Drawing

[Twr777]

Hey

Im 14 and an aspiring Graphic designer. I enjoy Computer design but lack Physical Drawing skills. I Think this will be a Big set Back But I really like using photoshop and Am currently learning Illustrator. Is there Any way to overcome The lack of drawing skills or do i need to re think a career choice?

[squeezee]

Lack of artistic ability is a handicap but never did Tracey Emin any harm. At least at 14 you have time to learn, just feel sorry for the rest of us. Better Fix that Caps lock Button though
There are many different jobs in the graphics industry, not just for great artists.

[bigdave]

You'd be amazed at the number of Designers who cant draw for s**t these days!... The unfortunate truth is that a reasonable ability to draw is fairly important in this business. At the end of the day, you're no flipping good if you can think of a great picture but can't paint the damn thing! The good news is that drawing id something that can be worked on! buy a sketch pad and spend hours and hours drawing stuff! To start with it all looks pretty much the same but over quite a short space of time you'll get to feel how your pencil is working and things will fall into place.

If its of any use, next time I'm at my parents, I'll dig out my GCSE and A level art stuff and take a couple of pics for you to compare the change in sketching over a 12 month period.

[squeezee]

I would point out that the ability to draw and an eye for design are not NECESSARILY the same thing.

[TheNoone]

I think as long as you can get down on paper how you visualise something you will be fine. Like Dave said you will learn along the way. My drawing skills have improved a hell of a lot since I started university, I think you would be knackered if you wanted to go into something like Illustration and couldn't draw.

Keep at it, My tutor is an amazing graphic designer and he can't draw for Sh*t.

[Ozwaldo Sanchez]

Practice builds confidence, and its the confidence thats the important bit.
As long as you can develop a style that is 'yours' your half way there.

[linziloop]

Everyone can draw. Just look how successful Jon Burgerman is, I wouldn't say his illustration style showed great ability in drawing (not technically anyway), but he's got a great use of colour and imagination to create little characters many people know and love.

The above advice to keep on practicing is great, I did life drawing etc. at college and it helped me on heaps with my eye for depth and proportion. I still wouldn't say I'm great at drawing, but I can do enough to get by. It certainly never held me back at uni and it hasn't stopped me getting a job in graphic design.

[squeezee]

Everyone can draw.

Must be an Everton supporter

[Tony Hardy]

I think as long as you can visualise what's in your head then you can proceed.
Unless your an illustrator, I guess that's in the name though.

[Paul Murray]

I recently had a visit from a friend of my tutor's who was described as a 'professional visualiser'.

Basically someone describes an idea to him and he draws up the idea on paper for them in about 10 seconds. He was there to basically show us some techniques for quickly working up drafts and improve time management.

He said that it's the idea that's important at that stage. So long as you can show the placement of objects (quick lines for text for example) that's all people are worried about, since the drafts that aren't chosen tend to be binned, so why spend hours drawing everything perfectly just to have it thrown away?

TL:DR Don't fret, if you can draw lines and basic shapes then you're sorted.