By Nathan Ngo
Art provides the eyes and mind with wonderful imaginations, yet the hand cannot replicate it. Sometimes, after students draw a picture, they might think negatively about their work; many students doubt themselves when it comes to art.
Is my drawing good enough? Why does it look so weird?
With such self-doubt, many students will most likely quit drawing because they can’t seem to get anything the right way they imagine or desire. However, there are many techniques that will improve your art. Hopefully, you will soon be able to admire your own art and acknowledge it.
- Perfect practice makes perfect. Most likely, everyone has heard the line “practice makes perfect” before. However, simply practicing normally without stepping up the way you practice will not change anything. Most people who plan to draw will take many weeks or years in order to master art. Unfortunately, they find themselves not being able to improve much. It all depends on the way you practice drawing. For example, say you want to improve your ability to draw circles. Instead of drawing multiple circles many times, try to draw the best circle you are capable of drawing and keep practicing. It is important to build muscle memory with perfect practice so that you may have perfect muscle memory.
- Determine the type of subjects you enjoy drawing. It is always important to try new things. Finding and drawing something you love is much better than drawing something you dislike. After finding the type of things you enjoy drawing, it will help tremendously when it comes to improving your art.
- Take your time. This is a very important tip to take note of. Taking your time can change everything. Slowly look over your drawing to see if there is anything you can change or improve upon. Furthermore, slowly taking your time to draw lines and color will look much better than if you rush your lines and colors. Enjoy the art piece you are drawing and immerse yourself in it.
- Trace. As long as you don’t take it or publish it as your own, don’t be afraid to trace another drawing. Tracing drawings is a good way to get a feel for how you may want to draw. Seeing how other artists draw is also beneficial for yourself by comparing and contrasting them with your own art style/techniques.
- Observe other art. This may not be as important as the other ones and some students may get discouraged by seeing art better than theirs. However, do not be discouraged by seeing “better” art. As an artist, always seek improvement in your art. Observing other art allows you to catch onto some of their techniques. You never know if you ever want to use those techniques in your own drawings.
- Find your art style. Now how do you find your own art style? It is quite simple. Every artist has their own style of drawing and coloring eyes, face, body, etc. and that is what an art style is. In order to find your art style, you must follow the steps above and observe other art pieces and see how the artists draw certain things. After doing so, you can use a little bit of their techniques and create your own art style. In order to practice your art style, start off by drawing something you want but without looking at a reference. Draw it your own way and soon you will find your art style.
- Be creative. No one draws art pieces exactly the same as another person simply because everyone has their own definition of art. Don’t follow other people’s expectations and rules of art, make your own for yourself.
Art allows you to be free and immerse yourself in your own world. Do not limit yourself to these tips. Explore, experiment and have fun drawing and improving. A positive mindset allows for a positive result. Aside from these tips, there may also be potential habits and problems you may have or run into.
- Doubt yourself because of other people’s art. There will be at least one person who says their art is bad but in reality, it is very good. Do not let yourself down because of this.
- Lack of daily practice. Perfect practice makes perfect but you must try to draw something everyday. You can easily lose your muscle memory if you are not practicing enough.
- Do not expect to master anything in a span of a month. Some students are skilled artists and some are not. Whoever you may be, do not expect to apply a technique to drawing and mastering it in a month. Many artists take years to master art and that is because they must take their time and not everything comes out right at first.
- Keep a positive attitude. Do not ever think negatively about your own drawing. Always put in your best effort and everything will come out well.
