California State University, Longbeach Professor Betty Edwards

 

Before and after drawings of Steve Goldstone after three months of Dr. Edwards' drawing instruction.

Do you see a duck or a rabbit in this picture. Visual thinkers can see both!Do you see a young lady or an old woman in this picture. It depends on how you look at it!

Do you sometimes catch yourself drawing shapes and names while talking on the telephone? Or do you envy those people who who seem to be able to draw anything effortlessly?

California State University professor Betty Edwards believes anyone who can tie a shoelace or sign their name can learn to draw. And drawing leads to more creative thinking and problem solving as is demonstrated in Dr. Edward's books "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" ($12.95 Tarcher) and "Drawing on the Artist Within" ($10.95 Simon & Schuster).

"We assume that every kid can learn to read. We should assume that every kid can learn to use visual perception skills through drawing," according to Dr. Edwards.

Dr. Edward's first book, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" has sold 1,250,000 copies since its' introduction in 1979. The book is for people at all levels of skill who want to:

"draw even though they have little talent and doubt they could ever learn."

"enjoy drawing but have never been able to get beyond a childlike level."

"are professional artists or artist-in-training who want to develop greater confidence in their ability and deepen their artistic perceptions."

Dr. Edwards' teaching methods are based largely on the research of Professor Roger W. Sperry of the California Institute of Technology. Her techniques and amazing results helped other brain-researchers develop their ideas about learning styles and multiple-intelligences. Dr. Edward's book outlines techniques of drawing with your opposite hand and turning things upside-down.Students use these methods in order to draw the detail they see, not the simple symbols the verbal left brain can quickly create and recognize.

Dr. Edward's second book, "Drawing on the Artist Within" looks at the history of creative people and their inventions to find that creative people think "Visually". By learning to draw, you learn to make mental shifts beyond the sequential, analytical functions of left-hemisphere thinking and learn to really "see" what's in front of you; instead of relying on preconceived generalities, Edwards says.

Dr. Edwards also explains the seven basic elements of "visual language" in this second book. "My students are reluctant and skeptical when first taught these techniques, but they do notice improvement in their art works and soon are able to accurately interpret abstract art works."

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Dr. Betty Edward's books are used as textbooks in nursing schools, in business departments at colleges, in drama schools, and in training private investigators. IBM and other large corporations such as General Motors, have hired Dr. Edwards to conduct creativity seminars.