'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' is a popular drawing guide by Dr. Betty Edwards. It shows that drawing is a skill anyone can learn by accessing the right side of the brain, which focuses on visual perception rather than analytical thinking.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What’s drawing on the right side of the brain?
'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' is a famous drawing book by Dr. Betty Edwards. She’s a former art professor at California State University. Since it first came out in 1979, the book has sold over 4 million copies. Edwards argues that drawing isn't just a talent—you can learn it. She teaches you to tap into the visual part of your brain, which helps you draw realistically.
The five basic skills
Edwards’ approach focuses on five key skills that help you draw anything. These skills are:
- Perception of edges: Drawing the outlines and contours.
- Perception of spaces: Recognizing and drawing negative spaces around objects.
- Perception of relationships: Understanding proportions and perspective.
- Perception of light and shadows: Adding dimension with values.
- Perception of the whole: Seeing how all parts fit together in a composition.
Students learn to switch from the analytical left brain— which wants to label everything—to the visual right brain that really sees.
Who can use this method?
Kids as young as 7 can start with guidance, but Edwards recommends it for ages 10 and up when their brains are more developed. The main book is for adults, serving as a teaching guide. The workbook has 40 exercises with space to practice. You’ll need basic supplies like #2B and #4B pencils, erasers, heavy drawing paper, a clear plastic picture plane, and viewfinders from black cardboard. Many families use this as a full-year art curriculum, doing one or two exercises each week.
Why choose this for homeschooling?
Many homeschool families love this method for good reasons:
- It’s self-contained—no need for an art-trained parent to teach.
- It builds skills in a structured way while allowing for flexibility.
- Students develop real drawing ability instead of just copying projects.
- Most importantly, it boosts confidence. Many kids who thought they weren’t artistic find they can create realistic drawings after doing the exercises.
The book covers various media like pencil, charcoal, ink, and Conté crayon, tackling everything from still lifes to portraits.
The bottom line
If you're looking for solid art instruction for your homeschool, 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' is a great choice. This method teaches students to see like artists, which directly improves their drawing skills. It does require more maturity than simple craft projects, but the benefits in artistic growth are worth it. Grab the main book, get the workbook, and collect some basic materials. You’ll have a thorough art curriculum that can change how your child sees and represents the world.
