Drawing for Everyone: Breaking Limiting Beliefs

Jul 13, 2024

Lecture Notes: Drawing for Everyone

Introduction

  • Speaker: Unknown (Translator: Tijana Mihajlović, Reviewer: Mile Živković)
  • Topic: Drawing capabilities and breaking limiting beliefs
  • Thesis: Most people believe they can't draw due to limiting beliefs, not lack of talent.

The Illusion of Inability

  • Common Misconceptions: People often believe skills like drawing, spelling, and singing are binary (you can either do it or you can’t).
  • Proposition: The belief that one can't draw is an illusion.

Objectives of the Session

  • Goal: By the end of the session, participants should be able to draw simple cartoons.
  • Requirements:
    • Open mind
    • Willingness to try

Drawing Exercise: Character Creation

  • Character 1: Spike
    1. Nose
    2. Eyes (like 66s or speech marks)
    3. Mouth (big smile)
    4. Ear
    5. Spiky hair
    6. Neck, T-shirt
  • Character 2: Thelma
    1. Nose
    2. Eyes
    3. Smile
    4. Hair
    5. V-shape, top, and sides of shirt
  • Character 3: Jeff
    1. Nose
    2. Eyes (two circles with dots)
    3. Mouth (small circle filled in)
    4. Ear
    5. Curly hair
    6. Neck, T-shirt
  • Character 4: Pam
    1. Nose
    2. Eyes (spaced apart)
    3. Mouth (V-shape, triangle, line)
    4. Hair with bow
    5. Neck, T-shirt

Additional Tips

  • Experiment with different facial expressions (e.g., unhappy, fed up)
  • Add accessories like glasses, mustaches
  • Encourage creativity

Examples of Drawing in Practice

  • Children and Students: Visual aids like cartoons help with memory, e.g., remembering red blood cells carrying oxygen.
  • Adults in Business: Quick sketches or cartoons can make presentations more memorable, symbolize ideas (e.g., a boat symbolizing teamwork).
  • Stroke Recoverers: Worked with stroke survivors to build confidence and communication skills through drawing. Aphasia patients were able to draw despite disabilities, some using their non-dominant hand.

Inspirational Stories

  • Event with Stroke Survivors:
    • Organized drawing session with the TALK charity.
    • Participants, many with aphasia, were able to draw and found joy and confidence in it.
    • Example: David, who drew with his left hand after a stroke, produced excellent drawings.

Final Drawing and Conclusion

  • Final Drawing: Albert Einstein
    1. Nose
    2. Eyes
    3. Hair and mustache
    4. Neck, T-shirt
  • Key Takeaway: Breaking the belief that one cannot draw may lead to challenging other limiting beliefs.
  • Closing Thought: Consider what else might be possible by challenging these beliefs.