Betty Edwards

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Dr. Betty Edwards taught and did research at the California State University, Long Beach until she retired in the late '90s. While there, she founded the Center for the Educational Applications of Brain Hemisphere Research. Her work has been widely cited in scholarly journals.

She is also an art instructor whose classic work Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (originally published in 1979) has greatly influenced the teaching of drawing.

Edwards uses the findings of modern brain research as an organizing principle for her system, and is especially guided by "split-brain" research which suggests that the two hemispheres of the brain have different functions. She proposes exercises to bring out the creative abilities of the right side of the brain, as opposed to the analytic and logical abilities of the left brain.

Although some consider her underlying theory to have elements of pseudoscience, the actual exercises and learning techniques of her system are highly effective in teaching the basic principles of realist drawing, even to people who have previously exhibited no drawing ability, and have been widely adopted and imitated. Although the exercises themselves are based on classic systems of drawing instruction, she presented them in a simple and logical manner that made them especially easy to learn.

1 References
2 Bibliography
3 See Also
4 External links

[edit] References

Scholarly Citations of her publications at scholar.google.com

[edit] Bibliography

The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (Tarcher, revised & expanded edition, August 30, 1999) ISBN 0874774241
Color by Betty Edwards: A Course in Mastering the Art of Mixing Colors (Tarcher, September 23, 2004) ISBN 1585422193
Drawing on the Artist Within (Fireside edition,April 6, 1987) ISBN 067163514X
The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Workbook (Souvenir Press Ltd, April 30, 2003) ISBN 1585421952
Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain; Seven Lessons to Enhance Creativity and Artistic Self-Confidence Instructional video tape (Bay Area Video Coalition, VHS Release Date: September 1, 1999) ASIN 0000BV0U2