Drawing is a Skill

Drawing is a skill that can be learned.
I find myself debating this concept almost everyday.  Is drawing talent or skill?
I believe if you have at least average intelligence, strong work ethic, and most importantly a desire to learn, drawing can be learned.  The learning process of drawing is not much different than the learning process of any other subject.  If a child is continually exposed to a subject, that child will improve in that subject.  When the exposure stops, the learning stops.

Drawing is not something that can be mastered in a semester or a year, it is a lifetime study requiring a passionate commitment.  There are no short-cuts or recipes.  But success does require a belief in the ability to learn and the courage to step outside your comfort zone.

Learning never came easy to me.  I had to stay focused, practice repeatedly, and take diligent notes.  Were there days that I questioned my ability, skill, and intelligence?  Absolutely!  But I never let doubts or fears impede my development, at least not for very long.  I crossed paths with some very difficult  concepts and subjects but never allowed myself to give up.  It may not have even been a subject that was necessary to my area, but I was going to win.

I have continued to develop my visual skills through intense study and practice. Learning to allow myself to listen to the drawing, giving it what it needs is a priority.  This means putting aside my preconceptions of how the finished product should look.  I focus solely on the process that requires me to slowly build a composition through pattern, value, and line.  If I can stay within the process from start to finish, the drawing will have unity.  Do I make mistakes?  Yes, I have not been able to complete a drawing from start to finish without making mistakes. But this is the driving force that makes me want to start the next composition.  I learn from the mistakes, not the successes.

For me, failure is the result of a lack of desire.