he accomplished. Now imagine if he started drawing consistently. But, sadly it was a one-off thing. He does not have interest in my classes at al. 😀
Consistency
Yesterday I posted another drawing to my Instagram account. Later I accidentally clicked on my profile and saw the number of 1.000 posts. I knew that I was near that number but I forgot about checking it. However, as soon as I saw it, my heart felt full.
For me this number is yet another sign of my dedication. Never before was I as consistent with anything in my life. It was another proof that it’s worth to follow your passion. Now I do this for living, but I was really passionate about Zentangle since I discovered it in late 2015. There was no idea about where that creative journey would take me. Actually, I just felt the need to express creatively, to draw, draw, draw.
I don’t celebrate any milestones related to the number of followers. Surely it’s wonderful to know that people support what you do, whether it is a profession or a hobby. I am very thankful for that. The creative route can be a very solitary one and mine certainly doesn’t feel so, being a part of the wonderful Zentangle community (hello students, hello social networks!). But what I can control is not the number of followers – it’s the number of drawings. Each of these drawings and posts is a mini celebration of my love for Zentangle. And even after 1000+ drawings I feel more excitement for this journey than ever before. My small business is a true labor of love.
So how to learn to draw?
There is really no magical advice to learn drawing, no shortcut. You just have to do it. The less pressure you put on yourself (to do it quicker, better…) the more you will be able to enjoy every step. Just start, one stroke at a time. If you don’t know where to start, follow the eight steps of the Zentangle method – it really helps.
You can do it by yourself or with a teacher. If you are interested in learning the Zentangle method, I recommend taking classes with certified Zentangle teachers (I am proud to be one of them). I offer a basic Zentangle class, Introduction to Zentangle, which can either help you learn about the method or ignite the creative spark. There are also tons of free resources, including my free online classes.
When you feel passionate about anything, just follow your passion, be consistent and show up. You don’t have to be perfect, in fact you will never be – just come as you are.
May, 2021
Written by Anica Gabrovec CZT
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