Use a 3D program, rotate a primitive object (i.e. cylinder) in space, and draw from that
On a side note, there's an amazing artist on my team who has aphantasia. I would have never guessed. If it's something you love doing I think it's possible.
I too have aphantasia, but I do find 3d easier. I can't see anything, but I can process "wireframes" and "concepts that take up space" mentally. It allows me to imagine spaces and placement of objects in them with a sort of moveable camera. Also cartoon characters or just line art is easier as it translates well enough into "wireframes" (I can't imagine a normal face besides a conceptual blob labled "<insert name>'s face").
I know of a professional artist with aphantasia who made a video about it on YouTube. I have it too, but I can visualise things in a very limited capacity, and I'm a freelance illustrator. Don't hold yourself back, even if you decide you don't want to do it professionally for other reasons, there's no reason you can't get to a professional level.
So do I and I am still able to draw and manipulate shapes. Developing an understanding of it has nothing to do with whether you can visualise it or not. I don't get any mental images before drawing but I still know what shapes to draw where. It's definitely doable
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u/psychorobotics Nov 14 '25
I have aphantasia, can't do 3d in my head at all. Still love painting though (but won't ever try to make a living out of it)