There is hope for you if you want to learn how to draw.
I want to take you, on the same artventure as I am.
I’m saying drawing but I’m focused on digital drawing however the concept is the same for traditional as well. And the fact is, I’m still learning. I’m not an expert, by all means, I’m just peeking around the corner, so want to learn how to draw with me?
I hope this will give you the right feeling; that is; if this schmuck (me) could do it then so can I (you).
I doodled when I was younger, mostly recreated what someone else had drawn. It looked similar but just not as good as the original, I’ll get to the why in a bit. Also, I couldn’t (and can’t) create something by myself (yet). You’re probably like what am I doing here if he can’t even draw, you’re absolutely right. But before you run off, let me show you some of my work of my first year.
Okay, you are still here, which means I got you interested. And I’m being honest saying I still can’t draw/paint, whatever you think about it, I find I can reproduce quite well. But that’s not what I want to do.
I’m hoping that you can see I just started and am able to produce something, I want people to see who always wanted to learn to draw ,that it is possible if they invest time. Just tag along with me and we will grow together.
Where to start?
I learned to do what you see above in around 220 hours. Seems a lot? It isn’t, I did it in 9 months. 220 / 9 = 24 hours per month — give or take. That’s less than an hour every day, or 3 weekends 1 day 8 hours, although I advise against that, more on that later.
You need to start simple and don’t think you can create the most elaborate art piece the world has ever seen. But for us the next thing we create often is our best piece and should be marveled as such, don’t compare yourself against those amazing artists, they have had years of practice.
My next step is to learn the dynamic form, poses, and anatomy. What have I been doing? I have been drawing advanced looking stick figures in all kinds of poses for over 20 hours and I’m not done yet.
Think about why you want to draw, think about what you want to draw. That will help you start planning out what you need to learn but first the basics.
Basics? I just want to be able to draw, not learn how to draw.
You have been drawing your entire life. Well, at least I think you have? Can you write your name? Yes? Then you have been drawing but you don’t see it that way.
A drawing consists of Lines, Tone, Form & Proportion, and Perspective. You can place the following in this bucket as well; texture and color. Grasp all of this and you can create A-NY-THING! After of course teaching your brain what to tell your hand how to move…
Remember when I said, that I’m good at replicating? But that it didn’t look as good as the original? That’s because I need to work on my basics. Understanding something to the core and then also learn to apply this. That is something that takes many many hours per element you are trying to learn.
There are so many paid and free tutorials that will get you started. And the basics are grueling and boring as hell, but a necessity if you want to learn how to draw like the artists you admire so much. Start somewhere and just go at it every day for maybe an hour, which brings us to the next bit.
How to keep us at it?
Every start is boring and difficult but that’s with every new skill. Unless you’re learning how to skydive by just jumping out of a plane, then it’s a little bit more exciting.
Like I said earlier, I wouldn’t go all-in for 8 hours a day just on the weekends. You need to create a habit. So what is a habit? While researching it, I found on Merriam Webster dictionary:
“A behavior pattern acquired by frequent repetition or physiologic exposure that shows itself in regularity or increased facility of performance.”
From the definition above we can say that a habit is something that we do that can be grown in automation by repeating it often. On top of that, we can use growing a habit to practice the ‘thing’ we are repeating, for us — drawing.
According to the research of Phillippa Lally, Who? Phillippa Lally, you know the often quoted misguided rule of, you need 21 days to form a habit? It actually varies from person to person to form a habit. It’s from 18 to 254 days. The study also mentions it doesn’t really matter if you miss a day in between.
Okay so now what? I have another article link below getting you started. Here is the outline, create a plan, block something in your calendar. Say every day after cleaning up the dishes, during my commute, or after putting the kids to bed I’ll spend an hour following these tutorials or lessons. There will be days you don’t feel like it, but let’s say you’re at least just going to get a piece of paper, an eraser, and a pencil. By the time you do that, you are probably already more inclined to draw something.
Talent — schmalent, you need to learn how to draw
But dude your super talented, and I have zero talent. The thing is some people have ‘talent’ and some don’t, but that only means that some will pick up certain topics faster than others. Nothing else. You can get there with a little bit more effort. For a good explanation of this thought, you can go read this. In short, you need to invest a lot of time and tackle it smart, not trying to learn everything all over the place. Like landscapes, portraits, characters, props, comics. You will divide your precious time and progress will be very very slow, trust me I fell for that trap a couple of times…
The problem that ‘talented’ people will have is that they will reach their ceiling faster and will have more difficulty passing it. While most of us will have these ups and downs constantly, so we will see it as normal progress of our growth. You can literally see your skill grow each month.
I did it, so can you!
What are you waiting for, learn how to draw? Just start — google, find free tutorials, or paid options both offer similar approaches.
The core — keep at it and add small new chapters to your skill. Every time you create something you expand the library of your drawing knowledge and in a couple of years you are creating the elaborate masterpieces you dreamed off. Nobody rolled out of their crib, grabbed a crayon, and drew a Mona Lisa…
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Want to know what I am up to? Give me a follow on Instagram ArmoredPencil.
Better yet send me a message and an art piece you did and I’ll give you some advice on what to improve if any… because you are probably better than me in no time if you aren’t already!
Want me to help you start? Then these articles might be for you.
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