I’m #1-#2.
Here is some old apples I drew for a web game when I was a teenager.
But I honestly think my ability to visualize them is not innate, but comes from having practiced them in the past, like right now I can visualize an apple in a million different ways because I’ve drawn SO many apples, so many ways, for so many things.
It’s why we study life drawing, and get reference photos. And why more experienced artists tend to need less reference photos. ️
I might think I am very familiar with cuscuses because I spent hours looking at photos of them (they are so cute) but then as soon as I try to draw one I have to ask myself questions like… are the eyes round? Or angled? Are the pupils slitted like cats? Are the ears pointed? Are they thick and fluffy like a Lion? Or are they small are thin like a squirrel? Is the tail long and thick? I know it’s curly… I know there were spots, but what type of pattern? Is it restricted to the back?
Even lighting works that way. The more you study lighting the better you are able to visualize it after 3 college level drawing classes and 3 life drawing classes and a whole class centered around color, I became better able to to visualize color, light, and shadow ️ it’s why they do drawing spheres and cubes under lights, studying how the shadows hit, and how the objects cast shadows. It’s not about capturing a perfect drawing of a cube, but learning how the light impacts a simple shape first, and taking the time to study it before moving on to more complex shapes.
You might be stuck with what you got.
But you might also be able to train your brain to new tricks it’s worth trying and it’s something you can do at home for free. Just grab some simple shape objects, aim a light at them, and study how it’s hitting them. study how the colors interact with each other. How the shadows get cast. Etc.
️ Btw even if you are stuck with what you got, how awesome are you for being able to art anyway?