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@h-Jones I’m a little late to this discussion, but I thought I’d jump in (sorry if any of this is repeated advice). But first I’d like to applaud @the-fledgling-artist for absolutely fantastic advice. 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

As for art videos or art books, they can be very beneficial, though I don’t believe they’re 100% necessary. I’ve actually never taken a single art lesson or watched an art video. 😅 I thought my lack of training in the field would hinder my calling. Some of my friends attended art lessons regularly and won art contests. I wondered, Could I ever be as talented as them? How would I learn certain techniques? What if my artwork never improved?

Looking back on that now, I’m glad I never enrolled in art lessons. I didn’t realize all the benefits of self-teaching until the last few years. Self-teaching infused my art with originality, enabling me to develop a style that’s distinctly my own. Here are the main things that have helped me:

1. Observing

The best way to learn art is by studying the great Artist Himself. Each day He paints a new picture in the skies; some days it’s a brilliant blue, other days it’s a dreary gray, and sometimes it’s a threatening black. Do you see a breathtaking landscape? Let that scene burst forth from your heart onto a canvas so the moment can be treasured for years to come.

Making note of every detail will help you with texture. Isn’t the world made up of tiny atoms? Likewise, art is comprised of minute details and adding simple things like the grains in wood, the threads in a sweater, or the wrinkles on a face can enhance a drawing.

And I reiterate the part about using references—I used to always need a reference for everything. After a while, those objects became ingrained in my mind, and I was able to draw without a photo. Once you’re comfortable drawing something, try veering a little off your reference. Maybe you could change the color, give the person a different expression, or place the object in front of a different background.

2. Experimenting

Try sketching something you’ve never drawn before, try different methods of coloring, draw something from scratch—the possibilities are endless.

Pencils were always natural to me, but paint was foreign. The blobs I painted were so awful that I sentenced my paintbrushes to banishment in a dark drawer for many years. But one day my fingers itched to feel their bristles again. A waterfall flowed onto my page, brimming with color. Soon after, my mom challenged me to tackle a canvas. The painting was an improvement on what I had previously been doing. Now painting is as natural to me as pencil drawing.

3. Persisting

Some people say you don’t need talent. I personally disagree with that philosophy, but I do believe practice outweighs talent a hundred to one. Talent is important, but a hundred pounds of talent is useless if you only put an ounce of effort into a project.

Here I am reiterating again. 🙈😅 Drawing incessantly is the best habit any aspiring artist can develop. Every new drawing I’ve sketched has been a step toward success. Apply persistence to your practice and you’ll end up with a masterpiece. Some days your art will be rotten, and that’s okay. Even Monet had his bad days. Instead of gazing at other people’s art and moaning because you don’t measure up, look back at your old artwork to see how far you’ve come. I would have given up a long time ago if I’d always compared myself to others, and then I wouldn’t be where I am now.

4. Listening

Although some of our mistakes are obvious, we’re often blind to most of them, and that’s why a critique partner is crucial. Listen to what your parents, friends, and colleagues have to say. What do you struggle with most? Hair? Proportion? Depth? Focusing on your flaws will help you improve. And don’t destroy every flawed piece. Turn your infuriation at your mistakes today into determination for tomorrow.

6. The Best Lesson

Trial and error has taught me as many techniques as an art class, except at a fraction of the cost and a multiplication of the fun. Art lessons are appealing, and I wouldn’t discourage you from taking them—just remember that it’s not the only road. You can teach yourself almost anything—writing, dancing, singing, or baking—if you put your mind to it. 😃🙂