LESSON NINETEEN

DRAWING

I. THE DRAWING LESSON

1. Drawing the Expression of Thought.-Drawing is a language of the hand. Just as every sentence is the expression of a thought, so is every drawing a means of conveying an idea to the mind of another. No one, then, can be oblivious to the great educational value of that art which trains a child to observe all things more accurately and to appreciate more fully the beautiful both in nature and in pictures.

Naturally, people differ greatly in their ability to express thought by drawing, some individuals being wonderfully gifted and others seemingly possessing no talent at all. But whenever a fair test has been made it has been found that any normal person can acquire some degree of skill. He may never become a great artist and may never be able to produce beautiful pictures, but with a careful training of the hand and of the eye he may develop a fair amount of ability.

One must not consider the perfection of a drawing or a sketch as the whole aim of teaching. Direct results are not so much to be sought as the steady and continuous development of power. The sketch which may appear very crude to an adult who views it from a technical standpoint may be nearly perfect as the work of a beginner. If the worker has used his best thought and best skill the lesson has accomplished its end, though the sketch be imperfect in