Why draw?

Well, first because a good drawing is the foundation of a good painting. It’s the basis of all we do as botanical artists. A completely rendered drawing is a work of art and illustration on its own. A great cartoon (outline only drawing) allows the artist to transfer the image to great paper and add color or ink to make a finished artwork. It works out and solves problems before the excitement and confusion of color is fully involved.

Sketchbook page with specimen pasted in, and form study beside it,

3 colored pencils, by Libby Kyer

There are other special benefits when you develop a drawing habit. They include:

            Daily drawing integrates art into your life. Change your sense of ease and proficiency just by drawing each day? Yep. It works. It’s like playing scales on a piano daily. Art is a physical skill as well as a creative one. Just like piano. Your hand has to talk to your head, and then back again to your hand to make it work. Practice makes perfect. Really.
            Daily drawing will illuminate what you already know, reaffirming your confidence in your known skills.
            Daily drawing will illuminate what you don’t know. When we run into a problem with a drawing, if we’ve given ourselves permission to draw at will and make mistakes as well as masterpieces, we’ll find out what we don’t know. Then, we can research how to solve the problem effectively, rather than just wondering, “Why can’t I get this to work?”
            Daily drawing helps you develop your own style. You already have style. Constant use of your skills develops that style into a recognized personal statement. It informs the art so that others have an idea of how you approach it. Viewers identify with style.
            Daily drawing helps you discover where you want to go with your art. Find yourself drawing a ‘favorite’ subject a lot? Figure out why you’re drawn to that subject. Think of ways to use this knowledge to enrich your artistic life. Perhaps a series of small white flowers in a bed of lacy greens will allow you to honor that yen and lead you to a new understanding of self.