How to develop the right side of your brain

Artists have long known that it is the right side of the brain that enables them to produce great pictures. Just as sculpture is a process of chipping away the surplus stone to reveal the shapes within, so drawing can be understood as the process of delineating the boundaries of the space.

Most adults do not draw well, so the suggestion that the easiest way to 'switch on' the right side of the brain is to learn to draw is often met with derision. It is nonetheless true.

Try this simple exercise. Firstly print this picture .

Now, using a pencil, try copying it onto a clean sheet.
How did you do?

Now is the time to engage the right side of your brain.

Turn the print upside down and try again. Better?

Why did it work?

Turning the picture upside down set the left side of the brain a puzzle that it couldn't handle logically - it didn't look like a recognisable face with eyes, nose, ears etc in 'known' places. As a result you switched it off and allowed the right side to guide your seeing.

The right side asked 'What is that shape?' and 'Where does the line go?' etc. Rather than 'That is an index finger, so it must look like the index finger image in my mental catalogue'.

With practice you will find it possible to switch on the right brain at work.

When faced with a problem ask questions such as:

'What are we aiming for here?'

'What does it look like?'

'What would a good solution sound like?'

'Why do I feel angry about that?'