Word Search: Why are some people able to draw better than others? (2024)
When you are asked to draw something, do you draw two mountains, a river streaming through, with the sun rising over the horizon?
Click start to play today’s Word Search, where you can find various art movements, from ‘surrealism’ to ‘art nouveau’.
But let’s face it. Not all of us are artists. For some of us, basic elements like triangles for mountains, circles for the sun, squiggles for a river, and stick figures for people are the best we can hope to achieve in art. But then there are others, who can draw a face so eerily close to reality, you could mistake it for a photograph.
So, why is it that some people are better at drawing than others?
Scientific research is looking for answers to that question. It appears that a few factors go into how well you can draw: first, it depends on how you perceive reality; second, it’s based on how well you remember visual information from one moment to the next; and last, it hinges on which elements of an object you select to draw.
According to a report in the US-based science news website Livescience, people who have the most trouble judging apparent size, colour, shape and brightness, may be the worst at drawing. When we look at objects, our eyes may misjudge its attributes – for instance, objects appear larger when they are closer than when they are far away. If you draw well, that means you are better able to overcome visual misperceptions such as this, and accurately perceive what you are actually seeing.
Drawing skills could also be influenced by our ability to remember simple relationships between objects, according to a January 2020 study in the Netherlands-based scientific journal Cognitive Development. For instance, at what angle does a finger bend when it touches something? Those who can draw well are able to understand both holistic relationships, as well as focus on the details that others usually miss.
In a December study in the US-based journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, researchers also found evidence that artists are better able to select which elements of an object need to be included in their artwork, to convey its form, and, just as importantly, which elements are best left out.
Luckily, those of us who have mastered stick figures, can hope to improve our drawing ability. Research shows that all of the above factors can be learned and developed with practice. According to an August 2013 study in the UK-based journal Nature Neuroscience, by drawing every day and working on your artistic skills, your motor learning improves and your brain becomes more efficient at the task. So, you don’t just get better, it also gets easier to draw. As the days go by, you end up spending less mental effort and energy recreating shapes and figures you’ve been working on, and the time you take to finish projects will reduce, too.
Do you like to draw? Play today’s Word Search and tell us at games@gulfnews.com.
Ongoing research is revealing the answer to this longstanding question. It seems that realistic drawing ability hinges on three factors: how a person perceives reality, how well he or she remembers visual information from one moment to the next, and which elements of an object he or she selects to actually draw.
It appears that a few factors go into how well you can draw: first, it depends on how you perceive reality; second, it's based on how well you remember visual information from one moment to the next; and last, it hinges on which elements of an object you select to draw.
Drawing well can be challenging for beginners because, besides requiring knowledge of fundamental art concepts and techniques, it involves fluid coordination of hands and eyes that results from the muscle memory that is cultivated naturally over time through repetition, practice, and patience.
1. a person who works in, or is skilled in the techniques of, any of the fine arts, esp. in painting, drawing, sculpture, etc. 2. a person who does anything very well, with imagination and a feeling for form, effect, etc.
Drawing is both a talent and a skill. Some people may have a natural aptitude or talent for drawing, which can give them a head start in learning. However, talent is not a requirement to become proficient at drawing. Drawing skills can be developed through practice, learning, and dedication.
Some people believe that you need to be born with talent in order to be a good artist, but this is not true. Anyone can learn to draw or paint with enough practice. Some of the most famous artists in history were not born with talent, but they practiced regularly and became great artists.
“Artists have structurally different brains compared with non-artists. “Brain scans revealed that artists had increased neural matter in areas relating to fine motor movements and visual imagery. “The research, published in NeuroImage, suggests that an artist's talent could be innate.
This cognitive research study concluded that “making art could delay or even negate age-related decline of certain brain functions.” For anyone interested in brain health, and in boosting their creativity, now you have an even better reason to draw.
As for drawing ability having a genetic component, it is worth noting but hardly surprising, as so does virtually every human behavior except for traits such as language.
Hands, for example, are universally accepted as one of the hardest things to draw well, even for professional artists. But a lot of what someone finds difficult to draw can depend on the artist's personal art interests and experiences.
Even Van Gogh and Picasso didn't become household names overnight and spent decades perfecting their craft. Improving your drawing skills takes time and is a gradual process, but keep examples of your work as you practice to reflect on later. A year from now, you'll be amazed at what you've achieved and feel so proud.
Drawing — and other forms of art — can help you release stress and anxiety. You can draw at home to boost your imagination and creativity, be more mindful and grounded, and relieve anxious thoughts. You can also work with an art therapist to help you manage mental health conditions or trauma.
Some people naturally have better perceptual skills that help them figure out the proportions quickly, others have naturally better control over the pencil, some have better creative imagination that helps them compose better drawings, while some freaks of nature have it all.
'Good' drawing means to be able to sketch anything you see, fluently and as accurately as you intend. And most of all, it requires you to be (relatively) confident about the outcome, rather than hoping for the best.
They simply need more practice to get better. Drawing is a skill and like with any other skill, you can't expect to get better without practicing it. So many people think that drawing is just something that some people can do and others can't. This simply is not true.
Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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