Over the years my team and I have taught thousands of students to draw. Each and every student is unique, but I have noticed some very interesting learning characteristics that seem to be common. So, just for fun I’ve created a list of ‘Learning to Draw’ personality types. Do you recognise yourself in any of them?

This is by no means an exhaustive list. I’m sure there are many more. Feel free to have fun inventing your own ‘Learning to Draw’ personality types in the comments below.

Be assured though that no matter which type you are here at DrawPj.com we love teaching you all!

So here they are… my ‘Learning to Draw’ Personality Types (plus suggested learning recommendations for each):

1. The Happy Wanderer

Happy Wanderers are the freedom lovers of the ‘Learning to Draw’ world. You love watching Youtube tutorials and trying everything. You are very social and often found frequenting artist groups on Facebook.

Learning recommendation:
Find yourself a really good video based drawing course with an active supportive community. Even though it’s tempting to keep searching around on Youtube for ideas, avoid that temptation and specifically focus on your course so you give yourself the maximum opportunity to master the skills presented. Find an instructor with a wide range of experience who won’t be fazed when you announce that you’ve discovered a new technique on Youtube. They’ve probably seen it all before!

2. The Precision Solution Seeker

Precision Solution Seekers absolutely love to pin down an exact method of drawing. If you’re a Precision Solution Seeker then for every drawing there should be an exact and precise method to get it just right. You read everything, often quite literally and question everything until you understand it completely. You probably really enjoy construction drawing and perspective.

Learning Recommendation:
Look for a course which provides precise step-by-step instructions and the opportunity to ask lots of questions and receive feedback from an instructor. Find an instructor who is also precise in their approach to drawing and teaching.

3. The Drawing Supplies Collector

Drawing Supplies Collectors have the best equipped and neatest studios. If this is you then an art shop is your equivalent of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory; a land full of awesome possibilities. You just can’t resist all those wonderful art supplies and almost always leave the store with a new bag of goodies. You probably love coloured pencils, different types of papers and figuring out which type of graphite pencil to use in every situation.

Learning Recommendation
Seek out a course which teaches you lots different techniques you can use with your art supplies. Find an instructor who is skilled in several different drawing mediums and who is able to show you all the different ways they can be applied to create a variety of subjects for your drawings.

4. The Hyper-realist

Hyper-realists absolutely love to study a drawing exercise and then take it to the next level by making it look even more real than the original reference image. If this is you then you gain a huge sense of satisfaction when someone exclaims “your drawing looks better than a photograph!”

Learning Recommendation
Enrol in a course that goes deep into shading and form with very precise pencil techniques, working from realistic reference photos. Look for an instructor who understands the process of creating photo-realistic drawings with fine pencil techniques.

5. The Quiet Achiever

If you’ve seen all the awesome things that other students post in your course group and are feeling a little intimidated then maybe you’re a Quiet Achiever. You practice diligently on your own but you’re not sure whether you’re improving because you tend to keep things all to yourself.

Learning Recommendation
Find a course with a really caring moderated community that is encouraging for beginner artists. That way you can feel safe to post without worrying about what others might say. Look for an instructor who has a caring and nurturing personality and understands your need for privacy until you gain more confidence.

6. The Keen Starter

You’re all fired up to learn to draw at first but somewhere along the way your enthusiasm drops, you slow down and eventually stop. You’ve had multiple attempts at learning to draw, but something deep inside keeps you coming back to try again.

Learning recommendation
Find a teacher or mentor who has a structured curriculum. Work closely with them to set a study schedule and then stick to it no matter what. Don’t go into hiding when your mentor emails you to ask where your next assignment is. They’ll be glad you’re still keen to draw.

7. The Re-inventor

When a drawing skill is difficult to master you go on a ‘solution safari’. You feel compelled to figure out a completely different way of doing things rather than trust the techniques that your instructor is teaching you. Sometimes you’ll go off on tangents and dissapear for days or even weeks.

Learning Recommendation
Study with an instructor who has many years of experience. When things get tough ask them for advice rather than trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’. Remember your mentor has spent countless hours discovering the best way to do things. Trust their judgement and advice. It may be that the particular technique you are finding difficult just needs to be adjusted and then practiced in a different way.

8. The Battler

If you’re a Battler you never give up. You carry on no matter what. You love drawing all the time but you don’t feel like you’re improving. Often you just go back to the beginning and start again. But still you keep on going. Your motto is “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!”

Learning Recommendation
Battlers often have a tendency to ‘nearly but not quite’ follow a course and miss some vital steps. Go slowly. Take your time. Learn the micro skills first before tackling a huge project. Check in with your instructor often to make sure that you’ve got the basic fundamentals right. Everything builds from there.

So there you have it. Do you recognise any ‘Learning to Draw Personality Types’ that you can relate to? Did I miss any? I’d love to hear from hear from you. Join in the conversation and feel free to comment below.