The first step to painting from your right brain (and why that’s important)
Our two brain hemispheres are really different.
Whilst we need them both to be functioning in order to paint – especially in a realistic, detailed way, I’ve come to see it as vital that we make a shift to the consciousness of our right brain when we paint.
The two hemispheres differ in how they process sensory information. The right hemisphere is all about perceiving visually – in patterns, shapes and the relationships between them – including how they come together to make the whole.
It is our right mind’s ability to REALLY ‘see’ that is fundamental to both drawing and painting, or as Betty Edwards put it in Drawing on the right Side of the Brain:
By gaining access to the part of your mind that works in a style conducive to creative, intuitive thought, you will learn a fundamental skill of the visual arts: how to put down on paper what you see in front of your eyes.
Brain scientist Jill Bolte Taylor lost much of her left hemisphere temporarily in 1996 when she experienced a stroke. In her subsequent book A Stroke of Insight she describes the right mind:
By it’s design, our right mind is spontaneous, carefree, and imaginative. It allows our artistic juices to flow free without inhibition or judgement.
The right and left hemispheres of our brains are very different – Picture © Carla F. Castagno
In contrast, the left hemisphere is the site of language, and is verbal and analytic. Bolte Taylor describes it as speaking to us constantly through ‘brain chatter’, defining our ‘self’ by saying ‘I am’. It also categorises information into hierarchies and places judgements on our experiences based on our likes and dislikes.
In short, it is the home of our egoic self. And, it’s also vital for living. As Taylor writes:
Without those cells performing their job you would forget who you are and lose track of your life and your identity.
So the crucial role of the left hemisphere has meant it’s become the focus of our education system and led to it dominating our consciousness most of the time.
But we have to learn how to give our left mind a backseat when we are painting.
Making this transition is especially challenging when you are learning as an adult.
As an adult our left hemisphere is very developed and painting may be one of the only times when it isn’t dominating.
One of the left hemisphere’s jobs is to constantly compare us to everyone else.
And if we’re learning a new skill – like painting – then we are probably not as ‘good’ yet as we would like. This can lead to some very critical brain chatter like:
I’ll never be any good
What’s the point
I should stick to what I CAN do
My paintings are so much worse than EVERYONE else’s
This is a waste of time
This brain chatter is the No. 1 enemy of the would-be painter.
And so step one in painting from your right mind, is to acknowledge, and ignore any self-critical brain chatter.
Easier said than done!
If you can catch yourself experiencing it whilst painting, just try to see it for what it is: a natural response to learning a right-brain skill from a human born and raised in a left-hemisphere dominant culture.
That left-brain chatter doesn’t have to be believed. Try gently replying with:
‘Thanks for your input, left brain. But, I’m going to carry on working with my right brain anyway because it’ll be an interesting experience and I might just have some fun’.
Then return your attention to the painting or drawing in hand.
In posts to come I’ll explore some other very practical methods to help you access right mind, but for now here’s Jill Bolte Taylor’s now famous TED talk where she describes what it was like to lose her left hemisphere – it’s inspiring stuff!
I’d love to hear in the comments below whether you experience this ‘shift’ into right brain when you paint, and what tips you have for us to help that happen.
Happy painting!
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I couldn’t agree more Anna.
I have just completed a 3 year degree in Garden Design and for my final year Investigative Project, I chose to look at whether designers have a natural brain dominance and how this might explain their natural strengths and weaknesses.
I found Betty Edward’s book, Drawing with the Right Side of the Brain, enlightening and it has inspired me to paint more…which in turn has led me to join your school!
I couldn’t agree more Anna.
I have just completed a 3 year degree in Garden Design and for my final year Investigative Project, I chose to look at whether designers have a natural brain dominance and how this might explain their natural strengths and weaknesses.
I found Betty Edward’s book, Drawing with the Right Side of the Brain, enlightening and it has inspired me to paint more…which in turn has led me to join your school!
I am deeply moved by this vidio what an amazing person so good to hear so much wisdom thank you for sharing x
I am deeply moved by this vidio what an amazing person so good to hear so much wisdom thank you for sharing x
Hi Anna,
Earlier I used to paint for impressing others and was always worring if my painting goes wrong. Nowadays I just paint for myself. It has become like meditation, when i paint I dont think anything other than painting, not even about how it is looking right now.. i concentrate on what needs to be done next.
Hi Anna,
Earlier I used to paint for impressing others and was always worring if my painting goes wrong. Nowadays I just paint for myself. It has become like meditation, when i paint I dont think anything other than painting, not even about how it is looking right now.. i concentrate on what needs to be done next.
What a powerful speaker! Was she just lucky to be able to rehabilitate herself or could it be possible we could all survive a stroke on the left side of the brain? She certainly gives one hope.
What a powerful speaker! Was she just lucky to be able to rehabilitate herself or could it be possible we could all survive a stroke on the left side of the brain? She certainly gives one hope.
I listen to beautiful, relaxing music while I paint. I lose myself in the music and the paint.
My left brain husband is completely baffled by the process! LOL!
I listen to beautiful, relaxing music while I paint. I lose myself in the music and the paint.
My left brain husband is completely baffled by the process! LOL!
Thanks so much for posting this, Anna. I had heard part of her story some years ago but never all of it. So interesting, so motivating. Me? I guess I switch back and forth while painting or creating art, unconsciously, but get totally into it so that hours go by and before I know it, it is time to prepare dinner or let the dog out! I enjoyed learning more about the brain and how it functions and she described it all in English instead of scientifically!
Thanks so much for posting this, Anna. I had heard part of her story some years ago but never all of it. So interesting, so motivating. Me? I guess I switch back and forth while painting or creating art, unconsciously, but get totally into it so that hours go by and before I know it, it is time to prepare dinner or let the dog out! I enjoyed learning more about the brain and how it functions and she described it all in English instead of scientifically!
On July 29th I woke up wanting something. I allowed myself to go to HobbyLobby and purchase two tubes of paint, a stencil and a canvas. My left side of my brain said you can’t paint. But my right side in a little tiny voice said but I need to.
In these past seven months I have created more than one hundred paintings, created a studio out of my unused dinning room.
When I paint I am always shocked at how fast time goes by. So much so I have to set alarms to tell my brain that I no longer can be in my heaven state of mind but that I have to push myself out of this special world and into a very small space to take care of my daily life.
This clip has allowed me to appreciate myself and this creative world that I create. I was an art major in 1969 and did not understand myself well enough to hold on to this world. Now some 43 years later am back and I am so grateful now that ms. Taylor has validated my existence. Since I have entered into my created world people have found me much more alive, caring, calmer, and considerate to others.
Thank you for this information! WOW!
Your right brain won out in the end! Great news Crystal!
On July 29th I woke up wanting something. I allowed myself to go to HobbyLobby and purchase two tubes of paint, a stencil and a canvas. My left side of my brain said you can’t paint. But my right side in a little tiny voice said but I need to.
In these past seven months I have created more than one hundred paintings, created a studio out of my unused dinning room.
When I paint I am always shocked at how fast time goes by. So much so I have to set alarms to tell my brain that I no longer can be in my heaven state of mind but that I have to push myself out of this special world and into a very small space to take care of my daily life.
This clip has allowed me to appreciate myself and this creative world that I create. I was an art major in 1969 and did not understand myself well enough to hold on to this world. Now some 43 years later am back and I am so grateful now that ms. Taylor has validated my existence. Since I have entered into my created world people have found me much more alive, caring, calmer, and considerate to others.
Thank you for this information! WOW!
PS Which explains why one has to watch your instructions several times before completing a part of a painting, Why it is easiest to listen, stop the narration, complete the process, and then start to listen again!
PS Which explains why one has to watch your instructions several times before completing a part of a painting, Why it is easiest to listen, stop the narration, complete the process, and then start to listen again!
Hi Anna,
I’m a bean counter by trade but have discovered the artist in me this past year. I find that playing instrumental music designed for concentration to be the trick that keeps me focused for hours at a time.
Oooh, do you have any recommendations for that music Carol? Sounds great!
Hi Anna,
I’m a bean counter by trade but have discovered the artist in me this past year. I find that playing instrumental music designed for concentration to be the trick that keeps me focused for hours at a time.
Focusing on what I am doing is what helps the most to get into the floe – focusing and deliberately ignoring everything else. It sometimes helps to have all music station on the radio.
Focusing on what I am doing is what helps the most to get into the floe – focusing and deliberately ignoring everything else. It sometimes helps to have all music station on the radio.
Hi Anna,
Thanks for this post! I am taking an online drawing class. I recently noticed myself comparing my posts to those of others and feeling discouraged. Your words came at the right time!
Hi Anna,
Thanks for this post! I am taking an online drawing class. I recently noticed myself comparing my posts to those of others and feeling discouraged. Your words came at the right time!
Thanks for that great insight into the way both my brains work. Loved it, and so amazed by how clearly she was able to describe such a confusing event. Wow!
I learned to draw from a teacher who had used Betty Edwards Drawing on the right side of the brain.
This style of painting needs both brains? The left side to do the accurate drawing (I struggle with this, as I find it boring) and the right side to get into the colour (which I love).
Seems like it’s a gradual process, with different emphasis on each side at different points?
Thanks for that great insight into the way both my brains work. Loved it, and so amazed by how clearly she was able to describe such a confusing event. Wow!
I learned to draw from a teacher who had used Betty Edwards Drawing on the right side of the brain.
This style of painting needs both brains? The left side to do the accurate drawing (I struggle with this, as I find it boring) and the right side to get into the colour (which I love).
Seems like it’s a gradual process, with different emphasis on each side at different points?
I have started reading a book by Eckhart Tolle called ‘The Power of Now’. He talks about the chatter going on inside your head and suggests you treat it impartially. You can listen to it but you don’t have to agree with it. I think this helps a lot with the beautiful process of just simply enjoying painting.
Hi, interesting that you should mention Tolle’s book. I read it several years ago and it has been more helpful that you can imagine. His book was also the basis for an Oprah telecast around that same time. Tolle was on the telecast as well. People from all over the world participated in a wonderful learning experience. He described in even greater detail how the thinking process works and how you can learn to manage it. See if you can find the series; it may still be somewhere on the web. The title is the same as the book or maybe you can find it by looking on Oprah’s old pages. Well worth the time to listen to all or part. They went through the book chapter by chapter and we had assignments regarding each chapter. Very thorough learning experience.
I have started reading a book by Eckhart Tolle called ‘The Power of Now’. He talks about the chatter going on inside your head and suggests you treat it impartially. You can listen to it but you don’t have to agree with it. I think this helps a lot with the beautiful process of just simply enjoying painting.
One thing I find useful when I can’t “get into the zone” – or fall out of it – is to repeat a short phrase or long word over and over and over again until it loses it’s meaning. I guess that falls under the category of Betty Edward’s advice of giving the left brain an activity that it rejects in order to turn it off and let the right side shine.
How interesting! Love that Laura, thanks for sharing.
Very interesting. I will try it out myself
One thing I find useful when I can’t “get into the zone” – or fall out of it – is to repeat a short phrase or long word over and over and over again until it loses it’s meaning. I guess that falls under the category of Betty Edward’s advice of giving the left brain an activity that it rejects in order to turn it off and let the right side shine.
Hi Anna, good choice of reading matter (Betty Edwards’book). I read it through on a plane trip from Australia to the UK in 2010 and did a lot of the exercises she set out. I was amazed at what I could achieve when I had NO voices in my head saying I had to clean the house, hang out the washing before it rained, get dinner ready, make the beds etc etc. – basic brain chatter. I also found her tips about how to use negative space really useful, so much so that my confidence levels went up and my drawing improved out of sight. If anyone intending to sketch or paint can only afford to buy one book then I highly recommend Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.
Susan, she published a newer version in 2012. The updated information is really interesting. I’d suggest you look for it and give it another read.
Hi Anna, good choice of reading matter (Betty Edwards’book). I read it through on a plane trip from Australia to the UK in 2010 and did a lot of the exercises she set out. I was amazed at what I could achieve when I had NO voices in my head saying I had to clean the house, hang out the washing before it rained, get dinner ready, make the beds etc etc. – basic brain chatter. I also found her tips about how to use negative space really useful, so much so that my confidence levels went up and my drawing improved out of sight. If anyone intending to sketch or paint can only afford to buy one book then I highly recommend Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.
Wonderful. She describes the experience one hopes to experience when meditating. When I enjoy painting most is when I prepare my space, put on some beautiful music, and devote the time to my project. My best work comes from these devoted sessions. Love it!
Wonderful. She describes the experience one hopes to experience when meditating. When I enjoy painting most is when I prepare my space, put on some beautiful music, and devote the time to my project. My best work comes from these devoted sessions. Love it!
I have been involved in and taught drawing and painting of all sorts for over 45 years and for myself and/or my students, of all ages, who have left-hemisphere “thinking blocks”, the exercise of ‘blind drawing” (described in Betty Edwards book and taught in all good art school drawing classes for decades) is an exercise that teaches us to really “see” and perceive better and to connect eye, brain and hand together to allow for better drawing. It is an exercise, ( and meditative process) that even for “old hands” is a wonderful start to any drawing and painting session, like the stretching and focus exercises athletes do prior to training or competition. Left and right hemisphere strength and balance is important for all creative output, and our right side needs to be respected and built to hold it’s own.
The fear of critical judgment of our work is always present to some extent in most of us but learning to paint and draw for ourselves and our own satisfaction, goals and growth has to be nurtured in ourselves or we cannot grow artistically nor be fed by the very process itself.
My own ambition is to produce one perfect image before I die – all the rest is striving, learning, growing, exploring and experimenting towards that goal. The opinion of the rest of the world is irrelevant.
And it’s taken a long, long time to reach that point.
I have been involved in and taught drawing and painting of all sorts for over 45 years and for myself and/or my students, of all ages, who have left-hemisphere “thinking blocks”, the exercise of ‘blind drawing” (described in Betty Edwards book and taught in all good art school drawing classes for decades) is an exercise that teaches us to really “see” and perceive better and to connect eye, brain and hand together to allow for better drawing. It is an exercise, ( and meditative process) that even for “old hands” is a wonderful start to any drawing and painting session, like the stretching and focus exercises athletes do prior to training or competition. Left and right hemisphere strength and balance is important for all creative output, and our right side needs to be respected and built to hold it’s own.
The fear of critical judgment of our work is always present to some extent in most of us but learning to paint and draw for ourselves and our own satisfaction, goals and growth has to be nurtured in ourselves or we cannot grow artistically nor be fed by the very process itself.
My own ambition is to produce one perfect image before I die – all the rest is striving, learning, growing, exploring and experimenting towards that goal. The opinion of the rest of the world is irrelevant.
And it’s taken a long, long time to reach that point.
Hi Anna
Its really lovely to see you champion Betty Edward’s work!
Her first edition of Drawing With the Right Side of the Brain was published in 1979 and its now in its 14th Edition.
This book has been instrumental in Fine Art education in British and American Art Schools since the early 1980’s, and it has influenced two generations of artists and sculptors, along with the associated elements of Cognitive and Rogerian Therapy, and it is still echoing through.
This work is of great benefit to anyone learning to access their creative process, because it bridges the gap between technique and experimentation.
It has been instrumental in liberating the post modern artist from their collective associaion with neurotic behavioural patterns, enabling freedom and balance to win.
Hi Anna
Its really lovely to see you champion Betty Edward’s work!
Her first edition of Drawing With the Right Side of the Brain was published in 1979 and its now in its 14th Edition.
This book has been instrumental in Fine Art education in British and American Art Schools since the early 1980’s, and it has influenced two generations of artists and sculptors, along with the associated elements of Cognitive and Rogerian Therapy, and it is still echoing through.
This work is of great benefit to anyone learning to access their creative process, because it bridges the gap between technique and experimentation.
It has been instrumental in liberating the post modern artist from their collective associaion with neurotic behavioural patterns, enabling freedom and balance to win.
I found this video exceptional. The Brain, and how it works, all explained in detail, In English, not science-speak, making it easy for the man/woman in the street to understand the processes involved.
I was almost in tears with her, at the end, she uses soooo much emotion to explain the situation realistically.
Along with all the discussions so far, I have come to a realisation of what I do to gain Right Brain dominance, when painting or crafting. I sing to myself, silently, a nursery rhyme.
Often I do not get to the end before the trip to Nirvana begins. Where I recognise a pure peacefulness exists.
I found this video exceptional. The Brain, and how it works, all explained in detail, In English, not science-speak, making it easy for the man/woman in the street to understand the processes involved.
I was almost in tears with her, at the end, she uses soooo much emotion to explain the situation realistically.
Along with all the discussions so far, I have come to a realisation of what I do to gain Right Brain dominance, when painting or crafting. I sing to myself, silently, a nursery rhyme.
Often I do not get to the end before the trip to Nirvana begins. Where I recognise a pure peacefulness exists.
Wow, what an amazing video. Thanks for posting. I found your blog when looking for creative block with regards to right brain/left brain struggle. When I paint (landscapes mostly) I experience mental pain/anguish ranging from mildly irritating to excruciating, then sometimes I can’t paint for weeks, because the thought of going to my studio is too frightening. I believe this is because my right and left hemispheres have virtually opposite ideas of what the outcome of a painting should be. My left brain wants to create something simplified and stylized with pleasing colour combinations, while my right brain wants to paint more detail with fuzzier outlines and less structure. The resulting battle is bloody. I experience a similar result with creative writing.
Best of luck with your painitngs. They’re really good.
It has taken me so many years to understand even in a tiny way what is going on in my brain I will come back to this video many times I am sure till it sinks in.
I did try reading the book of Drawing from the right side of the brain quite a few years ago but I must not have been in the right time to accept it as I did not understand the message at that time . My life has been very busy with so many events happening & many changes not planned & now I find at 89 years of age I am in a very peaceful part with time to realise how good it can be.
Several years ago a friend who is a hobby artist put a brush canvas & paints in my hands (after I asked her how I could learn to paint ) & she told me to have a go. I bless her every day for the joy &
peace I found from this event that has changed so much of my existence.I now can pick up my brush & paints & go into a lovely place
I will work on stilling the voice that sometimes pops up to annoy me with negative chatter.while I am trying to work on difficult new projects
Thank you Anna for pointing the way to this video
Dear Anna,
I was attracted to your site by the reference to using the right hemisphere, and the Ted talk is excellent. It closely corresponds with Dr Iain McGilchrist’s research (which a lot of my work responds to). I ran an arts centre years ago and set up a ‘botanical’ drawing and painting program which has been very successful. Unfortunately, I moved on before I could develop it further. Your work is excellent and the detail and skills involved in your techniques are great. However, in ‘still lifes’ and botanical work such as yours, in order to turn it into art, your wonderful crafting methods need to do a little more. As Leonardo Da Vinci said, art doesn’t ‘represent reality’ it ‘reinvents reality’ (craft simply represents reality – and you do a great job of that!). If you want to talk more about this, I am happy to offer some suggestions, or at least a different perspective to consider (www.righthemisphereartsprojects.com).
Great that you are encouraging people to not be stymied by the many detractors of this idea about two ‘personalities’ in our brains, who are basing their criticisms on a misinterpretation of the neuroscience. (The two sides obviously always work together – it’s all about ‘how’). And using some of Betty Edwards’ methods is a good start, but I hope you look further into why this is useful and how to make it more so.
Cheers,
Nat
So interesting Nat – you really ought to take a read of another blog I wrote here where I really dispute your view that I or anyone else who enjoys painting detail ‘need to do a little more’ to turn it into art. That’s a hugely condescending opinion and one I’ve not asked for you to share. I’m really happy doing what I’m doing thanks and have lived as a professional artist for over 10 years now so am not going to be bogged down by options like yours of what is and isn’t art.
So sorry you took offence at that, I was merely trying to help. Painting detail is not the problem (far from it). But the LH does tend to stick to what it ‘knows’…
i have been struggling with detail in painting and not allowing my own creativity to come through. The video provides insight to why that struggle may exist and since I have operated in a analytical field of work for over 30 years, shutting down the left brain seems overwhelming. Thank you
A really inspiring message. I read Betty Edwards bool years ago and found it very helpful.
I nearly dismissed the part on drawing things upside down and negative spaces as nonsense when I first read it. Fortunately I did make myself try it and was amazed at the results I achieved. My left brain really didn’t want to know anything about it, I thank God that my right side won the battle. Unfortunately on victory doesn’t win the war. This article has made me realise that slowly me left brain has bit by bit been taking over again.
So I am back in uniform and marching out to war to a new beginning. Thank you Anna
Go for it Ivor! Yes the upside down painting is so helpful for this.
When I paint or become immersed in something like silver smithing or reading I definitely enter an “altered state of consciousness”. I become oblivious to what is going on around me. I don’t hear the telephone ring. I don’t hear the door bell ring. I have to be careful not to be painting or drawing while there is something in the oven because I would be completely unaware of the oven timer going off. If people talk to me in this state, I don’t hear them and it appears to them that I am rudely ignoring them but I am not. Eventually I “resurface” from this state of extreme concentration and it is like waking up out of a pleasant dream!
Thanks for sharing your experience Hilary – how wonderfully immersive!
That was an enjoyable Video. Very powerful. It makes me appreciate my brain more and also why I’m happy when I’m painting.
Hi Anna. Thanks so much for this very insightful information. I am going to be transparent here, so I hope that is okay. For years I never understood brain chatter. Sometimes I thought it was conscience. Other times I thought perhaps it was God. Other times I thought it was an evil source. Then I wondered whether I was loosing my own mind. It intensified over our lock-down quarantine. The stress was exceedingly bad for me as I lost my husband two years ago, and the grief came back so deep and very painful. I did cry out to God and He heard me and comforted my heart and has restored me through meditating on His word, the Bible. But I prayed with deepest angst that I would understand this chatter in my head, and I prayed He would help me understand and what to do with it. Well, this education on the right brain-left brain has cleared it up completely. Thank you so much for thinking of us in this deeper way to help us in our struggles in painting as well as in life. God bless you dear one. You are deeply loved.
Wow, how insightful. Thank you for sharing this. I now know my left side of my brain has been chattering way to much. I need to pay attention to this
I love all of the information on creativity that you share, Anna! I am very much a “left-brain” being with a career focused on knowledge, research, and information. I have always been a “problem solver” and didn’t have time for much else. Now that I am retired and trying to focus more on creativity which was very much on the back burner for many years – a developing painting feels almost magical to me. While I am still learning, I have said to myself so many times: “I don’t know how I am doing this, and I don’t know where this is coming from.” My husband is equally mystified that I have been able to paint anything at all, and I have said to him that I am as surprised as anyone and actually, it kind of scares me sometimes because I don’t understand it. (This emotion is NOT helpful!) Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED Talk did a lot to expand my understanding of the right and left brain hemispheres, which I have read about but probably have not fully appreciated. Our right brains seem to be offering up creativity, if only we will accept it and allow it to grow…
Thank you for sharing this wonderful video Anna, it is the first time l have listened to somebody describe the lived experience of having a stroke and it was eye opening. Like most other people l am also predominantly left brained and do get a considerable amount of left brain chatter when painting, this makes it difficult to note progress and encourages an overly critical mindset. Having and understanding the creative side of the brain is invaluable and l thank you for sharing this information with us.
[…] This is because painting engages our spontaneous, imaginative ‘right brain’, which has the effect of disengaging our overthinking, anxiety-prone left brain. If you find that painting isn’t having this effect for you, try this technique to quieten your left brain. […]
[…] of that comes from being in the flow state, and from the effects of colour, but I’ve noticed that whenever I’ve painted non-nature […]