Too many believe the myth of “I can’t draw”, when in fact it’s a skill built through practice. We need to reframe our concept of what it means to draw, and why we should do it – especially if you think you can’t. Drawing helps build self-understanding and can boost mental health.
The many benefits of drawing
How we feel influences how we draw
- Art-making can reduce anxiety, elevate mood, improve quality of life and promote general creativity
- It can help you enter a “flow state”, where self-consciousness disappears, focus sharpens, work comes easily to you and mental blockages seem to evaporate
Cultivating a drawing habit
Let go of biases against drawing and against copying others to learn technique
- Resisting the urge to critically compare your work to others’ is also important
- Choose an art style you love and copy it
- Prioritize the conscious experience of drawing over the result
How to get started
Use simple tools that you are comfortable with
- Times you’d typically be scrolling on your phone are prime candidates for a quick sketch
- Doodle when you’re on the phone, watching a movie, bored in a waiting room
- Drawing from life strengthens your understanding of space and form
- Copying other styles gives you a shortcut to new “visual libraries”
