How Learning to Draw A Fish Makes You A Better Problem Solver

The Fish – illustration by BalletArt on Etsy

Technology has made us helpless creatures.

Think about it for a moment.

The car is dirty, so you head to the car wash. Yes, you take the car to be washed but have you ever noticed how much longer the lines are for the automatic wash versus the DIY wash? Whatever happened to a good old-fashioned bucket of soapy water and a garden hose in the driveway? Then there’s things like taxes. You can head to the local tax preparation office and have someone complete the deed for you. If not, the internet has a vast array of plug-n-click apps that make taxes easy and quick. Awesome, right . . . ? How well do you understand laws revolving around your taxes? And why should we even bother learning how to prepare food anymore? You can buy just about any frozen meal at the supermarket, pop it in the microwave and have a meal in under five minutes. How would you know how much better – or cheaper – that food could be if you just made it yourself?

When it comes to conveniences, I am no less guilty than the next person. My husband and I do our taxes online, use the automatic car wash, and have nuked a side of frozen veggies. I love the convenience of it all, but by not taking the time to do any of these things more often, I feel like I am lacking something. Like the $8 that went to the automatic car wash, a thorough understanding of tax laws, and better tasting veggies for dinner.

Toasted Bluefish Limited Edition Pencil Drawing by Barry Singer of Fishfanatic on Etsy

I find it interesting that the services and gadgets we have at our beck and call are supposed to make our lives ‘easier’. The truth is, life isn’t getting easier for anyone. We rely too much on services and gadgets to take care of our dirty deeds for us. This reliance is progressively stripping us of self-sufficiency and the convenience of service providers and techie gadgets mask that progression by providing us with a convenience.

It’s also impacting our ability to think critically. Our gadgets retrieve a lot of information for us at every whim, so it’s easy to see how even basic problem-solving skills fall to the wayside. Don’t believe me? Before cell phones came along, I could recall a multitude of phone numbers and addresses with no problem. I’ve been married nearly two years and I still don’t know my mother-in-law’s phone number without consulting my contact list.

Thankfully, we’re not doomed if we don’t choose to be. How? Learn to draw a fish.

No, really. Grab a some paper and a pencil, then find a picture of any fish. Goldfish crackers, a Moorish Idol, or Charlie the Tuna. Now draw the fish. Did your first attempt to draw the fish not go so well? Don’t put too much stock in it because you are learning. When it comes to drawing, I know it takes me many tries to do something as simple as the Goldfish cracker.

Fish from my own 75 gallon tank: Spaz the Yellow Tang and Fritz the Flame Angel

Now let’s try again, only this time break your fish down into basic shapes. You’ll probably notice that the fins are somewhat triangular, rounded, or flowing. Depending on your species of fish, it’s body could look like anything from an elongated and rounded triangle to a balloon to a big, flat disc. What about the fish’s scales? Some species are indeed scaleless! Are your fish’s markings streaky, spotty, or striped? Does your fish’s mouth smile or frown?

As an aquarium hobbyist of nearly two decades, I know that the variety of species in the fish world would give me a lifetime of drawing exercises. This is a good thing, though. Every new skill starts with a first attempt and is honed over time with practice. That skill is expanded when you tackle a new challenge with a trained eye. When I become comfortable with drawing one species, I expand my skill by learning to draw a different species. Doing this now forces me to advance my new skill set by examining a new set of problems with shapes, proportion, and markings.

As a crafter, I deal with shapes, proportions and markings all the time. Cards come in many sizes. When it comes to my word-shaped photo albums, no two are ever identical. My rubbers stamps – my ‘marking tools’ – opens a realm of different possibilities. Working with these concepts in a different medium keeps my skills sharp and also keeps me from getting stuck in a creative rut.

Walking down a different path for a little while helped me develop an accenting technique for cardmaking.

For example, I love the versatility of painting with acrylic on canvas. It was one of the first fine art forms I took up and it was love at first brush stroke. I love how different medium additives, such as a heavy paste, allow me to create dimensional accents that I normally couldn’t achieve with paint alone. If I thin my paint down, I make a nice glaze. The act of painting itself also opens many doors. I can stipple, soften sharp edges, use a dry brush, create heavy strokes and fine lines. Any combination of acrylic mediums and application techniques present me with endless learning possibilities!

So how would this apply to my main craft?

Stitch In Time Mixed Media Style Greeting Card by Simply Inviting Cards on Etsy

Let’s take a look at the above greeting card from my 2010 Valentine’s Day collection, specifically at the lower right corner. You see a heart with wings layered on a white area. That white is a thin swipe of acrylic paint on over a piece of vintage text. I allowed the paint to dry, then stamped the wings with black ink. The heart itself is painted and finished with a clear, cracked porcelain finish. If I had never tried my hand at acrylic, I probably never would have thought of this.

What’s your experience with engaging in an completely unrelated art or craft?

Tell me about your favorite craft, other creative areas you’ve explored, and how that experience has integrated into your creative process. Did it include working with a new material? Did you stumble upon a new technique? What insights about your own craft do you gain from engaging other creative outlets?