I often hear people say " You are so talented! I have no talent for drawing, I can't draw a straight line," as if somehow that disqualified them from the attempt to pursue this activity. Drawing what you see is anacquired skillthat can be developed by anyone--all it takes is the sincere desire to do so, and time to develop these skills.I've spent a lifetime working on developing my artistic skills, starting with pencil drawings as a child. I've always been fascinated by the ability to depict our three-dimensional world as realistically as possible in two dimensions, and the part that light and shadow plays in this. After retiring from my job a few years back, I realized that it would be enjoyable to share what I've learned with others. No matter where you are in your artistic development, drawing can be a very pleasurable and meditative activity that doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment or supplies. A few professional-quality pencils and paper are all it takes to get started, and won't bust your piggybank.Once you start, there is always room for growth, and it's amazing to see how quickly students can develop their skills once they understand a few basic techniques for seeing and interpreting what you see onto a piece of paper.
