Five Reasons to Draw, Even If You Don’t Know How

Remember when you were a kid and somebody asked you to draw something?  You probably picked up a crayon, marker or piece of sidewalk chalk and went for it without much thought. The act of creating something was natural and rewarding. Skill level didn’t matter. If you messed up, you’d try again or make it into something else. Drawing was fun.

How about today? Yeah, me too. Obviously, most of us have much less time to draw or pursue leisure activities in general than we did as kids. We’re also way more likely to tell ourselves we can’t do something, like drawing, before we even try. And yet, maybe these circumstances are perfect reasons to start.

Need some motivation? Here are five great reasons to pick up the pencil again:

A drawing a day keeps the cobwebs away.”  Robert Genn

(1) For your health

There are numerous articles explaining how creative pursuits like drawing can help reduce stress and anxiety. Look at the proliferation of coloring books targeted toward adults these days. Remember Bob Ross and his “happy tree” paintings?  Creating can help calm your nerves. It supposedly has something to do with relaxing the part of your brain that controls fear, but I’m not an expert in that area. What I do know is that focusing on drawing allows you to stop thinking about something else, like whatever topic is set on “replay” in your head.

Drawing is also a way to slow down. Turn off the screens. Sit in a quiet space. Be present. Even if you only try it for a short period of time, odds are you’ll return to your previous activity with a renewed perspective.

Don’t worry about how you should draw it. Just draw it the way you see it.” Tim Burton

(2) For self expression

Drawing is a chance to be completely you. Make whatever you want. There are no rules, guidelines or limits. How often does that happen in life? Depending on what you choose to draw and with what color you choose to draw it, you may even learn something about how you’re feeling in the process.

                                                            Mike Wazowski or waving olive?

The act of drawing also provides a chance to spend time on your favorite subjects. It should be no surprise that I enjoy drawing Disney characters. The subject makes me smile and reminds me of happy memories. You may have other topics that provide similar benefits. Maybe it’s your favorite team’s logo. How about a flower from your backyard, the cover art from your favorite band in high school or an image from a recent vacation? Pick a subject you’ll enjoy gazing at for a while. You’ll probably notice details in it that you didn’t see before.

Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.”  Henri Matisse

(3) For your space

A third great benefit of drawing is creating personalized artwork for your space.  Maybe you’ll want to hang your drawing on the wall, stick it to the fridge or attach it to the walls of your cubicle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just let it be an expression of you.

Another option is to upload your artwork to a photography site like Shutterfly. There you can turn it into all kind of things like wall prints, note cards, magnets, books and more. Who can you shock with a homemade gift this year?

(4) For your wallet

Drawing is inexpensive. A few bucks for paper and pencils and you’re all set. You probably already have these supplies anyway. There are “free” subjects on which to base your drawings throughout your home, yard, park or wherever. If you need inspiration or more guidance, you could check out a drawing book at the library (kids’ sections usually offer tons) or order one from Amazon (How to Draw Disney Characters). Many are $15 or less.

Invite some friends or family over to join you for a relaxing and inexpensive evening. I tried it a few weekends ago and had a great time. It’s an easy activity to enjoy while chatting with others. I also realized some of my family members have been hiding their artistic talents from me.

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso

(5) For magic

Of course I had to end the list with this. Drawing is a great way to learn and have fun at the same time. By trying something new, or at least an activity out of your regular routine, you open your mind to new possibilities. Maybe you’ll learn you have a secret artistic skill or maybe you’ll learn to appreciate your other qualities more! At the very least you’ll stretch your own capabilities. You may even learn to tackle other activities with the enthusiasm of your inner-kid.

Convinced yet?

Try picking up a pencil and giving it a try. Add a little magic to your world.