If you're interested in learning to draw or have never really given it much thought until now, you've come to the right place.
In this article, we'll be looking at some of the biggest benefits of learning to draw and going through some of the best places (both physical and digital) to visit to get started.
The Benefits of Learning to Draw
When it comes to drawing, everybody's different and will have their own reasons for doing it, which is fine. But if you haven't found a good enough reason to get started, some of these benefits should convince you that it's worth your time.
Be Creative
Some of us just have this urge to create. Creating anything, especially in an artistic context like drawing, allows us to express thoughts, emotions, and ideas in a way that can be incredibly satisfying.
Conversely, it can be incredibly frustrating to have ideas, thoughts, and emotions that we're unable to express which is where learning to draw can help a lot.
Find out more about learning to draw in Auckland.
Become More Patient and Focused
Art and drawing can be quite therapeutic and while obviously not a replacement for actual therapy and help for those who need it (there's a long list of artists who outwardly suffered mental health issues and didn't seem to seek help for them), there are benefits to being artistic and creative.
By drawing, you learn to be more patient and focused as you can spend hours drawing something and the finer the detail you want to capture, the more time you'll have to spend focusing on your drawing.
Better Visual Literacy
Just as those who read a lot will be more literate, you can become more “visually literate” through doing art of any kind, including drawing.
Visual literacy is how you interpret the world by looking at it. Learning to draw will make you far better at understanding and deciphering visual information.
Find out about learning to draw in Wellington.
Improve Your Observation Skills
Much like visual literacy, your observation skills will increase as you learn to draw. After all, a lot of drawing is done by looking at something.
Some artists imagine something and draw it, but even then, they may use a reference to help them and this means they have to be really observant.
Improved Hand-Eye Coordination
Drawing requires fine motor skills and the more you draw the better your hand-eye coordination will become.
This is particularly useful for very young children who are not looking to refine these skills but rather develop them and drawing classes for kids are a great idea.
Increased Confidence
Some people have seemingly endless amounts of confidence and others struggle with it, but in both cases, being good at something, doing something that people appreciate, or even just getting better at something can all help boost confidence.
The increased confidence you'll have from learning to draw can even impact other aspects of your life, too, and you'll find that you're more confident in general.
Learn to Appreciate Art
By doing art, you'll become much more appreciative of art, the work that goes into it, and the thought process behind it.
This art appreciation will extend beyond the visual arts, though you'll likely have a greater appreciation for them than other formats.
More Career Opportunities
This is probably one of our most pragmatic benefits, but there are lots of jobs that require creative skills.
There are also jobs like artists, illustrators, graphic designers, animators, etc. that all need good drawing skills, these aren't really jobs that you can do with just drawing.
That said, being good at drawing is pretty much non-negotiable in these roles so if you dream of doing any of them, learning how to draw is a good start.
Your drawing skills can also help you in jobs that don't directly require them. Your improved observational skills, increased patience, and laser focus will all be helpful in any professional setting.
Reduce Stress
For many, especially those who take an artistic pursuit for fun, is to enjoy themselves and reduce stress. In most cases, drawing is fairly relaxing and stress-free.
Setting some time aside to sit down and draw can be nice and focusing on something can be really relaxing and help you to forget anything else that might be going on in your life.
Find out about learning to draw in Christchurch.
Solve Problems
While drawing isn't a puzzle, you actually solve visual problems when you do it. As you draw, you're taking in three-dimensional information from the world and using a two-dimensional medium to represent it in a way that viewers will understand as three-dimensional.
This kind of problem-solving ability is difficult to teach, but you'll naturally develop it as you draw more regularly.
Where to Find Drawing Lessons in New Zealand
If these reasons have convinced you that drawing is something you'd like to start doing, you're in luck. There are plenty of different places in New Zealand and online where you can get started.
Find out more about learning to draw in Hamilton.
Art Associations and Clubs
Art associations and clubs are a good place to start your search and if there's a local group of artists or even just amateurs with an interest in drawing, they may meet up regularly for lessons or even just to practise drawing in a more casual setting.
Some art associations will have a shared passion for all the arts whereas others will be more specific to the visual arts or even drawing. Look for your local art associations and clubs and you'll quickly gain a better idea of what's on offer.
Art Events and Festivals
From the biggest cities to the smallest villages, there are often arts events and exhibitions. Some of these may be just exhibitions whereas others may also include demonstrations, workshops, and talks that you can attend.
Events and festivals are a great way to learn more about art and drawing from some of the people who are best at it.
Art Shops
You can find out more about art and drawing in the same place you buy your art supplies. Some shops may even host drawing classes or have bulletin or community boards with more information on local classes, associations, events, or groups.
When in doubt, just ask somebody who works in the shop for more information and they should be able to point you in the right direction.
Libraries
In the digital age, libraries might seem like an old-school or outdated suggestion, but libraries still remain an excellent place for getting information, especially if you want to speak to an actual human.
Whether you're looking for books on drawing or information on local events relating to art and drawing, speak to somebody at your local library.
Libraries also often provide quiet spaces where you can sit and draw without too many distractions. While you can always draw at home, if you can't find a quiet place, your local library could be a great alternative.
Local Art Schools and Community Centres
Art schools are the obvious choice for anyone wanting to learn to draw. There are art schools, community arts centres, and local community centres that offer drawing and art classes.
These classes aren't just for those who are really serious about art and there are often options for adult learners or those just interested in learning how to draw for fun.
Online Drawing Resources
If you've found this article, then perhaps you've already realised how useful the internet can be when it comes to learning new skills.
Whether it's articles on how to draw, tutorials you can do at home, or even drawing classes through MOOCs (massive open online courses), the internet is full of resources you can use to get better at drawing.
The only real downside to learning how to draw online is that you won't have anyone there to hold you accountable, which means you have to be really driven and willing to work on your drawing a lot if you want to get better.
Private Drawing Tutors
This brings us to one of our favourite ways to learn new skills: private tutors. We are a private tutoring platform, after all, and we obviously believe in the value of learning new skills through tutoring.
You can find private tutors both online and in the real world and by working with your own private drawing tutor, you can ensure that every class or session is tailored to you, your goals, and what you want to learn.
For those looking for a career in drawing, their tutors can provide them with much more structured and goal-orientated sessions whereas if you want to just draw for fun, too, you can enjoy more casual sessions.
There are tutors for all levels and budgets and many offer the first lesson for free so try a few out before deciding which one is right for you.
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