How Drawing Can Demonstrate Giftedness?
Evelyne's 'Horse in a T-Shirt' |
Ten Things Drawing Can Teach us About Giftedness
Evelyne's drawing and some of the other drawings shared in this post can help us to identify giftedness. What might drawings help us to see?
1. They can show the ability to take a simple task and use it in a novel way, or for different purposes. Evie's drawing shows a preparedness to think outside the box.
2. They also help us to see if a child is able to see the unusual, think in novel ways, and observe possibilities that others don't. The camel drawing below shows this (note its shadow on the ground).
Sketch of 'A Camel & Its Reflection' (Lydia aged 3yrs) |
3. It can also demonstrate the willingness of the child to experiment and take risks. These characteristics are evident in many gifted people, e.g. entrepreneurs need these qualities.
4. At the most fundamental level, they can demonstrate the ability to create something original. Not simply a drawing like all other drawings by children of the same age, but something different. For example, ask 6 years-olds to draw a house and you will usually see a hipped roof with chimney, two windows and a central single door.
Above: Child drawing of house (courtesy of 'Childhood Architecture') |
5. Drawings can also demonstrate the ability to think abstractly, metaphorically and insightfully, as the child uses drawing to explore thoughts and ideas. Evie's drawing of the T-Shirt wearing horse shows this.
6. As well, drawings can show that a child can generate many solutions and possibilities for the simplest and banal tasks.
7. They can also demonstrate a preparedness to question assumed knowledge or ways of doing things.
Here a 6 yr old positions the pterodactyl above its prey |
9. Drawing can also show a depth of knowledge about a topic that is often required to create a special image. For example, awareness of the anatomical make-up of an animal, or the details of mechanical device can be seen in images that the child generates. AS well use of shading to show multiple dimensions, clever use of light and shade and so on, show knowledge of image and design.
10. Finally, drawing can also show how the child's mind leads them to see different things and pay attention to the novel and unusual that is reflected in their drawings. The drawing below by a four year-old shows an image he drew after an outing to an aquarium viewed from the perspective of the fish. How did it see his granddad looking through the glass?
Jacob (4 years) draws Grandad from the unusual vantage point of the fish inside the aquarium looking out |
Summing Up
Imagination & creativity starts early |