I like to draw from my head, and Im worried about college. Will my unwillingness to draw still life hinder me?

Question

I've never liked drawing still life, or looking at something and then having to draw it for every detail. Like I seriously HATE doing it.

In the past when I took art classes at school, I did not take the AP course because I grew bored of drawing still-life pictures. I always study real-life to learn the anatomy of the animals, people, and things that I draw, but again, I hate to copy it down onto paper as realism.

My passion is cartooning, and I prefer to take what I see, learn from it, and then draw from my own imagination after learning the anatomy of things.

Is this normal? As an artist, should I want to draw realistic things? I'm worried that my negligence to practice realistic drawing will hinder me later down the road, and in college. I don't have alot of practice doing realism except in those two classes I took during highschool. I practice and draw all of the time, but never realism.

I guess what I'm asking is: Is my feelings toward that type of drawing normal, and is the mastery of realistic drawing necessary for the maximum growth of an artist?

Thanks, and I hope I made sense. :)

Answer 1

I understand exactly what you're saying and sympathize but yes, an unwillingness to learn formal techniques will hinder you if you are taking art courses.  You must learn the formal techniques in order to be able to major in art.  If you will not go into these classes with an open mind you will not succeed and you should select another major.  Its not about wanting to draw cartoons or still life - its about techniques that will give you a greater ability and flexibility to draw in your chosen medium.  Who knows, you may discover hidden talents and interests you otherwise would never have known about.

Answer 2

I have the same problem.(?) You will need to be more flexible in class and you will learn things from doing this but never give up your way. I'm not a big fan of painting something I see. I prefer to take things from different memories and blend them into my own world. My high school art teacher told me at graduation I was the most creative, frustrating student he had ever had. I'm pretty sure he meant that as a compliment. lol Since I always got A's and B's I guess he meant it. Anyway, be a bit more flexible and let them teach you but keep your own style. That's what makes you an artist. I still occasionally draw from the real world, just to keep my hand in. lol

Answer 3

Great self awareness as an artist. I was talking to an illustrator for children's books just the other day and we talked about just this. We both agreed that it is entirely normal and  most artists go through at least some level of this. As for your second question, the mastery of realism, I would say no, you certainly don't have to MASTER it, but you need to work on it. Learn the techniques, learn to be open as an artist. If you put your cartooning aside and work on realism, you will be amazed at your cartoons when you get back to them.  

Answer 4

You don't have to go to art school at all. You sound like you're already very set in your ways, and you'll just be butting heads with a system designed to teach academic drawing skills.

Lots of artists, cartoonists especially, don't draw particularly realistically. Many, many successful cartoonists never went to art school.

Why not major in something entirely different in college, and keep up your cartooning on the side?

Answer 5

i wouldn't say that is wasn't 'normal' for you not to like drawing still-life, there are certain things every artist hates doing but do it anyway because it helps them grow, i think it's great that you love to use your own imagination but try to change the way you think about still-life, if you go into something thinking you're going to hate it then chances are you will,drawing still-life can be boring sometimes but it is a great learning method, while you're learning your skill it may be something you just have to do

Answer 6

Your feelings are normal but an ability to draw realistically is necessary for your maximum growth as an artist. You never know the areas of art you might get interested in as you grow older. All artists evolve and few of them continue to do the same kind of art they did in high school. The benefit of drawing from what you see is that it teaches you foreshortening, how light works on different shapes etc.

It's not really about drawing any object in particular. It is used to teach the science and mechanics of drawing, no matter what the subject of the drawing might be--even something from the artist's imagination. It is the same principal behind Life Drawing (drawing the human body). It is valuable to show the student the difference between what they "think" they see and what they really see.

My art is completely from my imagination but it would not be nearly as good (or as easy to do) if I hadn't taken all the foundation courses in college for basic drawing and Life Drawing. If you realize that the subject really doesn't matter, then the techniques and science behind these courses should be interesting to you--especially when you see your cartooning improve because of what you've learned.

Good luck!! : )

Answer 7

I think that is normal. Everyone prefers something they like better over-all in a area they would like to persue. I want to work in health care, but I have to study as lot of c**p I find utterly miserable to learn! On the other hand, I look at back at all I have learned and I feel a sense of accomplishment to have delved into a areas I hated. I work at schools substituting while going to college,too. Kids irritated me badly at first. I now don't mind them as much. I found that you can get used to anything if practiced enough.  A big thing that can help you is to always be positive and open-minded. Tell yourself- this is not that bad- I can do this-before you know it you'll have conquered it.