How To Draw Literally Anything

Summary

This video explores the psychological aspects of art improvement, focusing on how our brains attach symbols to objects and how this affects our drawing. It delves into the functions of the left and right brain hemispheres and their roles in art, emphasizing the need to engage the right brain for creative tasks. The video introduces exercises like drawing upside down and pure contour drawing to rewire the brain for better art skills, promising that understanding and applying these concepts will change viewers' brains and enhance their artistic abilities.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Understanding the psychological aspect of art can significantly improve one's drawing skills.
• 🧠 The brain attaches symbols to objects, which can influence how we draw them based on preconceived notions rather than observation.
• 🤯 The left and right brain hemispheres have distinct roles, with the left being more analytical and the right more creative.
• 👶 As children, our drawing symbols evolve as our brains develop and observe the world around us.
• 🔄 The left brain is dominant in language and logic, while the right brain is more involved in creativity and emotions.
• 👨‍⚕️ A case study of a person with split brain hemispheres illustrates the distinct functions of each side of the brain.
• 🤔 The struggle with drawing often stems from the left brain's interference in tasks better suited for the right brain.
• 🔄 To improve art skills, one must learn to utilize the right brain more effectively, especially when venturing into unfamiliar artistic territory.
• 🖌️ Exercises like drawing flipped images or contour drawing can help train the brain to focus on details rather than relying on preconceived symbols.
• 📚 Combining this understanding with consistent practice can lead to significant improvements in artistic ability.

Q & A

What is the main concept discussed in the video that can improve one's drawing skills?

The main concept discussed in the video is the psychological aspect of drawing and how understanding the difference between the left and right brain hemispheres can help improve drawing skills. The video suggests that by rewiring the brain to focus more on the right brain's intuitive and creative functions, one can become a better artist.

How does the video explain the development of symbols in our brain related to drawing?

The video explains that as children grow up, their brains observe the surroundings and attach symbols to things, which evolve over time. These symbols are the brain's way of representing objects, and as one continues to draw, these symbols evolve and can become more complex.

What is the difference between the left and right brain according to the video?

The video describes the left brain as more dominant, analytical, and logical, responsible for tasks like math, reading, writing, and language. The right brain is described as less dominant but more intuitive, creative, and emotional, which is more suited for artistic tasks.

Why is the story of the man with a split brain significant in the video?

The story of the man with a split brain is significant because it illustrates the distinct functions of the left and right hemispheres. The man's inability to consciously recognize a word flashed to his right brain, yet being able to draw it, demonstrates the right brain's role in processing visual and spatial information without the language processing capabilities of the left brain.

What is the role of the left brain when drawing from reference, according to the video?

The video suggests that the left brain tends to interfere when drawing from reference by relying on preconceived symbols and ideas of what objects should look like, rather than focusing on the actual details of the reference. This can lead to drawings that are influenced more by memory than by observation.

How can one rewire their brain to improve their drawing skills as suggested in the video?

The video suggests rewiring the brain by using exercises that engage the right brain more deliberately. Two such exercises are drawing a reference image upside down, which forces the brain to treat the image as unknown territory, and pure contour drawing, where one draws without looking at the paper, focusing solely on the reference.

What is the significance of drawing a reference image upside down as mentioned in the video?

Drawing a reference image upside down is significant because it forces the brain to treat the image as unfamiliar, thereby reducing the left brain's interference and allowing the right brain to focus on the shapes, lines, and angles without preconceived notions of what the object should look like.

What is pure contour drawing and how does it help in rewiring the brain for drawing?

Pure contour drawing is an exercise where one draws a highly detailed reference without looking at the canvas, focusing only on the reference. This forces the brain to concentrate on the details and contours of the image, bypassing the left brain's tendency to attach preconceived symbols to objects and encouraging the right brain's intuitive and creative functions.

How does the video relate the brain's hemispheres to the struggle artists face with certain drawing techniques like foreshortening?

The video relates the struggle with drawing techniques like foreshortening to the left brain's interference. When trying to draw something unfamiliar, the left brain relies on preconceived symbols, leading to inaccuracies. The video suggests that by engaging the right brain more, artists can focus on the actual details and relationships in the reference, improving their ability to draw complex techniques.

What is the final promise the video makes to viewers regarding their brain and drawing skills?

The video promises that by understanding the concepts discussed and practicing the suggested exercises, viewers will be able to draw literally anything and their brain will have changed in a way that enhances their artistic abilities. It emphasizes that this knowledge should be coupled with consistent and effective practice to achieve improvement in art.