I love Graham Shaw — he’s pure inspiration.
He turns doubters into artists with a single line.
Watch him as he joyfully proves that everyone has untapped potential.
39 million+ people have watched this video.
Watch “Why People Believe They Can’t Draw”
Ratings:
- My Rating: 91/100
- IMDB Rating: na
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na
A Summary/Review Of Graham Shaw and “Why People Believe They Can’t Draw”
About Graham
Graham, an international conference presenter and trainer, specializes in advanced communication skills.
He helps thousands of people develop professional skills for convincing presentations.
Known for conveying business ideas with quick sketches, Graham amazes audiences by discovering their hidden drawing talent.
He is the author of the popular “The Art of Business Communication,” shortlisted for the UK’s Chartered Management Institute’s Management Book of the Year Awards 2016.
He also wrote the 2019 book “The Speaker’s Coach: 60 secrets to make your talk, speech or presentation amazing!”
The above video in this article is his talk at TEDx Hull in 2015 (“Why people believe they can’t draw –and how to prove they can,”).
Sidenote on Hull: Hull is a port city in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. Hull is famous for being spark of the English Civil War, the birthplace of William Wilberforce’s fight against slavery, Amy Johnson’s soaring spirit, and Mick Ronson’s electrifying rock. Iconic cream phone boxes line the streets of Hull, and Europe’s most epic travelling fair rolls into town.
Graham also spoke at TEDX Vienna on “How to draw to remember more” and coaches TEDx speakers.
That video is darn good as well:
Graham used to be manager in Corporate Training at British Airways.
He has now helped such clients as:
- Air Products
- BP
- Sky
- BBC
- B&Q
- British Airways
- British Gas
- CBRE
- Chelsea FC
- GSK
- Henley
- HSBC
- Oracle
- PWC
- Siemens
- Specsavers
- Tesco
- Home Office
- Samaritans
A Summary of User Comments
I asked A.I. to summarize the top user comments in this video (there are 25,000+ of them!).
Here are some key themes users most responded to:
Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Creativity
Users frequently mention the importance of overcoming self-doubt and embracing creativity, often expressing how the video inspired them to believe in their own abilities.
Quotes:
@elitehaxxor8025: “The worst thing you can ever do is say that you can’t do something… Always believe in yourself and give it a go, what’s the worst that can happen?”
@S1lentIntensity: “It’s all about breaking things down into smaller parts, and analyzing them… Seek clarity and understanding in things that you wish to, and for God’s sake, do not forget how much potential you have.”
Inspirational and Encouraging Content
Many users found the content of the video highly inspirational, encouraging them to try drawing or other creative endeavors they had previously believed were beyond their reach.
Quotes:
@kasiehill7937: “How uplifting. I’m a retired public school art teacher and I adored this… My heart was so moved by the stroke sufferers’ delight.”
@marif2993: “This video is so pure. I bet all the adults there giggling are remembering what it felt like to draw when they were children. This gives me hope in humanity honestly.”
Positive Impact on Personal Growth and Creativity
Comments reveal that the video had a significant positive impact on personal growth and rekindling an interest in creativity.
Quotes:
@DeadlyLazer: “As an aspiring artist who’s been drawing for over a year, getting frustrated, seemingly getting nowhere, seeing this really reminded me about the joy of drawing.”
@BigCMiner: “This is one of the few times that I can legitimately say that ‘this video really did change my life.'”
Appreciation for Graham’s Approach and Personality
Users express admiration for the teacher’s approach, kindness, and ability to make learning enjoyable and accessible.
Quotes:
@eskimberly7424: “This guy is so delightful. Kind and patient and convinced that all his students can succeed. He has made me feel so joyful this morning.”
@salvadorontiveros219: “This dude is super inspirational tbh. Not even about drawing really. But that you can do anything you put your mind to but if you think you can’t then of course you won’t be able to.”
Realization and Acknowledgement of Artistic Potential
Several comments focus on the realization and acknowledgment that drawing and artistic skills can be developed with practice, emphasizing that talent is not innate but cultivated.
Quotes:
@francis7336: “Art is a skill too and I find it astonishing how many people don’t realise it’s something you can practice… You could do that too and be one of them.”
@williehornung: “What I like about this is that the point of drawing these characters isn’t to make something perfect or realistic, but just to make something… So wholesome.”
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly
Chief Maniac, Daily Doc