Just like learning a new language, many teachers believe in learning the basics of perspective and shading first. There is value in this approach. But you don't need to know how to draw in order to paint. All you need is the desire to create and the discipline to practice and develop your technique.
The short answer is, yes, you can start painting with few, if any, drawing skills. I speak from experience because that's the way I started. Lots of artists use a variety of means to get the basic shapes from a photograph onto a canvas to begin a painting.
The easy answer is Yes, you can teach yourself to draw, and it can be easier than you think. People learn in different ways and some people find the teach yourself approach the easiest way to learn. There are literally hundreds of tutorials about how to draw and you can find a whole series of great examples right here.
But is drawing harder than painting? The short answer is it depends. Some people learn drawing faster than painting and vise Versa. But generally, you can learn both drawing and painting with enough persistence and I would always suggest learning both.
(Artwork by: @katezambrano)
All this is not to say that one cannot paint without learning to draw; but the best approach to develop your skills as an artist is to learn to draw first and then build on your skills by learning how to paint.
Drawing is a skill you can learn even if you don't have talent. Drawing requires a vast set of skills that people do not acquire at birth. Although some people may naturally draw better than others initially, practice and study are the factors that differentiate a good artist from a common one.
Yes, anyone can learn to draw. You may think you have no talent but others may well appreciate what you draw. A natural talent may make the learning process easier, but drawing is as much of a skill as a talent. As with any other skill, this can be learned.
Do you sketch on canvas before painting? Choosing weather or not drawing on canvas will be your first step in the whole process is entirely up to you. Some artists will choose not to however, I recommend sketching out the design concept for a few reasons.
But does that mean that drawing is only a lesser skill in support of painting? No! It's at least as hard as painting, and maybe even harder. Although color mixing and blending with paint is challenging, paint is also very forgiving.
Becoming a proficient painter is a relatively quick process. With focus and practice, you'll be making paintings in a very short time. Becoming an excellent painter can take a lifetime, but you'll find that the learning process is engrossing and worthwhile.
Art Myth #1: You Need Talent to Be an Artist
But worrying about how much talent you do or don't have is just a waste of energy. Everyone can learn to master the techniques fundamental to good painting and everyone has the ability to improve their creativity.
Drawing a face is so hard because people look at a lot of different faces every day. Besides, they look at them for long durations of time because most of us look people in the eye during a conversation. Therefore, you subconsciously know how a face looks right.
You can learn to draw at any age. There are countless videos, courses, and books, that teach you how to draw at every level. You need a lot of time, be prepared to practice, and have patience.
Acrylic is typically the easiest for beginners, while watercolor is the hardest. However, if you hate working with acrylic, don't force yourself to paint it just because it's easier. It's far more important to find a medium that you enjoy.
It can improve your concentration, develop your critical thinking skills, and enhance your fine motor skills. It can foster creative growth, build your confidence, promote a positive attitude and nurture emotional growth. Learning how to paint should be more pleasure than pressure.
Outsider art is art made by self-taught or supposedly naïve artists with typically little or no contact with the conventions of the art worlds. In many cases, their work is discovered only after their deaths. Often, outsider art illustrates extreme mental states, unconventional ideas, or elaborate fantasy worlds.
Anyone can learn to draw at any age. Drawing is a skill that takes time to master, but the principles are easily understood. With practice and patience, anyone can learn to draw well. Inevitably, talent rises to the top and some people will be more gifted than others.
For a career changer, it might take five to 10 years to develop core painting skills. Generally, formal art education takes about six years total, including four years to earn a BFA degree and additional two for an MFA.
Artists are both born and taught, says Nancy Locke, associate professor of art history at Penn State. "There is no question in my mind that artists are born," says Locke. Many artists arrive in the world brimming with passion and natural creativity and become artists after trying other vocations.
When you draw every day, you will speed up your motor learning and master your drawing skills more quickly. Your strokes will become more fluid, you'll understand how to make the shapes you need to form without mistakes, and the time it'll take you to finish your piece of art will decrease.
They found drawings by identical twins received more similar scores than drawings by non-identical twins, from which they could conclude that drawing ability has a strong genetic link.