"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" is a classic art instruction book by Dr. Betty Edwards that teaches realistic drawing through perception-based techniques, helping students of any skill level learn to draw what they actually see rather than symbols.
What is Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain?
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain is the world's most widely used drawing instruction book, written by Dr. Betty Edwards, Professor Emeritus of Art at California State University. First published in 1979 and now in its 4th edition, the book has sold over 4 million copies. Edwards' method challenges the common belief that drawing talent is innate. Instead, she teaches that drawing is a learnable skill that anyone can develop by accessing the visual, perceptual mode of the brain rather than the analytical, symbol-making mode that typically interferes with realistic representation.
Key Takeaways
- Based on the theory that drawing requires accessing the visual right brain hemisphere
- Teaches five fundamental perception skills that form the basis of all drawing
- Best suited for ages 10 and up, when brain development supports the method
- Includes the main text (4th edition) and a companion workbook (2nd edition)
- Can serve as a complete one-year homeschool art curriculum
The Five Basic Skills
Edwards' method centers on five fundamental perceptual skills that, once mastered, enable drawing any subject. These are: perception of edges (drawing contours and outlines), perception of spaces (seeing and drawing negative space around objects), perception of relationships (understanding proportions and perspective), perception of light and shadows (creating dimension through values), and perception of the whole, or gestalt (seeing how all elements work together in a composition). Students learn to shift from their analytical left brain, which wants to label and simplify, to their visual right brain, which observes what's actually there.
Age Appropriateness and Materials
While children as young as 7-9 can begin with heavy guidance, Edwards recommends the method for ages 10 and up, when brain hemisphere integration develops more fully. The main text reads at an adult level and serves as a teaching guide, while the workbook provides 40 structured exercises with practice space. Materials needed are minimal and affordable: #2B and #4B pencils, erasers, heavy drawing paper (Strathmore 400 series works well), a clear plastic picture plane, and viewfinders made from black cardboard. Many homeschool families use the book as a complete one-year art curriculum, working through one to two exercises weekly.
Why Homeschoolers Choose This Method
This approach resonates with homeschooling families for several reasons. It's self-contained and doesn't require an art-trained parent to teach. The structured progression builds skills systematically while being flexible enough to adapt to different paces. Students gain genuine drawing ability rather than just copying step-by-step projects. Perhaps most importantly, the method builds confidence by proving that drawing is learnable. Many students who considered themselves "not artistic" discover they can create realistic drawings after working through the exercises. The book covers various media including pencil, charcoal, ink, and Conté crayon across subjects from still life to portraits.
The Bottom Line
For homeschool families seeking substantive art instruction that builds real skills, "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" delivers. The perception-based method teaches students to see like artists, which translates directly to drawing ability. While it requires more maturity than craft projects or step-by-step drawing tutorials, the investment pays off in genuine artistic development. Pair the main text with the workbook, gather some basic supplies, and you have a rigorous art curriculum that can genuinely transform how your child sees and represents the visual world.
