Learning to Draw:: Seeing and the Three Kinds of Memory

SUMMARY
No book, including this one, can teach you how to draw. But, I think this book can teach you how to teach yourself how to draw.
The process of developing drawing skill is based upon the acquisition of three kinds of memory; building better memories of things (Mental Constructs), improving mark making skills (Muscle Memory), and Learning ways of making marks and improving visual presentation (Technique).
In my view, developing these three kinds of memory must be preceded by the ability to see things accurately as an artist sees them. Thus the books title and it’s main focus.
To simplify the matter, once you can “See” accurately, make lots of copies of good, existing drawings of all subjects.
This improves your knowledge of those subjects allowing you to build better Mental Constructs and if your copying included attempting to make marks like those in the drawing you are copying from then you are multitasking and developing Muscle Memory as well as Technique, all with each copy.
And remember, This Seeing I refer to encompasses: 1. not letting imperfect memories take over in the middle of a drawing; 2. using measuring to disprove your misconceptions and 3. establishing relationships before you work on details.
The 2D copying you do gives you “conventions” or possible approaches for handling 3D subjects. So, a Fourth element of Seeing is needed.
This is the ability to “See flat” which is really an acquired ability to look at a subject without focusing allowing you to establish the relationships needed to translate the subject to the 2D drawing surface. Remember, these “relationships” are already established when you make copies from existing 2D sources. And, finally, you have acquired knowledge of subjects, conventions and knowledge of image-enhancing techniques from your 2D copying, that enables you to cope with the 3D subjects you are tackling.