Can you even teach “drawing”?
Oh, how tricky it is to explain Drawing! How does one communicate the ‘universal language’ when given a mere 26 letters?!
((Insert Moira Rose meme here! LOL))
Nevertheless, […Sorry, I’ll stop!] drawing skills can be developed through consistent practice and exposure to different techniques and materials.
A very popular misconception, especially among adults, (parents/guardians and even coworkers!) is that you are born either “being able” to draw, or not.
BUT… ‘Drawing’ itself, is a skill; One that can be taught, practiced, developed and improved upon. Just like learning to ride a bike, or learning how to cook, there are stages in learning how to draw, as well as methods and approaches. There are even tricks for ‘knowing’ how to draw.
And you can pretty much ‘google’ any of them.
But, I’ve gathered some specific strategies that we, as art teachers, can use to develop and support drawing skills in our young artists.
- Give Explicit Drawing Lessons:
- Provide direct instruction on foundational drawing skills. For younger students, these skills complement letter formation and emergent writing skills they are building in their regular ed classrooms. For older students, they frequently lack the repetitive experience needed to build muscle memory necessary for basic drawing strokes. So remember to give direct instruction on the basics, but also…
- Hide Direct Instruction Within Drawing Activities:
- Rather than catering to the modern attention span – or lack thereof – consider masking explicit drawing instruction by incorporating it within your Art Room activities. I’m talking Centers, WarmUps, Games, Etc… and also consider assigning what I refer to as my “juicy” projects – lessons and projects that incorporate other skills, info, interests, and subjects into the final piece… because well BOY, do I love me a “memorable learning experience!”
- Allow for Exploration in Various Drawing Media:
- By providing experimentation with various points/tips, thicknesses and inks/graphites, your students will eventually become well-versed in their drawing skill potential. They realize their skills may seem lacking, but only because they are using the ‘wrong’ tool for what they are trying to achieve. Through allowing their experimentation in varied media, you also help your artists discover their personal preferences for materials, tool pressures, etc. all while assisting the gradual refinement of their own unique style.
- Practice Regularly:
- When learning a new skill, we all know consistent practice is key. The more opportunities for practice, the better their resulting motor skills… so how do we encourage regular practice?…
- High Interest Drawing:
- … by using high-interest drawing subjects! When researchers investigate effective ways for teaching “how to read”, the studies are clear: The more the student is interested in the topic, the stronger their progress. Students can access books at a much higher reading level than their testing results demonstrate… IF they are heavily invested in the information they are reading.
- I feel the same goes for drawing skills. When a student wants to learn how to draw something, their level of determination is especially strong. They will search youtube, watching drawing videos for hours, just to somehow imitate what they see.
- Since we know that regular drawing practice can help improve skills over time, we know the importance of this dedication. By creating things they’re into, the student is more likely to make drawing practice become a habit. Naturally, budding artists will continue to set aside time to draw regularly in this way once it becomes an established habit.
- Give Effective Feedback:
- Find a variety of your own unique ways to provide constructive feedback. If you aren’t sure how, or you are worried about how your words are perceived, there are SO many resources out there.
- However, rest assured that everyone has their own individual style of doing this! I like to cultivate specific catch-phrases and reuse them as appropriate. I guess this is my way of ‘systemizing’ it, rather than coming up with something to say “on-the-spot”.
- As you show your artists how to identify areas for improvement, you’re building their ability for self-directed learning. When giving them suggestions based their self-identified areas of need, you’re providing them opportunity for continual growth and supporting their determination.
- Provide Endless Encouragement:
- Your positivity builds corresponding trust in their own mark-making abilities. Confidence enhances self-assurance… and faith in oneself is crucial in developing artistic skills. Instead of praising how something LOOKS, praise their effort and they will feel increasingly successful.
- Provide Exposure:
- To inspire your artists, give them the resources they need for gaining exposure to all different styles, setting aside your own personal preferences. Encourage them to seek out what they like, and build their bond with other artists. Social media is especially good for this! Maybe arrange an artist you (or they) admire to demo their work on a livestream or even invite a local artist to your school.
- Their artistic connection doesn’t even really have to be with a LIVING artist… they might relate to a past artist’s life events or outlook. The more we reveal to them, the more they realize that the artists they admire are/were generally approachable, everyday people who express/ed themselves by sharing their experiences visually. Knowing even just a little bit about other artists can make the skill of drawing seem increasingly attainable.
- Attend Teacher Workshops and Events:
- I cannot emphasize enough how much putting yourself in your students’ shoes every once in a while can improve our teaching. From increasing the clarity of our instruction, to learning new tricks to share during lessons, the students you teach benefit immensely from incorporating your experiences as a learner into your teaching.
- Set the Example:
- Let your students SEE you drawing! Speak positively of yourself and think-aloud the issues you face and how you might solve them, so they can have a model inner-script.
- DON’T Give The Example:
- What I mean is this- sometimes you have to let your students to reach their own new heights, rather than leave them at the mercy of the enemy known as comparison. Once in a while, show them HOW without giving them a chance to perceive their own skills falling short of your exalted project examplar.
Drawing skills in your students can be developed through a combination of self-exploration, exposure, guidance, and of course, practice.
By teaching them to draw, know that deep down you are not JUST teaching them to draw… what you are really doing is giving them is the gift of enhancing their ability to express themselves and share their experiences and observations with the world around them… and hey, that’s powerful 🙂