The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Edwards says drawing is a skill that can be learned by moving from the left-brain's verbal/analytical mode to the right-brain's visual/perceptual mode. Our school system often favors left-brain functions, which can limit the right brain's ability to process things holistically and non-verbally. By using the right brain, people can get past their inner critic and see the world in a more direct, clear way. This shift is important for art, but also for any task needing new problem-solving, pattern recognition, and intuitive understanding...

Edwards breaks down drawing into five main skills: seeing edges (line), spaces (negative space), relationships (perspective/proportion), light and shadows (shading), and the whole picture. These are not just drawing techniques; they are basic ways of seeing that apply to many parts of life. By focusing on these separate parts, the big task of 'drawing a person' or 'drawing a landscape' becomes easier. This structured approach makes the art process clear, showing that drawing is about developing specific observation skills, not just na...

One of the book's most important ideas is the focus on negative space. Our left brain tends to focus on 'things' (positive shapes), often making them look distorted. By looking at the shapes of the spaces between and around objects, the right brain can see proportions and relationships more accurately. This technique helps get past old ideas of what an object 'should' look like and instead draw what is actually seen. It is an unusual approach that works well, showing that the 'empty' parts are as informative as the 'filled' parts....

As children, we learn a 'symbol system'—simple pictures for common objects (e.g., a stick figure for a person, a house shape with a triangle roof). While useful for quick communication, these symbols become fixed and stop us from truly observing. When we try to draw, the left brain often uses these symbols instead of letting the right brain see the actual visual information. Edwards provides exercises to help break free from relying on symbols, encouraging a return to direct observation. This is a key step in learning to draw accurate...

Beyond art, Edwards says the visual skills learned through drawing are useful for problem-solving in business, education, and daily life. The ability to see relationships, analyze parts, and understand the whole is basic to understanding complex issues. Drawing makes you observe details and think spatially in ways that verbal or number analysis alone often misses. It lets you show thoughts, making abstract ideas real and helping communication. By using the five basic drawing skills for non-art challenges, people can find new ways to i...

Edwards introduces 'P-mode' (Perceptual mode) as the best state for drawing, and also for deep learning and creative insight. This mode is different from the left brain's 'L-mode' (Logical-Verbal mode). P-mode means seeing things as they are, without adding labels, judgments, or past experiences. It is about being aware in the present moment, focusing directly on what you see. This state can be developed through specific drawing exercises, leading to a calmer and more focused mind. The ability to consciously shift into P-mode helps re...

The first basic skill is seeing edges. An edge is where two surfaces meet, or where an object ends and the background begins. Edwards stresses contour drawing, a slow, careful process of tracing the edges of an object with your eye and your drawing tool at the same time. This exercise makes you observe intensely and carefully, stopping the left brain from adding its symbols. By carefully following the details of an edge—its bumps, curves, and angles—the artist captures the object's unique look. This practice improves drawing accuracy ...

Seeing relationships—including proportion and perspective—is another important skill. Objects are not drawn alone but in relation to everything else in view. Edwards teaches how to accurately judge sizes, angles, and alignments by comparing one part to another. This involves using tools like a pencil to measure relative lengths and angles, training the eye to see true proportions rather than what the left brain thinks it knows about an object's 'true' size. This relational thinking is vital, as it recognizes that perspective changes...

Seeing light and shadows (or values) makes a flat drawing look three-dimensional. Edwards says that shading is not just darkening areas randomly, but accurately observing and showing the gradual changes from light to dark that define form. This means understanding the light source, how it hits an object, and how shadows are cast. Learning to see and draw these subtle value changes requires sustained right-brain attention, as the left brain often tries to simplify or ignore these complexities. Mastering value lets artists create depth,...

Finally, 'The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' is not just about learning to draw accurately; it is about promoting creativity and personal growth. Edwards highlights that drawing, especially when using the right brain, can be a calming and revealing experience. It allows people to express thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that are hard to put into words. The confidence gained from mastering a difficult skill like drawing often carries over to other parts of life, helping people take on new challenges with a more creative...