I visualise something called mental rotation everytime I draw, in order to learn how to draw from imagination and memory, instead of having to follow a reference every time I want to draw something.
Wikipedia explains it like this:
Mental rotation is the ability to rotate mental representations of two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects as it is related to the visual representation of such rotation within the human mind. There is a relationship between areas of the brain associated with perception and mental rotation. There could also be a relationship between the cognitive rate of spatial processing, general intelligence and mental rotation.
Mental rotation can be described as the brain moving objects in order to help understand what they are and where they belong. Mental rotation has been studied to try to figure out how the mind recognizes objects in their environment. Researchers generally call such objects stimuli. Mental rotation is one cognitive function for the person to figure out what the altered object is.
Mental rotation can be separated into the following cognitive stages:
- Create a mental image of an object from all directions (imagining where it continues straight vs. turns).
- Rotate the object mentally until a comparison can be made (orientating the stimulus to other figure).
- Make the comparison.
- Decide if the objects are the same or not.
- Report the decision.
In my own words, I study a form paying attention to the whole form, not just what is visible, and if I can't visualise it, I study the form from different perspectives. Until I get a somewhat solid form I can rotate, like a 3D model in a game engine, I continue to practicing the form by trying to draw it from only memory, and if I can't recreate the form like I want I can use a reference for the parts of the form that my mind can not yet visualise to mentally rotate.
I never actually learned this from studying cognitive psychology. It was something that came naturally with time. I do however believe it can bring an artist much comfort to learn about mental rotating.
I have to add that I've met artists that can't mentally rotate forms in their heads and have to use computer programs to study 3D models. I believe everyone can improve their ability to mentally rotate forms, although to different extents, and I also believe solely relying on references to draw can never bring out your own personality and imagination. Although, it depends on what and how you want to draw, of course, but I believe learning about mental rotation of objects can help any artist, no matter their style.
