Learning to Draw by Using the Right Side of Your Brain

What Do I Know?

I have always had some artistic ability. Even as a small child (before computers, iPads and the like), my favourite pastime was drawing and sketching. I studied Commercial Art through ICS Correspondence School (before digital computer art took over that field).

While employed at Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, I was asked to draw cartoons for the library introduction manual and to illustrate posters and displays for 'Orientation Week' each year.

I read the book Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain by Betty Edwards and was impressed by the theory and exercises discussed. In this article, I present the basic ideas from this book for you to try if you are interested in improving your artistic ability. I am confident if you follow the instructions given in the exercises, your drawing will improve dramatically. Good luck in your endeavours.

Right Brain Vs. Left Brain Theory

The right brain-left brain theory originated in the work of Roger W. Sperry, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1981.

The Right Brain

According to the left-brain, right-brain dominance theory, the right side of the brain is best at expressive and creative tasks. Some of the abilities that are popularly associated with the right side of the brain include:

• Recognizing faces
• Expressing emotions
• Music
• Reading emotions
• Colour
• Images
• Intuition
• Creativity

The Left Brain

The left side of the brain is considered adept at tasks involving logic, language, and analytical thinking. The left brain is often described as being better at:

• Language
• Logic
• Critical thinking
• Numbers
• Reasoning

The Right Side: Natural Artistic Ability

Have you ever wondered why some of us have artistic ability and seem to be able to create amazing drawings, paintings and sculptures while the rest of the population are confined to drawing basic stick figures? (Writers and poets are also included in those with artistic ability.)

Well, although 'outstanding' artistic ability is God-given talent, that doesn't mean the rest of us can't train ourselves to at least be able to draw or paint at a more than satisfactory level.

It has been a long-accepted theory that we all have a predisposition to using either the left or right side of our brains predominantly. This is one of the major factors in determining where most of our abilities as human beings are directed.

Recent research has shown that there is not always such a distinct leaning of individuals towards the predominant use of one side of the brain over the other, as previously thought. For example, new studies show that abilities in subjects such as math are actually strongest when both halves of the brain work in tandem. Neuroscientists now know that the two sides of the brain work together to perform a wide variety of tasks and that the two hemispheres communicate.

That being said, this system of improving your artistic ability still works, and individuals still seem to display some preference for the attributes associated with the right or left brain.

Exercise One: Drawing Upside Down

Drawing upside down is a common exercise art students are asked to work on in order to improve observational skills and help switch from the logical mode (left brain) to the creative mode (right brain).

One of the exercises in Betty Edwards' wonderful book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is to copy a sketch of Picasso's "Portrait of Igor Stravinsky" but draw it upside down. I did it quite well the right way up (I have natural artistic ability and am naturally 'right brain' oriented), but I was surprised how much easier it was when I turned the original drawing upside down.

The point of the exercise is to draw what we actually see and to discourage us from focusing on recognizable shapes that our brain interprets from its stored concept of that shape. It is hard to switch off our logical mode completely, so here are a few tips that may help you complete this exercise:

• Focus on separate lines and how they relate to those around them rather than look at the whole shape.
• Look at blank spaces around the lines to get a more accurate placement of those lines.
• If you can't stop seeing recognizable shapes, focus on one part of the sketch and place a piece of paper over your original to cover parts that you aren't sketching. Once you are done with that section, move the paper to uncover the next section.

These are the tips that have worked for me. Why don't you take the time to give it a try now?

Cover up the image that is the correct way up, and try to draw the upside-down portrait of Stravinsky (below). I'm sure you will surprise yourself. This is only one of the helpful exercises in this outstanding book that takes pride of place in the "art" section on my bookshelf.

Or Try This

If the portrait of Igor Stravinsky doesn't appeal to you, or you feel it is too much of a challenge, you may prefer to attempt to draw the following t-shirt design I sketched of a boy riding a hobby horse.

Exercise Two: Vases and Faces

Another of Betty Edwards’ recommended exercises is “Vases and Faces”. This involves drawings which display both left and right hemisphere mode and shifts made by the artist.

1. Start by drawing a profile of a face on the opposite side of your dominant hand, naming the features of the face as you draw them.
2. Next, copy the profile on the opposite side of the paper, drawing as closely as possible what you drew on the first side—without naming the features of the profile. The forehead and neck are then connected, which makes the negative space of the drawing appear to be a vase.

After this exercise, draw another in the same manner but with the strangest profile you can imagine.

Before and After Drawings

Below are some examples of drawings by the same people before and after they practiced the exercises to encourage the use of the right side of their brains. The level of improvement is incredible.

Before and after.

1 / 3

With a little practice and devoting some time to these exercises, you will soon be turning out professional looking drawings. Or maybe even paintings like the one below.

Well, maybe not. But at least like this one of mine below.

Questions & Answers

Question: Can I use an eraser when practicing drawing?

Answer: Yes, you can always use a good quality eraser. Most artists do, so by all means feel free to do that.

© 2014 John Hansen

Comments

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on September 15, 2020:

Thanks Kerryn, did you check the before and after drawings? Many of those people could barely draw stick figures. It really does work and what do you have to lose? I encourage you to at least try. You may be surprised. Good luck.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on January 15, 2019:

Thanks for sharing that Steve.

Steve Wilson on January 15, 2019:

Matisse cos he invented a new art form - cut outs - to beat his decline .

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on August 28, 2018:

Thank you, Kenneth. I appreciate you taking the time to read another of my articles, and the kind comment.

Kenneth Avery on August 28, 2018:

Jodah --- expert work. Tremendous artwork. Loved it.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on August 28, 2018:

Thank you a Daniel. Good luck.

Daniel Unger on August 28, 2018:

Making art is my life i do it good or bad but it's fine so my art is fine at normal but on what i do it's easy. The thing is all art is on paper but on picture and at all this it's just about writing what you did. All the lines you did you just do it good or fine and at all the good at seeing art for the first thing.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on October 22, 2016:

Thank you, Jonathan. I am sure this method will help you. I will have to check out the work of Friedrich.

Johnathan on October 22, 2016:

Fantastic article,

I'm going to try and incorporate these techniques in my self-education from now on.

Also my favorite artist is Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840).

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on September 28, 2016:

Hi, Shyron. It has me baffled. If they are specific things that they request, relevant to the particular hub.. fair enough, but when they just give generic advice it doesn't help. What gets me is THEY chose this hub, I didn't submit it, so why didn't they 'snip' it as they have done to other hubs of mine? Do you know who to email to question decisions?

Shyron E Shenko from Texas on September 28, 2016:

Jodah, I don't know why HP did not choose this to be neutered, I mean niched. I think this is great.

I have had two hubs that HP said that I could have them niched if I did XYZ but the one thing they said which told "me they did not read my hub 'Learning how to drive a 4 speed manual stick shift' which is a true story of my learning to drive a car with a manual trans, and not a DIY anything. HP told me I should have put bullet points?

I redid/rewrote 'Are there any Conservatives in Hollywood' at the request of HP twice and it was not moved to the niche site. I don't know if the moderators really read what we have written.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on September 28, 2016:

Thank you, Ron. I am glad you were fascinated by the Marilyn Monroe face portrait. Sometimes I feel why waste so much time on detail trying to perfect a portrait when you can highlight a few outstanding features and make it recognizable? That would be an interesting psychological study.

Ronald E Franklin from Mechanicsburg, PA on September 27, 2016:

I found your drawing of Marilyn Monroe fascinating. Although it seems almost devoid of detail, it's immediately clear who the subject is. I wonder if anyone has ever done a psychological study of just how little detail is necessary to recognize a face.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on June 17, 2016:

Great job, Bill! Glad to hear this guide did enough to help you illustrate the Ladder Trees of New Hawaii. Thanks for letting me know and for the credit.

Bill Russo from Cape Cod on June 17, 2016:

Hi John. I read this great guide some time back and did actually try to improve myself. Although I did not improve dramatically I was at least able to come up with a couple illustrations for the short story I call the Ladder Trees of New Hawaii, which you were kind enough to read. So for better or worse, the 'credit' for my pencil sketches goes to "Jodah".

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on April 18, 2016:

Thank you Martie. Much appreciated. It was great that Coelien wrote a thank you comment on your wonderful hub too.

Martie Coetser from South Africa on April 18, 2016:

Jodah, this is truly a very informative and educational hub about drawing. I'm linking this to my hub :)

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on December 14, 2015:

My dear Surabhi, you have to stop praising me or you will cause my ego and head to swell :) thank you sincerely for your kind words, they do mean a lot. I have not been drawing as much as I used to but a few people suggest I should add more drawings to my hubs, so maybe I will. At one time I considered commercial art as a career, but I found there are many better artists than myself out there. Still I do enjoy it as a hobby and have used it for promotional material and cartoons at places I have worked.

Oh I am a Taurus by the way. Is that strange for an artist? I am not sure. I eagerly await your sketches and will delight in providing feedback.

Surabhi Kaura on December 14, 2015:

Whoa!! I…. I…. I have no words. I am speechless. What a remarkable artist you are! No buttering. It’s coming from the bottom of my Heart. This means that I owe you another dedication :) Just for you!

My! my! I’m drawn to you now. (he he). You know something – I feel like we all humans have a hidden talent, yet very few know how to exactly unlock their concealed skills. You seem to be an Aquarian or a Gemini – both of these astrological signs are well known for versatility in art. It’s spiritually and scientifically proven. I am an Aquarian by the way :) I’ll send you my art, and I would love to hear your feedback. This is my favourite hub so far. I bow my head before thee, my dear Jodah. Salutations… much salutations!

P.S. – Have you thought of publishing your sketches? Your sketches would grace your fictions further… or how about a comic book?

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on April 24, 2015:

Thank you Nadine, well I could have included a lot more artists on the list. Well Dali was certainly the master of surrealism, no one else quite like him. Glad this brought back memories.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on April 24, 2015:

Thank you Nadine, well I could have included a lot more artists on the list. Well Dali was certainly the master of surrealism, no one else quite like him. Glad this brought back memories.

Nadine May from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa on April 24, 2015:

Great article. I used to give these 8 week drawing workshops for several years at an art college during the eighties. Nice to read up on it again. My favorite artist was not on your list. I have several but one is Salvador Dali

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on April 23, 2015:

Haha Bill, at least you tried, especially the upside down drawing. Thanks for the kind comment and vote up.

Bill Russo from Cape Cod on April 23, 2015:

I read every word of this outstanding work John, and resolved to give everything a try. The drawing upside down thing did not work out for me. The blood rushing to my head made me feel like I was going to pass out.

Next I tried Betty Edwards 'Vases' exercise but my brain turned that into a Rorschach test and I shudder to think what people might say when they know that the first vase became 'Tweety Bird' from the Looney Tunes cartoons. And the second one was a woman who actually sang to me; "I'm Chiquita Banana...." Yep, it was Carmen Miranda!

But seriously, I wish I could draw well and I envy all of you who can. As usual, voted up and fantastic.

Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on March 27, 2015:

Jodah,

Good. It couldn't happen to a nicer, more-talented hubber.

Kenneth. I did get your info on the art transfer. Thanks.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on March 27, 2015:

Hi Kenneth, thanks for visiting this hub and for your kind comment. Yes I have been getting quite a few comments on my hubs recently...takes some scrolling

Kenneth Avery from Hamilton, Alabama on March 27, 2015:

Jodah, my friend,

I should have written my comment and pasted it here. I am amazed at the number of comments. That is a sure-sign of a talented writer.

I love, and I mean, Love this hub and your artwork.

Would you please inbox me the answers to the these questions:

1. Do I need a special paper to draw on?

2. Do I really need a pencil?

3. Do you flat-bed scan your artwork to your PC and save it in PNG or Jpeg?

I love PNG more tan Jpeg. Speaking of that. I am going to start weaning myself away from those websites with general artwork. I am going to start using my wife's digital camera and take REAL abstract photos for my hubs. I guess I am vain for that way I can type my own name in the Source box.

Ahhh, setting sail me friend to de cove of complex adjectives.

Your Friend for Life,

Kenneth

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on December 28, 2014:

Thanks for taking a look at this Sandy. I would be interested to hear the result you have with the exercises. I appreciate the vote up too.

Sandy Mertens from Frozen Tundra on December 28, 2014:

This is quite interesting. Looking at the description for right and left side, it looks like I have a little bit of both. Anyway, I will have to bookmark this and try some exercises. Rated up.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on December 21, 2014:

Glad you have read the book and can vouch for it's effectiveness Georgina. Thanks for your kind comment and the follow and vote up as well.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on December 21, 2014:

Glad you have read the book and can vouch for it's effectiveness Georgina. Thanks for your kind comment and the follow and vote up as well.

Georgina Crawford from Dartmoor on December 21, 2014:

It's a great book. Like you, I worked through the exercises and I think it improved my drawing. I like the detail in your article, and especially your pictures. Rating up and following you.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on October 11, 2014:

Thank you Mekenzie. It is wonderful to think one of your hubs can be helpful and inspiring to another person. It's funny how you seem to come across just the right information at the right time or when you are considering giving up. Please do try this method I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I envy you being able to paint and after this I hope you can draw as well. Thanks for the kind comments.

Susan Ream from Michigan on October 11, 2014:

Jodah, So happy to have found this hub today. I love to paint and create beauty with the brush. I've always thought I couldn't draw because of 'the lines' but your article created a curiosity and it makes sense - I'm going to give it a shot.

My drawings look like the ones you illustrate on the left and rather than working on it I quit, because I think, it's not my thing.

Thank you for giving me inspiration today. Who knows maybe I will get past stick figures and enjoy the art of drawing. Loved ALL your drawings, especially the one of your wife and baby.

Blessings!

Mekenzie

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on September 18, 2014:

Hey MsCue, good to see you. Yes I most definitely go through phases. I have drawn vey little lately in fact (except for doodling while I write). Please give the upside down exercise a go because it does work. But being you being already an accomplished artist you won't notice such a drastic difference as someone with little artistic ability.

A collaborative effort would be nice, but how would we put it together? Take care and thanks for reading.

Helen Kramer from Santa Barbara, CA. on September 18, 2014:

OK, just read this one again, Jodah, after about 6 months....... gonna try the upside down exercise...taking advantage of my latest drawing "phase". Wish they happened more often. Do you go through phases too? I can write anytime but with the art...its different...left brain/right brain stuff, eh!!! Guess we should write another 'retrain the brain' hub... perhaps a collaborative effort is in order! Stay Cool my friend!!!

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on August 22, 2014:

Thank you Shauna, you should give this method a go. You may be surprised.

Shauna L Bowling from Central Florida on August 22, 2014:

I can't draw worth diddly, although my brother is quite talented in that department. You're quite the artist, John!

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on July 23, 2014:

Hi DrBill, thank you for reading this and also the follow.

William Leverne Smith from Hollister, MO on July 23, 2014:

I love to read about drawing... but I'm not very good. Thanks for a great read... and look. Thanks for sharing!! ;-)

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on May 22, 2014:

Thanks for reading, voting and sharing this Shyron. Your hubs always display artistic ability. Sure sounds like it runs in the family. My wife is a fabric artist and my daughter is a painter and photographer. Norman Rockwell was amazing in his fine detail of ordinary life. Best wishes.

Shyron E Shenko from Texas on May 22, 2014:

My favorite artist is Norman Rockwell.

Shyron E Shenko from Texas on May 22, 2014:

Jodah, I was on my way to more on the your story with an end and found my here. I also draw, I never thought of drawing upside down, and I am going to try this. Both my mom and 1 of my 2 brothers are artists with formal training, mine I just do it.

Voted up across the board except (funny), pinned and shared.

Shyron

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on May 16, 2014:

Thanks for the great comment Nadine. I can tell from your hubs that you have a lot of artistic ability, good to know you actually taught art and know that these type of exercises work. Thank you for the vote up too.

John Hansen (author) from Australia (Gondwana Land) on May 16, 2014:

Thanks for reading and the vote up and share Ologsinquito. Yes the difference is amazing.

Nadine May from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa on May 16, 2014:

Great hub Jonas. Your hub brought back memories. I have giving these drawing workshops for 11 years at a college in Port Elizabeth. I have several before and after portrait drawings my students did after my 8 week course. From there on I moved onto workshops on (doodling) mind drawing though the higher self and my first workbook on the Language of Light was published in 2003. Voted up

ologsinquito from USA on May 16, 2014: