How did I get better at drawing?
One word: Practice.
It takes some time to learn a skill and to develop it. But after a while, you will see that it just get better and better! With consistent practice and dedication, anyone can improve.
I am still learning so much everyday, but for now, here are my tips to get better at drawing!
Start With The Basics
Before diving into complex drawings, it’s important to learn the fundamental principles of drawing, such as proportion, perspective, and shading. Indeed, these principles will form the foundation of your drawing skills and help you create more accurate and realistic drawings.
Furthermore, you will need to learn from your mistakes/weaknesses. Find out what are the things that need to be improved in your drawings, and learn how to work on them.
Surely, you can find a lot of free resources on internet, books or videos. Or you can also check my page fundamentals of art, where there are posts about perspective drawings, highlights and shadings. If you want, I also have a Youtube channel where I upload drawing process videos.
Study The Work Of Other Artists
Take time to study the work of other artists whose styles you admire. Analyze their techniques and try to adjust them in your own drawings. Do not copy them but learn from them. As a result, this can help you develop your own unique style and improve your overall drawing skills.
Along the way, seek feedback: It’s important to get feedback from others on your drawings to see where you can improve. Also, join online communities or take classes where you can receive critiques from other artists or instructors.
Experiment With Different Medium
Trying out different drawing materials, as this can help you discover new techniques and improve your skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you. Here are a few examples:
– Charcoal: is known for its ability to create rich, dark tones and dramatic effects. It can be used to create a range of styles, from detailed drawings to more expressive and gestural work.
– Pencils: is used for both detailed work and quick sketches. Different grades of pencils can be used to create a range of tones, from light and delicate to dark and bold.
– Markers: is used for creating bold, graphic drawings. They come in a variety of colors and they can be blended to create smooth gradients and are a great option for creating illustrations or comic book-style drawings.
– Digital drawing: is becoming increasingly popular, as it allows artists to create detailed, complex work using a different tools and techniques. By using a software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Procreate, we create digital paintings, illustrations, and animations (with benefits as easily undo mistakes, experiment with different colors and textures, and work on multiple layers).
Draw What You See, Not What You Know
Forget about what you know about the thing, and learn to observe and analyze, and just focus on what you can see (shapes, colors, size..). Observe everything around you. Draw something for what it is rather than what it looks like.
Let me explain with an example. How do you draw an egg on a white paper? We all have in mind a perfectly white egg right? But take an egg and look at it. You will see that it has a texture, highlights and shadings.
How do you draw the sea? Well, yes it is blue. But what else? While drawing, think about the light and dark spots of varying shape and size. You will see that it is not only blue, but also green, yellow and white with the sun rays and waves.
Practice Regularly
Like any skill, drawing requires regular practice to improve. It’s important to set aside time each day or week to practice drawing. Even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes a day, consistent practice is key to improving your skills. This will help you develop muscle memory and improve your drawing abilities over time. When practicing, focus on specific skills or techniques that you want to improve. For example, if you want to work on shading, practice creating a range of tones using different pencils or charcoal. If you want to improve your line work, practice drawing smooth, confident lines.
Before diving into a full drawing, start with warm-up exercises to get your hand and mind ready. This could be as simple as drawing circles or straight lines to practice your control and precision.
As you improve, challenge yourself with more complex drawings or new techniques. This will help you continue to grow and develop your skills.
Be Patient And Persistent
Improving your drawing skills takes time and effort. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Keep practicing and stay motivated to reach your goals.
Keep a sketchbook with you wherever you go: each time you are sitting either on the street or in a cafe, take you sketchbook and pens, and start drawing anything you see. I know that you will probably not like the way you drew in the beginning but believe me with time you will get so much better! You will be amazed at how quickly you will progress!
I hope this post was helpful! Overall, improving drawing skills requires a combination of practice, patience, and a willingness to learn and try new things. By following these tips and staying committed to your craft, you can improve your drawing skills and create artwork that you’re proud of.
These are the things that made me get better at drawing and painting. Let me know if there is anything else that is making you improve!
If you struggle to find out what to draw, you can check our ”5 easy drawing ideas” post. You can find my other art related posts here and check out my latest Instagram post!
How did I get better at drawing?
