Can you draw? Can your children draw?

Question

My father went to art school and made his living as a graphic artist before he retired. I can draw pretty well and have made my living as an artist at various points. My husband can't draw at all, even a little sketch of something. I have trouble understanding how someone can "not be able to draw" but my husband has trouble understanding why I don't get calculus, so we're even.

Anyway, I am curious - our son is 18 months old so it's too early to tell. Do you think the ability to draw is somehow genetic or learned? Can your kids draw well? Can you draw well? I'm not talking about necessarily being a great artist, just being able to sit down and draw something decently.

Answer 1

I can draw and so could my dad and his dad. I think it's a genetic talant that's largely inherited but it does need to be cultivated and encouraged. I was drawing coherent pictures at the age of 3, faces, heads, eyes etc. but my son had a lot of difficulties with fine motor skills and he couldn't really draw anything recognizable until about 6 or so. He does like to draw but doesn't devote as much attention to it like I did when I was a kid, I was literally driven to draw. I think my family's talent passed him over in this aspect.

Answer 2

All I can say is that my grandmother came from a long line of people whom could paint/draw. She had four children F, A, R and J. F, A and R can draw. J and R had children, one of J's children can draw and two of R's children can draw.



My cousin is a graphic artist, my uncle does cartoons and logos for quite a few companies, and lastly my brother does graphic design/programming. The rest never made a career out of it. They do it purely for fun. My son is 3yrs and hasn't shown any signs of being capable yet (he is stil little). My daughter on the other hand is actually fairly good for her age considering she is 2yrs. While her drawings may not be perfect by any means, you can definitely look at it and make out what it is. If I don't label my son's scribbles I'll never remember what they are .... or maybe he is just an abstract artist and it is beyond my own mind what he is trying to convey through his crayons lol. As for me I can draw a mean stick figure and that is about where my drawing skills end. =)

Answer 3

I've wondered this too!



My mom's family is FILLED with musicians, artists and other creative people. My husband was a sculptor/painter before he went into web development/design. My father is a drummer, a very good one! I draw and write all the time. My husband can draw something that is real (like a bird) but I'm good at abstract drawings and he isn't.



My son, who is now 15 months, can drum already on a 3 piece kit, pick up the beat of any music playing to dance to it, and tries to sing. He seems to love drawing already - he demands to 'draw' whenever he sees me with my sketchbook, so I let him. I also let him watch me, so he can see the craft being practiced, as well as us drawing together, with me drawing circles and other shapes.



I'm more of a scientific person, and wonder how on earth these sorts of things get passed down genetically, and agree with the person who says basically that the brain mapping to these things get passed down, but it takes it being nurtured to truly bring it out. Some of us seem 'programmed' for math or music for example, and developing that skill is just easier for them. I think we ALL can do these things, but some people will just naturally have brains that have it make sense and have it WORK for them!



Give your son some crayons and let him draw away - there is a good chance he might be good at it!

And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one pondering these things!

Answer 4

I couldn't draw if my life depended on it! My kids...well, I don't really see anything outstanding in their abilities. No one in my family can draw with much exception. My sister had a collection of books that taught drawing so she became the best out of my entire family in that area. Honestly, it's like any other skill. Take music, for example. Anyone can learn it (I taught piano for years), but some people have a special talent for it and excel. They can just pick it up naturally. It's the same concept with drawing.

Answer 5

I can't draw; the extent I have, is stick figures... Pretty much literally!



My husband is an amazing artist; he can draw things right out of his head, and he's awesome at portraitures and fantasy work... I'm a bit jealous! My son is more like I am, but our oldest daughter, is also pretty good... She was drawing her favorite animal---a pig---when she was 2-years-old! I think she'll be as good as her dad, one day. :)



I do think it can be inherited, as my husbands' family also has some great artists.

Answer 6

I think it's genetic. My mother is a great painter and she draws very well also. I can draw and so can two of my siblings - our daughter, who is five, is definitely artistically talented. My husband isn't. I'm not sure our son, who is seven, is much of an artist but he has a lot of other talents.

Answer 7

Well I draw in an arithmetic interpretation, starting from its x variable to y variable. I don't put 'soul' into my paintings anymore, because after being a really cautious professional artist for 59 years, I have noticed the essential workings, hence a graphed point.

Answer 8

I think it's both genetic and learned.



Neither my husband nor I can draw, but our daughter is very talented. Art classes helped develop her skills.



We can't sing either, but she has a wonderful voice.



Genetics...so fun!



All the best.

Answer 9

yes i can and only my kids who want to do it are good at it.i have 1 that just never wanted to.so i'm not really sure.if they want to do it they practice and get good at it so i would have to say learned