Drawing & the Brain: Art for all podcast: 55

This week John and Danny dive deep into the brain and discuss how we process visual information. They talk about how the brain affects art-making.

From Season 3 of "art for all," the Sketchbook Skool podcast. Join artists/authors, Danny Gregory and John Muir Laws in rich discussions about the creative process.

0:38 Intro
1:53 How art affects the brain
4:46 Visual cortex
15:30 Inability to recognize faces
23:40 Why it is difficult to draw a 3D object
35:03 Cognitive load of the brain
43:20 Counter a very common neuromyth
51:28 Meditative aspect of drawing
1:01:55 Final Thoughts

[ritawashere]

This is positively fascinating. It's just wonderful. I've shared this video on Pinterest.❤

[claremarley]

I had a step off the world, three and a half years ago, I've drawn/ doodled pretty much every day during that time. Though lately I've been checking out neurographics.

[sjshapir]

Art is essentially problem solving! Great for maintaining brains.

[lauraking]

Thought provoking as always, you two. Thanks so much! Love the anchor.

[woodcut_]

love the idea about artist/viewer collaboration, super fun way of thinking about it

[marciadanemayer]

I'm aware that my otherwise balanced life seems to switch over to narrow focus when I'm deep in my art. I loose track of time and can lose the whole day to my art, if I'm lucky and there are no interruptions.

[snowbaby]

I always find it so inspiring to hear when older people decide that they're going to learn something new! I'm very impressed by your grandmother, Jack!

Closer to the beginning of this year, I decided to pick up meditation and give it a shot, but I could never get my mind to calm down just enough even though I was listening to guided meditations. Shortly after, I finally took drawing seriously after watching a ton of sketchbook skool videos and was drawing every day, even if it was a terrible drawing and I'm always amazed at how I feel when I'm finished! I entered the flow state and had no idea! When I'm done I take a deep breath and realize that time has passed, but I'm not sure how much. I have since given up guided meditation in favor of drawing because I'm guaranteed a clear head after a drawing and a huge smile when I look at my work. Even if it's ugly, it's mine and I made it and my sketchbook allows me to see my progress!

P.S. Danny and Jack, this YouTube channel and this podcast have totally changed my life for the better. I used to be the kind of person who would just ignore a tree because it's just a tree and I've seen a ton of those before. You guys have taught me to look around more and appreciate everything that's around me. To continue on about trees, I now look closer at each one I see, thinking about what color it is, if the green is a more yellowy green, of the tree even has yellow leaves instead of green. It's also prompted me to learn about color theory, something I just thought I was bad at and couldn't ever improve, but I got some watercolors and watched some videos and played around and now I can mix colors that I see around the place! When I started drawing, I was using a single pen, but now I've moved on to ink and watercolors! I'm having so much fun! To quote Koojse, "Everything's interesting when you draw it! “ Have an awesome day/week and I'm always looking forward to the next podcast episode!

[melissabridge]

I get the flow state …. I have to set an alarm to stop myself. I definitely loose track of time. I don’t need meditation. My “zen” is drawing and painting.

[DSmith-pcjn]

I think that whether a drawing is good or not has something to do with when you stop. Sometimes when I am in the zone I keep going beyond the point where it is a good drawing. The experience becomes more important so I keep on going and don't pay attention to doing a good drawing.

[recoveringsoul]

when my son was a toddler he once said "My head is just a big round ball with accessories". I thought it was the cutest thing ever, wrote it down, and very intelligent of him to say that

[sjshapir]

When I was teaching neuroscience and sensation & perception I tried to get the tart students to take my classes. Understanding some of the stuff helps artists to understand and make decisions on how to do their art. “Intuitive art” is good, but analysis can do a lot.

[mirtaxiomelyssandin]

Very interested subject of conversation. My self use to say that making art it’s like FUN- finding ( those) unlimited NOWS”
It’s the gate to joy, flow and FUN. Thank you both of you for sharing your thoughts and experience. 🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾☺️🙏🏾

[sjshapir]

Jack's comments about face blindness are related to our tendency to see faces everywhere. Even in inanimate objects like cars and toast.

[recoveringsoul]

I once looked up how big a horses brain was, no fixed answer probably because there are a wide variety of horse sizes from miniatures to large draft horses. But I did find something about how a horse kept in a stall, without the social and survival stimulation of being outside, searching for food, interacting with other horses, scanning for predators etc, those horses brains would shrink. May tie into the dementia thing

[recoveringsoul]

witnessed a kid on an All-Star baseball team in the 9-10 age group with only one arm. He was their pitcher. Could pitch, switch to glove and catch ball hit right to him. Amazing. He could also bat with one hand only. Made the kids on our team stop whining. He had a bit of shoulder/armpit on the other side that he held the glove with when not on his hand. Catch a ball wearing the glove, take off the glove and throw the ball to the base to get someone out.

[Xanderfied]

People with autism commonly have a problem where they can't shut off the outside world. Their brains try to focus on every external stimuli within earshot. Which is often why children with autism are easily overstimulated.

[judyk.]

Brain and heart connection? What you see what you know how you feel