When I was very young (8 or 9) I did a drawing of my dad and it was spot on (according to other people), but I never did follow it up.

I have no talent for art. Then again, I was discouraged by art teachers from a very early age due to my severe colour blindness.

Peter Cat, get on and express yourself, never mind those people who think they are important. I did.

Thanks, Cologne. I reckon I express myself in different ways, come to think of it. I use my talent for words and thought, rather than something visual.

I have been struck by the fact that many people have commented how how they were helped or hindered by teachers.
Friends and acquaintances have said how they were positively discouraged by some teachers, and positively  encouraged by others.
The majority of people I have met who have gone on to pursue an interest have confirmed how much their interest was helped by inspirational teachers. Some people pursued an interest as a hobby and some as a career. But the common theme seems to be that encouragement and inspiration at an early age opened things up, rather than closed the door.
One doesn't have to go on to be world-famous genius. But anyone who enjoys and gets pleasure from an artistic activity has something of great value.

On reflection perhaps the word "draw" in the thread title is rather narrow.
It already seems that many artistic endeavours have common ground - music, art, drama, writing etc  may all have to withstand teachers who do not encourage.
Whereas a teacher in any of these fields, with a few encouraging words, can help a person follow an interest which can give enormous pleasure throughout life.
Sorry I'm talking too much   **shut up brisket**

Brisket, don't go by reflection.  I love your posts and others will feel the same.

peter cat, I can't quote, but I stand corrected. Sorry.

Oh, I wasn't correcting you, honestly. I was actually thinking about it as I typed and just realised that that's how I express myself

Indeed.

I followed an art and design course some years ago and discovered that I don't have much talent but  had fun having a go.... I promised myself I would keep sketching to improve but I never did...

I can copy - years ago when I did the PTA and church bazaar thing ( yes really!) I used to make the posters for the various stalls, I just used to copy characters - for example superted, I find that quite easy. I also have made character birthday cakes just by copying a cartoon pic and translating it on to the cake.
My Dad had a talent for sketching - he did me a lovely sketch of a cat and my daughters sketches as well.

I'm not good at drawing or painting but my middle son is excellent at both, and my eldest son is great at cartoon drawing. My DiL is also very artistic and good at other crafts like card making. My youngest son expressed his artistic flair through drama - he was very good but doesn't do it any more.
I used to do a bit of calligraphy and I was quite good at that - does that count?

Yes Im dead artistic. I dont draw anymore but I can. I did my art a level (higher in scotland) then went on to art school for two years, all we did was draw oh and make giant spiders out of twigs   then I ended up specialising in fashion. Now my artistic abilities mostly stretch to making rude drawings in paint

I always did well in art classes I did get a lot of coaching from my teacher 

I can't draw for toffee.  I like playing around with images on paint.net which is creative in it's own way but I couldn't draw anything from scratch. I suppose my most creative activity is dressmaking - I'm pretty creative there and I like doing stuff like designing my own embellishments with beads, sequins embroidery etc

i like to paint... got an A level in art so i guess i am ok....

I can't and my husband can't but both our son's are brilliant at it.

I can design gardens, something I fancy as a career when finished my education. Will be doing a degree in Hort next year for it.

I used to always say I was terrible at drawing (and I am) but I've since learned that you either have a natural talent for something, or you can be taught. 

Like you Brisket, I could only draw matchstick men, but once I'm shown a way of drawing something, i can actually do quite okay.  The reason I say this is because I've recently starting watching Squiggle It with Finn on Ceebeebies and it shows you how to draw all sorts of animals....I can now do a whole zoo if you asked me to

I have two aunts who were Art teachers and a sister who is a primary school teacher, but majored in Art. My mother, two of my uncles and two of my brothers paint. My nephew and niece are both studying Art at University.

I used to draw, a lot, but stuffed anything up if I tried painting.
I used to love doing caricatures, mostly of family, or teachers.

I was crap at school...   thought of myself as not artistic.    I have since discovered I'm not bad.  I can definitely copy...  and am good at manipulating graphics on a pooter... & then copying the end image by hand onto canvass.   I even have one of my paintings on the wall of my lounge.  

I have come to the conclusion that the crap materials provided at school don't help inspire you.

*confession*  I did my daughters  Year 8 & Year 9 art projects for her (I will justify this with - we knew she wasn't going to select art as a GCSE option...   with the demands on her time, art was not a priority... though the art teacher failed to see this).    Anyway..  she (I) got an A for every project!    (so ner ne ne ner ner to Mrs Glover...  MY art teacher who said I had no natural creativity...    maybe being made to do the same picture as everyone else -  pencil sketching a crumpled coke can and a pair of trainers was the reason for my lack of inspiration!)

I'm not that good, but not that bad either. I do calligraphy when I can be bothered, but haven't painted anything for years

 I went to art school as well !

My sister is brilliant but it didn't extend down the gene pool to me. I can't even get matchstick men right I know it's something that can be 'taught', but I do think some people are just born with that talent.

I can do graffiti (tags/sprays) but I could never do faces.

I would love to be able to draw or paint..... and  keep saying I will try and learn now I am retired..... but life keeps getting in the way Both my kids are fantastic at art...in fact my son makes his living through graphic design..... goodness knows where they got it from....

I'm a creative person and in my head I can develop fantastic concepts but I can never translate what's in my head onto paper 

My Mum is 83, and started an art course at her local adult education centre two years ago, where they discovered that she is incredibly talented.  Some of her work has been included  in exhibitions, and her pictures are gorgeous.  We all sniggered when she first told us about her new hobby, but were shocked when we saw just how good her pictures are.  But I do think it's a great shame that she has found her vocation so late in life!

From hereonin you are my new best friend.
My Dad was a master landscape gardener for over 50 years. He was a member of the RHS and had the exams that the RHS used to set. He created and designed gardens all over the place and loved doing it. 

What a great career - creating something that makes a difference and makes people happy.I take my hat off to you.

Sounds great. I wish you the best of luck with it.

Issy I thought you said from heroin you are my new best friend   *wipes glasses* 

I can copy anything ....... but if I draw from imagination it all falls apart

I used to draw a lot as a teenager....I used to do portraits of my family from photographs. I have one of my son when he was two years old on my bedroom wall.  Haven't done anything like that for years now though.....as you get older it seems to get shoved down the list of priorites.

I can do that as well Ducky...I can draw someone froma  photograph but not if they are sitting in front of me....

Same here!

Wonder what that means for the way our brains function?

I think it means i can;t concentrate for long and with a pictuire you can pick it up later if you want

Yeah maybe that's it Or maybe the people we know are just wriggly arsed little buggers.