Really. All You Have To Do Is Draw.
9 
Placing people in a box constricts the creativity.
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[/media-credit]I stumbled upon this article by illustrator Gemma Correl a while back and I have to share it with you. She discusses the fact if there is such a thing as a bad drawing style. What triggered her to write an article like that was the following phrase from another article: “What the hell is wrong with this generation of illustrators?” they ask. “Why have they not been taught the importance of learning how to draw well?”
In the fast paced society where we live in people do expect a certain style of art. Just look at Disney and Pixar. The drawing styles are similar and it only makes sense that art students get a good dose of techniques during their studies to make sure they can work in the illustration field as a e.g. character designer. More importantly, they have to fit in with their drawing style so that it’s easier to work on animated movies. When illustrators draw in a simplistic and a more child like way, is that reason enough to say that they can’t draw? Do techniques only define when one can draw? Or is it more important that they can capture the message they want to tell?
I have said it before; I have never studied Art. However, I can have a childlike style and a more technically challenged style. For me, a skilled illustrator can go either way and can adapt to a certain style in his or hers own way. If people get the message you want to convey in your work than you’ve succeeded in your creative mission.
It is very easy to be led by whatever rule or strategy that is around you. Sometimes it’s easier to just follow what is already known by others, so you can avoid questions. That’s what you always get…the questions. ‘Why don’t you just follow the assignment?’, ‘Why do you want to do things differently?’ and so forth. In the end, you can constrict yourself because your surroundings make you believe that a certain way is the only right way to do so. In a creative field or in any field for that matter, can you really say ‘No. that is seriously wrong. Stop doing that and do it this way.’…?
Hmm you probably can, but I can’t think of an example now. I think that it depends on what you want to achieve in the end. If a certain method works for you and you get the results you want, then by all means go for it. I’ve noticed that I often get more feedback on simplistic drawings than the more technically ones.
Maybe people can connect more to the simpler ones? It’s funny, because when I was younger I would strive to re-create difficult drawings, just to show that I could do it as well. I ended up having less fun with it.
In the end, most illustrators do draw in a way that works for them. Whether it’s minimalistic or a style that requires a lot of techniques, they just draw. And if you ask me, by experimenting and observing others, you can create new drawing styles. Artists can inject a bit of themselves in their art, by scribbling the lines down the way they want. Art is so subjective; therefore there is no wrong way of drawing. There is only a ‘wrong’ way if it doesn’t fit your personal definition of art. But even then it isn’t wrong, it is just different. To me, for every type of art there is an audience. One just has to draw and have fun with it!
Really. All You Have To Do Is Draw.,
Tahira Lubrano, also known as TJ, was a Master Sociology student, but now she is chasing her dreams as an artist. You can find ramblings and observations surrounded by her own illustrations at her blog A Look in a Creative Mind. Everything is magical there and you are most welcome to float along and wander around her imaginative world. View My Profile
Tags: art, bad art, Disney, gemma correl, good art, illustrator, Pixar, simplistic drawing, TJ Lubrano, unicorns
“There is only a ‘wrong’ way if it doesn’t fit your personal definition of art. But even then it isn’t wrong, it is just different. To me, for every type of art there is an audience. One just has to draw and have fun with it!” -- Perfectly put, TJ.
I recall working for interior designers -- schooled and unschooled -- and I always found the unschooled more adventurous and willing to push the boundaries. Also, their style was usually unique unlike the cookie-cutter style of my schooled bosses.
Excellent article!
Thank you so much, Katy
I think the trick is to absorb all the techniques and then find your own way in it. However, to stray away from a certain path knowing it’s generally accepted can be really difficult. I found it difficult to think outside certain theories when I was in college, but to be honest I wasn’t soooo motivated to do more than I had to hehe. *waves & gives cupcakes*
I love the freedom you have in your art, TJ! It makes the world look whimsical and wondrous.
Grazie Mille, Sweet Cher! Come on! Let’s flow through the many many Illustrative Worlds hiding out there! Who knows what characters we will find
xoxo
Love this article, never let other dictate what you feel id your way of expression,photography, art, writing or interior design. Only you can decide what’s the best expression of chosen art form. We are all unique and have value in whatever field of art. TJ your art is fantastic!!!!
Hi Cami! Lovely to see you here
You’re right! We are all unique and we need to embrace this! It brings color in the world!! Thank you soooo much!!!
“No. that is seriously wrong. Stop doing that and do it this way.’…?”
In drawing, writing or any expressive effort, this statement blocks more creativity than any other. As I am sure you know, one must overcome one’s own doubts and uncertainties to take the risk of creating anything. This gets easier to do as one gains experience and confidence, but it never disappears.
“Art is so subjective; therefore there is no wrong way of drawing.” The same applies to all creative endeavors. Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly at first. This applies to drawing, writing, dancing, musical composition and whatever else.
Another great musing on the creative adventure!
Thanks as always,
Larry
Ciao Ciao Larry! Yes, I know exactly what you mean with this “one must overcome one’s own doubts and uncertainties to take the risk of creating anything.” -- so true.
I had to go through the exact same thing and it’s something I still need to go through every now and then. I guess in a way, the doubts and uncertainties, it’s a good thing to have…for me anyway. It keeps me on my toes and my head firmly on my shoulders haha.
So happy you liked this one
Thanks YOU so much!
I hate it when people put restrictions on things, especially when it comes to the arts. I love the fact that the world is filled with different styles and ways of doing things. Beauty is not only in the eye of the beholder, but the the holder of the paintbrush (or pencil or crayon), too!
I really hate it too and it makes me want to rebel even more haha. But some people just want to control it all and give rules to everything, which is annoying. Hooray for brushes, pencils and crayons
Art is not about sitting behind a desk and listening to what an instructors tells you is beautiful. It is about finding the beauty that exists in the world, in your mind and in your heart. I think the artists I connect with the most are those who are just telling the experiences playing out in their heads.
Something I love to look at in art museums are the brush strokes on pieces. I think brush strokes say a lot about an artist, and convey as much about the story as the finished piece does. I know people who prefer dramatic colors, and others who are attracted to clean-looking drawings. As you said, ” To me, for every type of art there is an audience.”
“It is about finding the beauty that exists in the world, in your mind and in your heart.” -- pretty sentence! Love it
Staring at brushstrokes? Aah I do the exact same thing! I was at Museum Boijmans-van Beuningen (a big Art museum here) a while ago and I simply just stared at like one spot of a painting as the brushstrokes literally told a story in my head. I definitely learned some techniques by just staring at the strokes. Bob Ross anyone??? His brush strokes are amazing.
You weren’t formally trained so you must have natural artistic ability, which kind of puts you above those who needed the training in my view. But then what the hell do I know
If we all did what everyone else said we should do where would the originality come from. Different I suppose if you have commissions or someone wants something specifically but you should still have some amount of artistic freedom, that’s why they hired you because they can’t do it themselves or else why wouldn’t they just get some drawing by numbers kits and knock themselves out.
Haha! Thanks so much, Garry
(Maybe I’m just high on pizza flour like all the time…)
You’re right though, if we simply followed instructions from someone with no room for our own imagination (that usually fuels the drawing style and what attracted them in hiring you), it would be pretty boring. I give my customers room for their own ideas and thoughts at the very beginning of process. So they have to think a bit harder about what they want to see. It happened a few times that they just gave the ‘freedom’, but further along they suddenly get ideas of what they want to see. In sketching phase, I can try to fit it in, when I’ve already inked it…not so much. Unless they are willing to pay extra cash for it.
Drawing by number kits…I had a few of those, but never finished them haha.