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“Purkinje neurons from the human cerebellum,” an 1899 drawing. Credit: Cajal Institute, Madrid
“The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal”
This New York Times review describes an exhibition of the brain drawings of artist Santiago Ramon y Cajal at New York University’s Grey Gallery. The art critic Roberta Smith said about the show: “It’s not often that you look at an exhibition with the help of the very apparatus that is its subject. But so it is with “The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramón y Cajal” at the Grey Art Gallery at New York University, one of the most unusual, ravishing exhibitions of the season.” (The exhibition closes in New York at the end of March, and will open again in May at the MIT Museum in Cambridge, Massachusetts.)
With its beautiful images and evocative subject matter, it took me back to my earliest days soon after I graduated from college (the University of California, Los Angeles). I believe it must have been around 1949. I had been hired as a part-time assistant to Professor Charles Bridgman, head of the UCLA Art Department’s Scientific Illustration group. Dr. Bridgman, who was quite famous in his field even then, was working on some human brain studies, and I was to help him by reproducing in drawings what I observed on slides through a microscope. Surely this brief experience helped to induce my lifelong interest in drawing and the brain.
One experience remains vivid—and funny in a weird way, looking back now. One day, Dr. Bridgman handed me a wet-looking package, told me it was a human brain to be delivered by hand to a colleague in the Administration Building at UCLA—all the way across the huge campus. I took the package and started the long walk. On the way, the package started dripping. I was horrified, and quite out of breath when at last I was able to deliver the package. To this day, I don’t know if my former professor was making a joke on his naïve young assistant and there was something else in that parcel, or if the task was real!
~ Betty Edwards
Happy Holi Day!
How would you react if you visualized a crowd of people with happy faces and clothes splattered with purple, yellow, red, and other colors in the middle of a mild spring day? If you guessed “Holi,” then you are on the dot. Holi (pronounced “holy”) is also called the Festival of Colors. In Indian culture, it is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil and also the welcoming of spring after a cold, blustery winter.
Holi is an ancient festival, with the first mentions of it dating all the way back to a 4th century poem. It was described in detail in a 7th century Sanskrit play called "Ratnavali," written by the Indian emperor Harsha.
Although a Hindu festival, Holi is celebrated by Indians across the country and is a great equalizer. Children can douse elders with water, women splash men with color and the rules of caste and creed are briefly forgotten with everyone taking part. The evenings are spent visiting friends and family.
A national holiday, it takes place on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunisolar calendar month, which is usually March. This year's national holiday falls on Friday, March 2.
It is a grand celebration of color! If you would like to know more about the subject, Betty Edwards wrote a book on color. You can read about it or order here from Amazon Color: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors.
Wishing everyone around the world a Happy Holi Day!
A Reader Sees the World with a New Perspective
I recently received an email from a reader who lives in Germany, which I am happy to share here.
Message:
Dear Dr. Edwards,
At the end of 2016 when my baby son was one year old I started to draw. Luckily, I found your book and leaned according to your instructions and philosophy. It really helped me to see and to draw.
With full respect and high appreciation I wrote about you and your book in my Blog: Hui Portrait. I will also translate it into German and I really hope that everyone finds out about you and your books. You didn’t only teach me to draw but also gave me the chance to see the world with a totally new perspective!
Thank you! I really hope to meet you in person one day. In the meantime, I hope I can at least spread your philosophy!
Your Student, Hui W-S
The Benefits of Art Therapy for Cancer Patients
"Therapy can be an important way to talk about how it feels to have cancer, to express negative emotions, and to learn comping strategies. Art therapy is particularly useful for expressing emotions that are tough to verbalize. The creative process can be a healing process, especially when led by a trained and professional art therapist." ... Read more.
The Resilience of Art and Artists
This is an inspiring story from the Los Angeles Times, of an artist who lost most of his life’s work in the recent California fires: Artist John Wullbrandt, Carpinteria. Here is a link to his own website: http://www.wullbrandt.com/
The artist at work in 2010.
After so much loss, he told the reporter: "Gone, all of this gone," he says, sweeping his hand across the landscape depicted in the painting.
But with loss comes new life.
"It really will be like the Phoenix rising out of the ashes, the rebirth," Wullbrandt says. "It will be so much more beautiful once it starts to rejuvenate. We're gonna see wildflowers we haven't seen in 100 years." Then Wullbrandt gazes up at a mountain ridge in the distance, now a thin, ash-gray paint stroke on the horizon.
"The spring — just wait. As an artist, I can't wait to paint it."
We wish him all the best as he starts anew to paint what he sees.
The Little-Known Reason Red and Green are the Colors of Christmas
Ever wonder why everything at Christmas is red and green? So did we! Here is a short article from Artsy magazine that explains it.
“Most of the trappings of a modern-day Christmas—from Advent calendars to stockings hung by the chimney with care—are, themselves, relatively modern. But the ubiquitous red-and-green color scheme that dominates this time of year? That has roots stretching as far back as the 13th century, according to Spike Bucklow of the Hamilton Kerr Institute, the conservation branch of the University of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum.
“Bucklow, a research scientist with a focus on the history of artists’ materials, didn’t set out to unravel the mysteries of Christmas decorations. Rather, he was working to conserve a particular type of artwork known as the rood screen—a common architectural element in medieval churches that divided the nave (where the congregation gathered) from the choir or chancel (where the clergy sat). Often, these were richly painted or carved. Depending on the wealth of the congregation that commissioned them, rood screens could feature anything from a simple pattern to a highly detailed depiction of local saints.” Click HERE to read more!
Wishing happy holidays to all our Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain friends celebrating Hannukah, Christmas, or just the secular spirit of the season! If you are looking for a last-minute gift, go to our online DRSB store where everything is 12% off.
I send you and your family all the best for a wonderful New Year…
~ Betty Edwards
Why Can't Drawing Skills Be Part of a Medical Education?
As the article below describes, there is a new trend at leading university medical schools, including Harvard, Yale, Penn State, Columbia, and the University of Texas at Austin. They are incorporating art classes into medical education. Since skill in perception—seeing what is ailing in patients—is universally recognized as important in medical analysis and treatment, this is a welcome development.
Students from Dr. Michael Flanagan's class "Impressionism and the Art of Communication" at Penn State College of Medicine.
What is curious about the trend is that the rock-bottom, basic entry skill in perceptual training—that is, drawing—is completely ignored and excluded. Instead, medical students gather in museums to observe and analyze paintings, try reproducing famous paintings from only a verbal description, develop verbal hypotheses about an artist’s intent in a given painting, and learn how to do comics to develop storytelling skills.
If the goal is as stated—that doctors need to develop observational skills as well as bias awareness and empathy—then why not just teach them how to draw? Years ago, I gave a presentation to a national group of plastic surgeons, hoping to convince them that drawing portraits of their patients before and after surgery would have positive effects on their craft. Alas, for the most part I failed to convince them, and to this day, at least to my knowledge, plastic surgeons are not required to learn perceptual skills through drawing. What a shame!
~ Betty Edwards
The following article is from The Artsy Podcast No. 47, August 21, 2017: Medical Schools & Art Classes
Exhibition on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, from November 13, 2017 to February 12, 2018.
Michelangelo at the Met: See It If You Can!
There is a truly extraordinary exhibition at the Met in NYC, featuring the drawings of "Il Divino" -- the artist Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564). My daughter and son had the opportunity to see a preview yesterday, and said that it is amazing. If you are in New York over the next few months, and have any interest in drawing, you must see it! You'll never again have a chance to view these intimate, personal artworks in this way. We salute Dr. Carmen Bambach, the curator of this project, which took her eight years to realize. For more information about tickets, open hours, etc., go to the website at www.metmuseum.org.
~ Betty Edwards
From the Met: "This towering genius in the history of Western art is the subject of a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. During his long life, Michelangelo was celebrated for the excellence of his disegno, the power of drawing and invention that provided the foundation for all the arts. For his mastery of drawing, design, sculpture, painting, and architecture, he was called Il Divino ("the divine one") by his contemporaries. His powerful imagery and dazzling technical virtuosity transported viewers and imbued all of his works with a staggering force that continues to enthrall us today. This exhibition presents a stunning range and number of works by the artist: 133 of his drawings, three of his marble sculptures, his earliest painting, his wood architectural model for a chapel vault, as well as a substantial body of complementary works by other artists for comparison and context. Among the extraordinary international loans are the complete series of masterpiece drawings he created for his friend Tommaso de' Cavalieri and a monumental cartoon for his last fresco in the Vatican Palace. Selected from 50 public and private collections in the United States and Europe, the exhibition will examine Michelangelo's rich legacy as a supreme draftsman and designer."
An Artist, Chef, and DRSB Student
Chef Ron Guidone is the longtime proprietor of Mangiamo Restaurant, in Manhattan Beach, California, and in 2014, he took the 5-Day DRSB Workshop with Brian Bomeisler. Brian writes: “In November 2014, Chef Ron took our Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain workshop at the beautiful Grand Colonial Hotel in La Jolla. He was not only a dedicated and fun student but he was also an accomplished chef AND artist! He shared many of his beautiful paintings with me and the group, who were all impressed with his talent. Ron did exceptionally well in the drawing workshop along with sharing many of his restaurant anecdotes during our lunch breaks!” Read more about Chef Guidone in this article, and in this profile on his restaurant’s website.
We are proud of all our students, artists in the studio and in the kitchen!
In The Name of Michelangelo: You Can Help Restore His Tomb!
One of the greatest artists of all time, Michelangelo Buonarotti, is buried in the basilica of Santa Croce in his hometown, Florence, Italy. His tomb is a must-see stop for all tourists, and a pilgrimage place for artists and lovers of art. Santa Croce has launched a campaign this month to raise money to restore the artist’s tomb. You can click HERE to learn more and perhaps you might even make a donation--any size gift is welcome! They can really use everyone’s help, from around the world.
Michelangelo was, without question, a brilliant draftsman. His drawings are exquisite, keenly observed, and powerful. Beginning on October 13 (and through February 12, 2018), you can see them for yourself in this amazing exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City: Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman & Designer. If you can visit the show, do! It will inspire you in your own drawings, I promise.
Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564), a towering genius in the history of Western art, is the subject of this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. During his long life, Michelangelo was celebrated for the excellence of his disegno, the power of drawing and invention that provided the foundation for all the arts. For his mastery of drawing, design, sculpture, painting, and architecture, he was called Il Divino ("the divine one") by his contemporaries. His powerful imagery and dazzling technical virtuosity transported viewers and imbued all of his works with a staggering force that continues to enthrall us today.
This exhibition will present a stunning range and number of works by the artist: approximately 150 of his drawings, three of his marble sculptures, his earliest painting, his wood architectural model for a chapel vault, as well as a substantial body of complementary works by other artists for comparison and context. Among the extraordinary international loans are the complete series of masterpiece drawings he created for his friend Tommaso de' Cavalieri and a monumental cartoon for his last fresco in the Vatican Palace. Selected from 54 public and private collections in the United States and Europe, the exhibition at the Met will examine Michelangelo's rich legacy as a supreme draftsman and designer.
The tomb of Michelangelo in the great Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy. A campaign is under way by Santa Croce to raise the $100,000 needed to clean and restore the tomb and the Buonarotti Family Altarpiece. http://www.santacroceopera.it/Michelangelo/
Seeing the World Through a Different Lens
This month, my son, Brian Bomeisler, taught a 5-day intensive drawing workshop in La Jolla. Michael K. MacNeill and Caroline MacNeill Hall, participated, and later posted about it on their blog, Life Reinspired.
Brian reported: "Not only was the view spectacular from the top floor of the hotel overlooking La Jolla Shores beach, but the group did spectacularly well in the drawing workshop. Often my groups personally bond through the experience of learning to draw, but that was even more true with this group."
You can read about their experience in Michael's charming post: Seeing the World Through a Different Lens. Thank you, Michael and Caroline, for contributing to another great 5-Day DRSB Workshop! We are so glad you gained so much from the experience.
~ Betty Edwards
How to Find the Best Drawing Pencil
For those of our readers who may find art supply stores baffling in their complex offerings, a British reader of our blog, Olivier Jennes, has generously allowed us to publish the link to his detailed and valuable research on pencils. This blog article by Jennes provides succinct descriptions and evaluations of a variety of pencil brands and manufacturers. This information can save you endless time and lots of money in seeking the brand of pencil that is right for you, and, conversely avoiding buying the wrong brand.
Olivier's review of pencils is based on feedback from artists around the world, and I personally agree with his descriptions of the pencils with which I am familiar.
~ Betty Edwards
P.S. If you need drawing supplies, click HERE to see what we have to offer in our DRSB Store. Pencils and more!
Before-and-After Drawings from an Artist in Costa Rica
One of the special pleasures of this blog is the chance to communicate with people around the world. Janid Alfaro from Costa Rica wrote to me recently, and sent some impressive before-and-after drawings. With her permission, I reproduce them here, and our correspondence. ~ Betty
Date: Friday, May 19, 2017
Subject: Before and After, Janid Alfaro
Hello! My name is Janid Alfaro and I live in Costa Rica (Central America). Many years ago (in the 1990s), I improved my skills in drawing using the Betty Edwards method “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” when I took my classes at college. I studied graphic design. 20 years later, I am an experienced graphic designer, but never practiced my drawing again and I really missed it. So a year ago, I bought the 4th Edition of the book and decided that I will learn to draw again. I followed the method, step-by-step, and it took me some time, but I finished it a few days ago; so, I would like to share the result with you …
I am really thankful to Mrs. Edwards, because I think she is a really smart and committed person and her method helped me to find myself again in one of the most beautiful and gratifying activities of my life since I have memory, because I used to draw and use coloring books all the time since I was a little girl.
As you can see in the attachments, I need to practice more (obviously), but I think the improvement is evident.
Best regards from Costa Rica and God bless you all!
P.S. My English writing is limited, so I hope you forgive me for any mistakes!
El 20 may. 2017, Betty Edwards escribió:
Dear Janid,
Thank you so much for sending me your email and your “before and after” drawings. It makes me so happy to see how much your drawing skills improved from working through the exercises in my book. Drawings 2 and 3 show such an ease in drawing your perceptions, especially in fine details of eyes, nose and mouth, but, moreover, excellent understanding of the relationships in size and placement of these features. Furthermore, it is clear that you have really worked on your perceptions of lights and shadows—they are quite beautiful.
Being able to learn (or in your case, to improve) drawing skills by following instructions in a book is often regarded as difficult: many people really need a teacher to guide them through the exercises. But every once in a while, I hear from someone like you, Janid, who manages to learn directly from my book, and I am just charmed by that.
I would love to post your letter and your drawings on our blog, www.drawright.com, if that would be OK with you. I feel sure others would be encouraged by your experience, and also, it is such fun to receive a letter from Costa Rica. I have seen many photos of Costa Rica, but have never visited your beautiful country.
With every best wish,
Betty Edwards
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2017
Dear Mrs. Edwards:
I am SO HAPPY that you answer me, and so soon! I admire you SO MUCH!!!! You´re not seeing me right now, but I have a big smile in my face and my heart is beating sooo fast. I would feel really honored if you post my letter and drawings on your blog, of course, because I would love to share my experience with others.
I hope you can visit Costa Rica some time, because you have at least a fan here (me!), so, if you like, I would be happy to meet you and take you to know some places (like a volcano) and/or share a cup of our coffee, of course ;) You´ll be always welcome here and I promise you´ll have a lot of fun, because we are a really friendly country.
Now I´m working with your book “Color”, it will take me some time, because I just started to read two days ago, but when I finish it I´ll share my results with you, too.
Thank you so much for take your time and respond my email, I can´t tell you how much I appreciate it and means to me.
God bless you always. Janid Alfaro
Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2017
Dear Janid,
Your email gives me such pleasure—I, too, have a big smile on my face. Thank you for letting us put your letter and drawings on our blog. Yours is my first communication from Costa Rica. I would so love to visit, but I’m afraid my traveling days are over. Thank you for your hospitable invitation. Next time I fix myself a cup of coffee, I’ll think of you.
Do let me know if any questions come up about color. It’s pretty complicated, but I have tried to be clear in my book. Taking it step-by-step is the best way.
With cordial regards,
Betty Edwards
The Alhambra in Granada, Spain
Did Artists Lead The Way In Mathematics?
Decades ago, on a working visit to Spain, I visited the Alhambra, the Moorish complex of palaces in Spain, mainly built in the 14th century near Granada. I recall feeling overwhelmed by the beauty of the tilework, by the colors and the seemingly infinite variety of interlocking patterns.
Author Henry Adams, in this article, puts it well: that the tilework “dazzles the eye in a hypnotic way that’s strangely blissful.” Equally dazzling, as Adams points out, is the mathematical reasoning that underlies the tile artists’ designs. The author poses an interesting question: Did Artists Lead The Way In Mathematics?
~ Betty Edwards