Drawing on Intuition : Micro Lesson and Sketchbook Project

A Natural and effective way to learn.

“There is a far more natural and effective process for learning and doing almost anything than we realize. It’s similar the process we all used, but soon forgot as we learned to walk and talk. It uses the intuitive capabilities of the mind and both the right and left hemispheres of the brain. The process doesn’t have to be learned; we already know it. All that is needed is to unlearn those habits which interfere with it to just let it happen.” - W. Timothy Gallwey, the Inner Game of Tennis

I know I can do it, but I don’t know how I do it. - Keith Richards

We are learning by doing.

Think back to the early days of your life, when learning was as instinctive as breathing.

Whether it was mastering new words or exploring the world around us, we did it effortlessly, driven by pure curiosity and an innate desire to understand. This kind of learning is intuitive, unstructured, and profoundly effective. Yet, as we navigate the complexities of our adult lives, be it in professional roles or managing the dynamics of home, we often sideline this intuitive approach.

It's curious, isn't it?

We are equipped with this incredible, natural capacity for learning, but we tend to overlook it amidst our daily routines.

The key to unlocking new skills and knowledge, I believe, isn't in always seeking external frameworks but in rediscovering and trusting our own intuitive learning processes. It’s about allowing ourselves to absorb and adapt naturally, just as we did once without even thinking.

I’ve designed an assignment with the aim help you break away from formulaic methods of drawing, and just let it happen

This week the assignment is to Draw 21 faces over 7 days.

On Monday, draw 21 shapes across 7 spreads/pages, these shapes will be the foundation of your faces.

On Tuesday, draw a nose on each shape, so that’s 21 noses.

On Wednesday, draw 21 mouths.

On Thursday draw ears for each of the faces.

On Friday Draw Eyes for each of the faces.

On Saturday add neck and shoulders for each of the faces.

On Sunday finish off with shadow and detail.

---

Daily Attention

Take note of the part of the face you’re going to draw the following day.

Throughout the day pay attention to all the parts you come across. For example on Monday pay careful attention to the noses you see, in the mirror, in life, drawings etc. Download these into your mind as you observe them in the way that you do. For the nose examplethat might mean imagining the nose as a piece play-doh that you can pick up and store in your brain.

Don’t worry about the typical things drawing academia people worry about when drawing faces.

Instead allow your attention and intuition guide you.

---

The Gallery

This will be the main place to share and discuss this week’s project. You can still share anywhere additionally using #TenMinuteArtist. Love seeing your work!