--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An individual's ability to draw is... the…" description: "\"An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing visual information - to shift from verbal, an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png" --- # An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift… ![“An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing visual information - to shift from verbal, analytic processing to spatial, global processing.” quote by Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png) > “An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing visual information - to shift from verbal, analytic processing to spatial, global processing.” [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Drawing ability involves shifting from verbal, analytic thinking to spatial, global visual processing. **In simple terms:** Shift to visual thinking. Key Takeaway Practice spatial perception exercises. Themes learning visual perception skill development Mood encouraging educational Type instructional psychological When to use this quote - education - art therapy - design work - problem solving Key Concepts right‑brain cognition neuroplasticity Questions to Reflect On - How can you train your brain for visual thinking? - What activities enhance spatial awareness? A Different Perspective Not everyone can easily transition to spatial processing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-draw-1378120/) [Ability Shift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-shift-4671132/) [Analytics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analytics/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw/) [Draw Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw-ability-4671131/) [Drawing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawing/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individual Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-ability-778398/) [Information](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/information/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Processing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/processing/) [Spatial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spatial/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It is the individual's ability to deal with the unexpected that characterizes the difference between success and failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-perot/it-is-the-individual-s-ability-to-deal-with-the-unexpected-that/) [Ross Perot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-perot/) > [I was probably born with the ability to draw, but that does not make you an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-rosenquist/i-was-probably-born-with-the-ability-to-draw-but-that-does-not-make/) [James Rosenquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-rosenquist/) > [“Having The courage To Find Your Individual Ability To Cope, and Challenge Society.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-zackson-koury/having-the-courage-to-find-your-individual-ability-to-cope-and/) [Bonnie Zackson Koury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-zackson-koury/) > [The ability to draw from life determines the artist's skill. 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If you were to set up a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/to-salvage-a-society-it-is-necessary-to-aid-abet-raise-and-increase/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [I think the artist has an ability to draw pictures for people to where they can process these messages that otherwise they wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-think-the-artist-has-an-ability-to-draw-pictures-for-people-to/) [LeCrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [“the volume and complexity of what we know has exceeded our individual ability to deliver its benefits correctly, safely, or reliably.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atul-gawande/the-volume-and-complexity-of-what-we-know-has-exceeded-our-individual/) [Atul Gawande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atul-gawande/) > [During my eighty-seven years I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-baruch/during-my-eighty-seven-years-i-have-witnessed-a-whole-succession-of/) [Bernard Baruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-baruch/) > [...(I)ndividual selfhood is expressed in the self's capacity for self-transcendence and not in its rational capacity for conceptual and analytic procedures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-niebuhr/i-ndividual-selfhood-is-expressed-in-the-self-s-capacity-for-self/) [Reinhold Niebuhr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-niebuhr/) > [“You can keep the Office of Personnel Management records, I don't need Electronic Health Records, give me the metadata, big data analytics and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-senior-fellow-institute-for-critical-infrastructure-technology/you-can-keep-the-office-of-personnel-management-records-i-don-t-need/) [James Scott, Senior Fellow, Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-senior-fellow-institute-for-critical-infrastructure-technology/) > [The female mind is capable of understanding analytic geometry... The difficulty may just be that we have never yet discovered a way to communicate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-female-mind-is-capable-of-understanding-analytic-geometry-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my view, we ought to replace the notion of analytic philosophy by that of synthetic philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/in-my-view-we-ought-to-replace-the-notion-of-analytic-philosophy-by/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [Every NBA arena has six cameras in the ceiling. The question is what does the software do with video feeds? How to surface that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-ballmer/every-nba-arena-has-six-cameras-in-the-ceiling-the-question-is-what/) [Steve Ballmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-ballmer/) ## More by Betty Edwards > [In early childhood, children develop a set of symbols that 'stand for' things they see in the world around them... Children are happy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/in-early-childhood-children-develop-a-set-of-symbols-that-stand-for/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [Be clear in your mind why learning to draw well is important. Drawing enables you to see in that special, epiphanous way that artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/be-clear-in-your-mind-why-learning-to-draw-well-is-important-drawing/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [As a teacher and parent, I've had a very personal interest in seeking new ways of teaching. Like most other teachers and parents, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/as-a-teacher-and-parent-i-ve-had-a-very-personal-interest-in-seeking/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [Art has this long history, predating even language, of expressing nonverbal information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/art-has-this-long-history-predating-even-language-of-expressing/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [“Over the last forty years, many educators, decision-makers, and even some parents have come to regard the arts as peripheral, and let’s face it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/over-the-last-forty-years-many-educators-decision-makers-and-even/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [As parents, we can do a great deal to further this goal by helping our children develop alternative ways of knowing the world verbally/analytically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/as-parents-we-can-do-a-great-deal-to-further-this-goal-by-helping-our/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [As each new skill is learned, you will merge it with those previously learned until, one day, you are simply drawing - just as,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/as-each-new-skill-is-learned-you-will-merge-it-with-those-previously/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [Creativity is the ability to find new solutions to a problem or new modes of expression; thus it brings into existence something new to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/creativity-is-the-ability-to-find-new-solutions-to-a-problem-or-new/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [“Paper: Some inexpensive plain bond paper A pad of Strathmore Drawing Paper, 80 lb., 11" × 14" Pencils: A #2 ordinary yellow writing pencil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/paper-some-inexpensive-plain-bond-paper-a-pad-of-strathmore-drawing/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [Clearly the work of a master teacher who has deep knowledge of his subject and enormous empathy for his students and his readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/clearly-the-work-of-a-master-teacher-who-has-deep-knowledge-of-his/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) [Explore all 11 Betty Edwards quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing visual information - to shift from verbal, analytic processing to spatial, global processing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Betty Edwards" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-ability-to-shift-to-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-ability-to-shift-to-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a50/betty-edwards-38897_ability_an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-a_564227.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“An individual's ability to draw is... the ability to shift to a different-from-ordinary way of processing…” — Betty Edwards", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Betty Edwards", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "An individual's ability to draw is......", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-ability-to-shift-to-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/an-individual-s-ability-to-draw-is-the-ability-to-shift-to-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```