Do you think anyone can learn to draw or do you think you have to be born with the talent?

I think everyone can learn the techniques, drawing does have plenty of basics and primary tools, but to be able to trespass that technical threshold and personalize your art, you have to really enjoy it, and I think that's part of what talent means, which I'm pretty sure you're born with, though I suppose a talent could also be developed somewhat, if it's new to you but you like it.

I think everyone is born with the talent.

Sure, some people are gifted with artistic talent and it's immediately apparent, but I think anyone can learn to draw well. There's an excellent book on this called "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain", by Betty Edwards; you should check it out. It will help you understand the process of drawing and how it works in us, how you can approach it with confidence and quite possibly learn to draw in ways you never imagined you'd be able to.

Wow. Two ways to go with this one:
(1) Be scientifically knowledgable. (I'm not .. so can't give you the "what's inborn" - "what's learned" answer)
(2) Share an opinion - and that I can do.

Besides, it's a great question, so wanted to give you points fot that and add to your discussion. :)

I think we each are unique.
I think we're each born with a different set of talents.
I think we each "make use of" whatever talents we have - or not.
I think that talent alone is not enough. It takes a conscious "choice" to utilize it, work it, DO it, practice, learn SKILLS, make mistakes, perfect our "craft" right along with the "art" ---- then ----- move past imitation to original creation.

A good wide scale there, I think of people who have a little talent, but worked hard .. and those who have a lot of talent, but didn't use it!

And of course, there's the "to what extent" are you asking? Drawing for commercial purposes? For art's sake (but you want recognition)? For the pure enjoyment of it? What? Again, a pretty wide scale is possible.

Not sure we can learn what we have ZERO talent for .. but the danger in saying that are all the "art killing" things that have crunched down and stifled creativity in so many .. kids .. and certainly then "gone" by adulthood. That winds up not about talent or skill but "forgetting" there is even a door of choice. Spirit got trampled.

I think you're born with it .. but there are such huge ranges of possibilities .. that anyone can embrace most anything. We'll all fall "somewhere" on the human scale. And if we're happy? Draw away!!!

My two cents. (or so)
And all opinion! Not at all scientific.

I couldn't learn it... so I would like to think you have to be born with it.

Yes, I believe that someone could learn to draw. While some people are born with talents, all others have to do is practice a particular skill to become just as good.

I think you can learn basics to a certain extent but developmental capacity and inventiveness may be related to talent. MAY be.

I definitely think you can learn to draw. Creating artwork is a whole other thing. I myself always wanted to learn how to draw. I picked up some books, did a lot of practicing and got a lot better- but I am by no means an 'artist' who creates original works.

I think practice and interest is all it takes ive been drawling since i was a little girl now i progressed in to a great artist.

I think anyone can learn to draw if they want it enough to put time and energy into it.

I know that it can be learned because while I seemed to have a lot of natural talent in sculpture, drawing was always a struggle. With good teachers and the right focus I think you can learn just about anything, drawing included. I think we all have talent in one field or another, or several, and it's just a matter of figuring how your mind works and what approach will work best for you.
Anyway, drawing should be fun and as long as you're having fun, who cares how 'good' you are?

I know from experience that some people will never be able to learn to draw, at least well. If, however, you wanted to learn abstract art, well...anyone can.

I'm not really sure. I think they should try buying one of those "How to Draw" book, and put it to the test.

I think that if one wants it bad enouhg
anything is possible.

anyone can learn to draw i cant. But you could if you wanted to. =]

I learned how to draw, and I know many great artists who had to practice for years to get good.

All children believe they can draw. It is only as they become older that they develop the idea they can't. Anyone who can learn to write can learn to draw. All drawing is is learning to duplicate the lines that one sees, just like learning to write. As with writing, some people are going to be better at it. Drawing takes three things: 1)hand/eye coordination, 2)a belief that one can draw, 3)practice. Though it is no longer in style, Betty Edwards' book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" can teach anyone who is willing to practice to draw. Those with a natural talent will be better, but anyone can learn.

I think you can learn. Many people learn when they are in their 40s. Where there is a will there is a way.:)

I think the hardest part of learning to draw, is learning to accept yourself. Anyone can draw. But most of us have preconcieved ideas of what a drawing is supposed to look like. And this limits us from seeing our own unique talent.

Drawing is a combination of seeing and the connections between our eyes and hands, with the influence of our mental preconceptions of what we are "seeing".

Once you can accept that your drawing will never look like picasso, monet, (name your favorite artist). Then you can open your mind to trying different styles and see how you apply them uniquely.

This by the way is true of any art form including painting, scupture, music, problem solving.

If you can learn to write, you can learn to draw. Now, each person is going to have their own style and some will be better than others. Some will have more merit than others. But I don't think that comes from skill, there are many great primitive artists who may not have much technique but have a lot emotion and there are some with great skill who can leave you totally cold. But they all have something to offer.

anyone can draw since drawing is just lines but you are born with the great talent of being great at drawing.

They make tons and tons of how to draw a ___________ books. Anyone can learn to draw, but some people are just born artsy!

I think you have to be born with the talent.

There are basically 4 different kinds of learning types in the world, from what i read. One of them is perfect for artistic endeavours. One is way too impatient to bother etc. but I am sure anyone can learn, some people are just gonna be more ept at it, just like some people can understand whatever they read with ease and some of us have to be knocked in the head with it. Good thing I am the artistic type. lol.

a lot of people will tell you you can do anything you set your mind to but i know you have to be born with an artistc hand.

Most of the artists I've met already had a talent for it, but still had to refine their skills just a bit in school.

Artistry is one of those talents for which one must have an inborn aptitute. I, unfortunately, am not oen of those who have that talent.

Talent is what you are born with. Skill is what you learn. Whichever, if you don't develop it you eventually loose it.
I was born to draw.... I could never stop.... I drew on everything and used anything... from pencil,charcoal,rubber, paint, etc... on any surface... I didn't think too much about my drawings...and always hid my work.... til one day my eye sight started to get weak... and I could not see clearly the details of my subject... I stop!
Now few years later I could never complete any of my sketches or paintings....and it seems kinda hard to put on paper what I can see in my mind. What happened?

I think reguardless of inborn tallent every one can improve and draw, now if you are talking drawing extremely well I beleve thier are some tallents yuo are just born with.

Both.

Talented people still need to learn and refine.

Anybody can, it's practice and a passion for it that makes you improve.

Yes,but it makes it easier if you have inate ability.

your born with it just like everything eals its a talent that comes to you by trate

I have always thought that learning to draw is like learning to play piano. If you have a strong enough desire to learn it, you will.

Some people are born with the ability to hear perfect pitch in music, or discern subtle changes in color and form. This is natural and can't be taught. But if you have no desire to use it for art, you won't!

There are mechanical rules for drawing. It is relatively easy to learn perspective, basic rules of figure drawing, color theory, etc... but it will not be good art unless you have the the inborn ability to see what the rules you have learned don't cover.

So, yes, people can learn to draw if they want it enough. But an inborn ability can make a better artist out of the student.

I think some people need both, while others only need one. Both are possible

There is no question that some people can do it and some cannot. All the lessons and time commitment in the world can only help to improve an artists skill, as an art student i see it all the time. Some people just cannot draw- the ability to take what is in your head and put it on paper is something that a lot of people cannot do, even people who are hugely successful in fields like sculpture, design, and photo.
My art:
http://kevindoesart.carbonmade.com

As with everything, some people are naturally able to do certain things and others have to learn, but anybody can learn to draw well..... with practice.