As an illustrator with a fine art background, I have always been fascinated by all the complexities of creating an image. Teaching has become an essential part of my practice, and through it, I have learned to deconstruct artist technique (both my own and other artists) so that I can develop a clear step by step process to making art. One fundamental skill that continually stands out in creative practice is drawing.
But what is drawing? And why do I feel I don’t see enough of it in the classroom?
While reading, Drawing Laboratory: Research workshops and outcomes (Salamon, A, 2018), I gained valuable insight into how drawing functions as a cognitive tool, training the brain to retain information. One thing stood out to me the most was, despite its importance, drawing is not widely recognised as an essential skill in art education. The author highlights a significant issue, ‘In contemporary art and design education the role of drawing has become viewed as less essential.’ (Salamon, 2018) To me, this is significant issue. I strongly believe that art universities should incorporate dedicated drawing workshops and lectures into their programs. This paper highlights the immense value of drawing in an enriching experience.Five workshops were designed to use drawing as a mnemonic tool to enhance problem-solving, concentration, and memory retention. These workshops were titled and describes as:
. Muscle Memory – Draw an object from different angles, then after draw them blindly.
. Remote Viewing – Remembering what a life model look like behind a wall
. Suggestibility – Draw an environment within a group, then draw the environment again away from the group and environment
. Recall (parts 1) – Draw personal episodic information, specifically childhood objects
. Recall (part 2) – Draw a portrait observing model, redraw model without observing them.
The paper explores how memory functions in relation to practical tasks, reinforcing the idea that drawing helps artists develop a mental visual library that they can refer to when they are creating. When workshops are well structured and thoughtfully designed, they can yield outstanding results.
This approach to drawing aligns with discussions from industry professionals like concept artist Karl Kopinski, who has spoken about the lack of fundamental skills being taught in art education. Many professional artists share this concern, emphasising that drawing is the foundation of visual storytelling. Here is a YouTube video of Karl Kopinski (Proko, 2023) discussing his approach and experience to drawing:
Karl Kopinski Sketching from Imagination
Drawing serves as both a crude and refined method of constructing ideas—it is the building block of visualising concepts and thoughts. However, I recognise that not all creatives feel comfortable drawing. Some may lack confidence, while others may avoid it altogether due to fear of judgment. In my teaching practice, I strive to design drawing workshops that alleviate this anxiety and make the process enjoyable. Encouraging students to visualise ideas in any way, without pressure, to help build confidence and creativity.
References
Salamon, A. (2018) SPARK: Drawing Laboratory: Research workshops and outcomes. Available at: https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/20200/3/SPARK_Salamon_laidout.pdf
Proko (2023) How to Draw Gesture – Step by Step. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF_shGImfbc (Accessed: 18 March 2025).