Thoughts on drawing and creativity by Dr. Betty Edwards.
Self portrait, graphite, 2023, Sophie Bahari Bomeisler I am very happy and proud to inform our friends and students that another member of our family is joining the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain® teaching staff. My granddaughter, Sophie Bahari Bomeisler, who graduated in 2021 from the University of Surrey in England, will be teaching our intensive DRSB five-day Drawing Workshops in New…
Every January 23rd is National Handwriting Day! To mark the occasion, Betty Edwards recommends this article that was published 1/21/2025 in The Guardian: Are We Losing Our Ability to Write by Hand? As the author says, “We are far more likely to use our hands to type or swipe than pick up a pen. But in the process, we are in danger of losing cognitive skills, sensory experience – and a connection…
Since I published the original edition of my first book, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain , in 1979, it has been astonishing to see how far it has traveled around the globe. Clearly, there is a hunger to learn perceptual skills through learning to draw, and we know for a fact that this also has far-reaching effects on thinking skills in general. Learning to draw is valuable, whether or not…
The following article confirms what I’ve always believed — that there are huge cognitive benefits to handwriting, particularly in script or cursive. Give it a try! As the author says, “Not only will you reap the cognitive benefits, but you might also rediscover the joy of writing by hand.” Posted by Zara Nwosu 21 Feb 2024 at…
I want to strongly recommend that you listen to the podcast interview of Dr. Iain McGilchrist, the renowned psychiatrist, neuroscience researcher, philosopher, and literary scholar: Click here for podcast audio and transcription . At the moment, there are a lot of criticisms and disputes about right brain/left brain capabilities, even among scientific circles. But the fact is that as human beings,…
The subject of how to effectively teach reading to young children is one that has long fascinated me, as I can see parallels between the way that we should teach drawing and the way we should teach reading. The skill of reading as with drawing is fundamental to a child and ultimately to an adult. It is the key to comprehending the world, to being an informed citizen, and to having a successful…
A recent article in the New York Times discussed something that Betty has been telling students for decades: “In an age of instant everything, drawing invites us to slow down and appreciate the world around us.” Many thanks to the author, Melissa Kirsch, who wrote this in her article “How to Slow Down”: “Several years ago, on a lark, I signed up for a figure-drawing class. I hadn’t had art…
This is a beautiful new edition of Betty’s latest book, Drawing on the Dominant Eye . Published in Korea in June 2022, the book is beautifully designed, with a section of full-color illustrations and a gorgeous cover (stamped and embossed) that is illustrated with a selection of the amazing, tiny, hand-painted miniatures of human eyes that were a jewelry fad in the 1800s. It is always so much fun…
This article by scholar Kim Biel in Lapham’s Quarterly is a fascinating and well-researched rumination on the ever-fascinating subject of color, ranging from painting to photography and back to the natural world: "New Look, Same Great Look" The article begins: “Color is among the most challenging aspects of our experience to describe. Spectrophotometers and colorimeters can quantify light waves,…
Did you know that Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain and other Betty Edwards books have been translated into 24 languages and are available around the world? Since it was first published in the U.S. in 1979, DRSB has been embraced by people who want to learn to draw or by artists honing their skills or enhancing their creativity. If you speak any of these languages, you can find Betty’s books!…
Sending warm greetings around the world to all the fans and friends of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain ! We wish you and your family happiness, health, success, and lots of drawing in the new year to come! ~ Betty Edwards Betty Edwards, Brian Bomeisler, Anne Bomeisler Farrell
Just in time for the holidays, Betty Edwards’ newest book has just been released in paperback! Click here for all the details and links to purchase the book from many sellers, as well as a sample of the audiobook. Penguin Random House Announcement -- Paperback Edition of Drawing on the Dominant Eye DRAWING ON THE DOMINANT EYE: DECODING THE WAY WE PERCEIVE, CREATE, AND LEARN Millions of readers…
In December 2020, when Zoom became the new way to communicate across the miles, I had the great pleasure of being interviewed by Paola Vojnovic, who lives in Florence and is an art historian, teacher, tour guide extraordinaire, and altogether charming conversationalist. On her website , you will find many fascinating interviews and information on art, Italy, the Renaissance, and life! Our…
Betty Edwards is delighted to announce that DRSB's virtual art instruction will now include ongoing 3-Day Painting Workshops, led online on Zoom by Brian Bomeisler. In just three days, Brian will teach you the basic methods and principles of mixing colors and applying that knowledge to painting a still life. With specific exercises, the Workshop will help you learn how to mix and match pigments…
My son, Brian Bomeisler, is himself a gifted artist but he is also a gifted teacher who has been imparting the Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain methods for decades, working alongside me and then teaching on his own after my retirement. During the global pandemic, Brian has moved his in-person 5-day Drawing Workshops to a virtual online platform, and the results are just as amazing. You can…
National Handwriting Day is an unofficial holiday that celebrates the practice of handwriting with a pen or pencil. #NationalHandwritingDay falls each year on January 23rd. Why this date? It’s John Hancock’s birthday! He is best known as having the first and most prominent signature on the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and as a result, signatures are sometimes referred to as a “John Hancock.”…
Let’s celebrate the New Year and learn to draw! Shop in the DRSB Store and you’ll find everything an artist needs. Through January 3, 2021, all DRSB items are discounted 15%, including the popular Artist’s Portfolio. When you check out, just type the code HOLIDAY and your 15% discount will be applied. Please note that there have been mail delays, so if you have any questions about shipping, click…
During this holiday season, what better gift to offer than the gift of learning to draw? Shop in the DRSB Store and you’ll find everything an art lover needs to learn to draw. From December 1 through December 15, everything is discounted 15%. When you check out, just type the code HOLIDAY and your 15% discount will be applied. Please note that there have been mail delays, so if you have any…
Betty’s new book is released on November 10, 2020. Click here https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/665595/drawing-on-the-dominant-eye-by-betty-edwards/ for advance orders! The book is also being released in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2020. Click here for information on that edition: https://profilebooks.com/drawing-on-the-dominant-eye-hb.html . These first editions are likely to sell…
For anyone who is interested in drawing, this announcement from The British Museum will be welcome news. In the online site Atlas Obscura, the Hokusai drawings are described: Atlas Obscura "Lost Hokusai Drawings" Hokusai’s Great Picture Book of Everything: “This is definitely one of the greatest discoveries of Hokusai works in a long time." “IN 1829, WHEN THE CELEBRATED Japanese artist Katsushika…