Learn to Draw, Draw to Learn
Drawing can be used to record what you see either in reality or in your mind's eye, in a manner not totally unlike the way we can record our thoughts and ideas in words.
Learn to Draw, Draw to Learn
Two Ways of Drawing
"We have two brains: a left and a right. Modern brain scientists now know that your left brain is your verbal and rational brain; it thinks serially and reduces its thoughts to numbers, letters and words... Your right brain is your nonverbal and intuitive brain; it thinks in patterns, or pictures, composed of "whole things", and does not comprehend reductions, either numbers, letters, or words."
Most activities require both brain, each contributing its special functions, but a few activities require mainly one mode, without interference from the other. Drawing is one of these activities.
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Drawing From The Left To The Right
Learning to draw, then, turns out not to be "learning to draw." Paradoxically, "learning to draw" means learning to make a mental shift from using the left brain to using the right brain. That is what a person trained in drawing does, and that is what you can learn.
Once learned, drawing can be used to record what you see either in reality or in your mind's eye, in a manner not totally unlike the way we can record our thoughts and ideas in words. Many 20th century abstract painters who appear to draw and paint in a completely random fashion, had to learn to draw realistically before they were able to make the shift into abstract painting. Picasso, Willem de Kooning, Matisse, Mondrian and Jackson Pollock are a few examples of great abstract painters who first learnt to draw realistically.
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Drawing With Your Right Brain
"Last year an 8-year old girl signed up for a drawing class and later her mother brought a drawing of a tulip the girl had done in school. She said all the other children had done typical tulip symbols, but her daughter had carefully looked at how the leaves curved and the petals curled at the edges. It was a beautiful drawing of that particular, unique flower, not a stereotyped tulip shape. She was so impressed."
In the US, some teachers use drawing to teach geography, biology, and other subjects. When you draw something you remember it much better that if you just look at it or take a photo. It also improves concentration a lot. Let your baby learn to draw and it help her perform in school.
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Advantage Of Drawing With The Right Side
One very interesting experiment you can try is to ask your children to draw their pet or favorite toy from memory. They will draw a rather symbolic cartoon-like shape. As they draw, ask them how many claws and whiskers does their cat or dog have, how exactly does the ear connect to the head, what shape is the nose, how many tail feathers does their pet bird have, and so on. You will see a look of shock on their faces as they realize they have no idea. Then have them draw a picture while looking at their pet or toy. They will really look carefully, since they have become very curious to see how many whiskers, etc there are. I'm sure you will be very surprised at the difference between the two drawings.
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Your Baby Draws With Your RIGHT BRAIN - Get It "RIGHT" From The Start.
- Start as early as 1 years old.
.You can start with finger painting or sponge painting.
.You should have additional set of drawing/painting material for yourself.
.Draw/paint along with them treating it like a game.
.You can singing while you paint to get them interested.
.DO not give instructions on what or how to paint. Let them mimic your actions.
Note: NO INSTRUCTIONS! (No left brain logical thinking should be involved).
- Drawing for toddlers (2 to 3-years old).
.Starting the drawing of a LINE. Do not make a shape out of it.
.Try a piece of wire that is bent in a way so it stands up on the table in front of the baby. (you can also use dough)
Note: Avoid any subject matter (No left brain logical thinking should be involved).
.Limiting this to a short time.
.Ask your toddler to FIRST DRAW IT IN THE AIR while looking directly at it.
.Let them follow the wire or edge very slowly in one direction and practice in the air again in the other direction.
.Watch that they move slowly and watch that they see the kinks and bends as they go.
.Go over to the object and move along the edge with your YOUR FINGER. Let his eyes follow your finger slowly along the line.
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- 4-years old and above.
.Cover the object of interest (object to be drawn) with a cloth. It may be a
.softtoy, a fruit, a flower, etc.
.Ask your child to put their hands on the object and feel it for 10 seconds.
.Ask your child to smell it for a couple of seconds.
.Give the object a knock and ask your child to hear it.
.Ask the child to imagine what is under the cloth.
.Remove the cloth and ask your child to look at the object.
.If the object is edible, ask your child to taste it.
.Remove the object and ask your child to draw/paint it.
Surprise yourself with the results after a handful of drawing sessions.
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