The learning process gives us some appreciation for the unfathomable plasticity of our brains. Many of the skills we acquire throughout life are learned, rather than instinctual. For example, although I can’t draw, over the years I have learned how to make a convincing sketch. I understand that even this — admittedly unimpressive — ability is rare. As I age I am increasingly convinced that artistic talent is not instinctive, but a skill honed through practice. For those unfamiliar or uninterested in sketching, bear with me; I am not speaking about sketching per se, but the way we create.
A sketch generally highlights salient details, beginning with broad strokes that establish perspective, to which further detail is added and reworked where necessary. That is, a sketch is a creative process by which we form an impression of a subject by adding only the pertinent detail. Admittedly, some have the talent to add and refine detail until a sketch looks photorealistic, but this is merely an extrapolation of the process.
If instead we attempted to raster a perfect rendition in one pass, most people would fail. This is a natural consequence of our mind’s propensity to filter impertinent detail from our consciousness; when focussed on each segment of an image, the global proportions become skewed.
I understand that sketching, or art generally, is not interesting to everyone, but my point is more general: We see this pattern replicated across the gamut of creative activity. For instance, while freakishly great writers can hammer out a piece sequentially, most writers begin with an outline and gradually add detail, constantly revising, editing, and reordering as they go. I know I certainly did while writing my PhD thesis.
As engineers, we replicate the sketching method in all facets of the creative process (i.e., design); using block diagrams we abstract details into “black-box” components of a system-level design, and then repeat the process to establish and refine the details of each sub-component — e.g., we use modular code to break programs into manageable, hierarchical levels of abstraction; or design simplified prototypes of complex systems that are successively revised.
My point is that this top-down, sketch-like creative process can be learned, and that it is a powerful method of exploring, creating, and gaining skills beyond what seems possible before setting out. So next time you stand in wonderment at the capacity of others to create something incredible, don’t be jealous or disheartened, start sketching.