Ten tips on how to start drawing and never stop.

I believe that anyone can draw, play musical instruments, write poems, etc. No one is born with the ability to draw. Everyone starts with something and how fast a person develops in a certain direction depends on many character traits and circumstances.

Some grow fast, others get stuck somewhere or move very slowly and may think that they have no talent and therefore give up.

I have collected a few tips to help you move forward, develop your skills and motivate yourself every day.

Love is the essence of everything. Love what you do, and you will develop a talent for it.
To love means to enjoy what you do without expecting a concrete result. And if there are no expectations, there is no disappointment. There is no disappointment that something did not work, there is only the pleasure and the desire to repeat it.
Draw what you love. Especially in the beginning it is important to keep motivation. The desire to draw does not come about for no reason. We always want to draw something. Draw what you want. Do not start with the basics of perspective if you want to draw flowers. Of course you will come to this topic, but all in good time.
Choose simple plots. I already said that the result is not so important. But it's very nice to see your progress, isn't it? If you choose simple plots, your skills will grow from simple to complex. You will always notice the progress and want to make the tasks more difficult and thus enjoy your achievements. It is good if you want to draw flowers, but first it is better to draw a lavender branch, and then move on to complex bouquets of roses and lilies.
Understand what you're drawing. Sometimes, when you draw from a photo, you don't quite understand how it works from a flat image. Buy a rose, break it down in the picture, watch how the petals twist and look how the bud is attached to the stem. This will help you a lot.
Draw as often as possible. If you diligently follow top 4 points, it is easy to find the time to draw. Simple plots don't take a lot of time, and the love for the process will motivate you to find the time. Always carry a sketchbook with you. Use your free time to practice your skills. Make it a habit to draw at the morning coffee or on the train.
Develop the ability to see. I had times when I didn't a chance to draw for weeks. But even then I was able to learn something. Observe the world around you: how the clouds are colored at sunset, what interesting face features a stranger has on the train, how interesting the light is reflected in the water, etc. Observe the world around you: how the clouds are colored at sunset, what interesting face features has a stranger on the train, how interesting the light is reflected in the water, etc. Observe the world, write down your discoveries, because it is beautiful and interesting.
Repeat after the masters. While you are still at the beginning of your journey and have not found your style, there is nothing wrong with learning from others. Pick a piece of work that impresses you. Analyze it, every stroke, every interesting color combination. Try to understand which layer was created first, which one second. Then try to copy it. This is a very effective exercise.
Share your work.I wrote above that the result is not important, but I know myself how adults think. They are like children that draw with ease and proudly show us a flying crocodile. It is not so easy for adults to share their work.
Four years ago I painted my first landscape with watercolor and shared it on Instagram. It was very nice to read the comments about how good it was. No matter what they say, we always appreciate good words. Now I look at this work and understand how much my friends must love me because they praised this work so much.
Don't be afraid to be criticized. We are surrounded by different people with different experiences, tastes and approach to art. If you listen to everyone and take seriously every negative word about your art, you will quickly lose all your drive. Instead, choose one or two people in whose knowledge you believe and know that this person sincerely wants to help you and will always tell you the truth without hurting your feelings.
Don't compare yourself to someone who draws better than you. You can admire and learn, but you cannot compete with others. Every time you draw something new, compare it to your previous drawing. Compete with yourself every time. It's the only way to keep developing and progressing.

Author: Rabi Alieva