Right Side of the Brain and the Classroom

I've just started teaching a new series of drawing classes for adults. While my flyer invited all levels of students, every one of my new "kids" turned out to be new to drawing. Most said they couldn't draw a stick figure. Most were afraid, but brave. Everyone showed up the first night, as promised, sharpened pencils in hand.

It's great to have everyone starting from scratch, because I can hone in on the needs of the new artist. And, I get to teach from the classic Betty Edwards' "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" concepts. In an nutshell, Edwards shows how to see a subject better by moving from the familiar, restless, noisy left brain to the quiet happy solitude of the right brain.

"You have two brains: a left and a right. Modern brain scientists now know that your left brain is your verbal and rational brain; it thinks serially and reduces its thoughts to numbers, letters, and words.... Your right brain is your non-verbal and intuitive brain; it thinks in patterns, or pictures, composed of 'whole things,' and does not comprehend reductions, either numbers, letters, or words." -- Betty Edwards

It took a while, but after we got started doing right-brain drawing exercises, most of the students "got it". Amazing for me to see the faces of the women light up as they realized how well they did after they figured out how to switch brain sides. Not everyone grasped the concepts, though; so it's not for everyone.

They all left with smiles, and great enthusiasm. I'm looking forward to continuing teaching this group of happy new artists.

 --Mary Hubley