Art … is walking a fine line

I love to teach.

One of the biggest reasons I love to teach is because it always brings me right back to my foundations … drawing.

Drawing is where it all begins. Every brushstroke, every painting that works, every piece that feels right—it all starts there. Yet, over and over, I see people trying to skip this step. They rush headlong into painting like it’s some sort of artistic fast-pass to greatness.

It’s not.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth no one really wants to hear:

If you can’t draw, it will show up in your painting.

Loudly. Awkwardly. Like a junior high dance.

Painting isn’t just about color and texture … it’s about structure, proportion, and form. You know … the stuff you learn from drawing.

If you’re struggling with your painting … STOP.

Put the brush down. Seriously. Hide it in a drawer if you have to.

It’s time to go back to the fundamentals.

Start with blind contour drawing. Yes, it feels weird. Yes, you’ll feel like you’re drawing with your toes while blindfolded. That’s the point. It teaches you to really see … not just glance and guess.

Next, move to line drawing. This is where you develop that magical thing called sensitivity. (No, not the kind you need to cry at Hallmark movies … though that helps, too.) I’m talking about line sensitivity … knowing when to press hard, when to ease up, and how to make every stroke count.

Once your line work starts to sharpen, then … and only then … move into mass drawing. Now you’re thinking like a painter. You’re blocking in forms, shapes, and values instead of just tracing outlines. Mass drawing forces you to simplify, to see big shapes and relationships, which is exactly how painters think.

But here’s the catch: If you skip straight to mass drawing without developing your sensitivity to line first … it’s like building a house on a foundation of mashed potatoes.

Drawing isn’t something you “graduate” from … it’s the core of everything. It’s what holds your work together when everything else feels like it’s falling apart.

So, if your paintings are struggling, don’t waste your money on another fancy brush or $50 tube of exotic paint with a name you can’t pronounce. (Quinacridone … kwih-nuh-KRAH-duh-dohn)

Grab a pencil.

And draw.

Trust me—your paintings will thank you later.