Drawing what you see — Art, 4–6 years
When we look closely, a drawing can show more than a quick guess. Children notice size, position and small details by drawing real things in front of them.
Look, then draw
Drawing from observation means looking at a real thing while drawing it, instead of drawing only what we remember. We can notice its shape, size, place and tiny marks. Looking back and forth helps the picture match the thing.
Why look closely?
A quick drawing often gives every object the same size or puts details in the wrong place. People who draw and paint have long looked carefully at objects, animals and places to show what is really there. Observation solves the problem of making a picture from a guess.
A cup on the table
First, look at the cup and notice that it is taller than it is wide. Next, draw its oval top and two sides, then add the handle on the right. Finally, look again: is the handle halfway up, and is the cup sitting on the table line?
The remembered symbol
A common mistake is drawing a cup as a simple circle with a line, even when a real cup is in front of us. That is reasonable because our brain stores quick symbols for familiar things. Pause and check the real object before trusting the symbol.
Artists and observers
Artists use observation when they draw a plant, toy or building. It also helps when someone describes what is on a table or notices a change in a room. The aim is not to copy every mark, but to see before deciding what to show.
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