If I Can Draw You Can Too
Drawn by me at about age 9. Riffing on a Dr. Pepper ad from 1977. I had a strange sense of humor even then.
As a third grader I had a fifth grade friend, Tristan, who could draw a horse that looked like it would prance off the page. My version of a horse looked like an outline of a stiff legged dog with an extra large head.
At eight years old I labeled myself as someone who could not draw.
Living with that label weighed heavily on me but I also embraced other methods of art making. I squealed with delight as I used wax to create abstract shapes on a hot plate and then “printed” the colorful swirls on paper or scribbled a rainbow of crayons on art board, covered the colors with black and then scratched in a design of flowers and leaves. I coiled clay into pots, painted them and eagerly waited to see what magic would happen to the glazes in the kiln.
Making colorful imagery and objects with processes that were somewhat out of my control fueled my enthusiasm for art making.
Hand lettering with my mom for a mural at after school daycare. Circa 1978.
By the time I got to art school to study graphic design I was still plagued by my inability to draw realistically but I forged ahead taking photography, color theory, ceramics and even life drawing. I dutifully went to drawing classes for the repeated torture of making flat and out of proportion sketches while ogling over my classmates’ virtuoso work.
The faculty of the graphic design program reinforced my belief that I would never be able to draw adequately. They told us most people could not draw realistically and encouraged us to rely on photography for our assignments. We were expected to draw logos and icons just not illustrations.
I had a reasonably successful career in graphic design but I never felt very satisfied with my work. About 8 years ago I noticed that all of the pieces I collected for inspiration included illustration. I just loved the look of anything that was handmade, especially drawings with a naive look or rough edge.
Around the same time I started training for a half marathon with a good friend who coached me to do a little bit every day and gradually increase my distance. By race day I was fully prepared and surprised myself with a decent time.
Tired of doubting my abilities I decided to approach drawing the way I had approached running: I made art every day and gradually increased the complexity of my projects.
My training included:
studying and imitating drawings of illustrators I admired (this is how kids learn)
taking online classes through Skillshare, Make Art that Sells, and Carla Sonheim’s site (I especially love instructors Diane Culhane and Lynn Whipple)
drawing from photographs
taking an intuitive painting class with Flora Bowley
posting a weekly cat fact illustration on Facebook.
Over time I built a portfolio, got some illustration jobs at Shutterfly and Facebook and came in second place for a job as an illustrator at Papyrus.
Not too shabby for someone who thought she couldn’t draw.
I’m still self-conscious about my drawing abilities but I’m happy that I’ve forged ahead in spite of my self-doubt.
“It’s not about you being the best. It’s about being the best you.”
If you think you can’t draw but love making art I hope you’ll find inspiration in my story. It is difficult to banish all self-doubt but you can move ahead in spite of it.