Many aspiring artists wonder if they’ve started too late on their creative journey. If you feel like you’re behind or regret not picking up a pencil sooner, know that you’re not alone. This feeling is common, whether you’re 20 or 80, and it’s a concern many artists share, including myself. This guide is designed to address those doubts, providing logical reasoning and practical advice to help you learn to be proficient at drawing, no matter when you start. Let’s explore the evidence and encourage you to begin, or continue, your artistic path.
First, let’s define what it means to be good at drawing. My personal definition is simple: when you look at your artwork and think, “Hey, that’s really good, I like it,” and you feel proud to show it to others. It’s about achieving your personal artistic goals and feeling satisfied with your creations. This definition focuses on your own satisfaction rather than external validation, as we can’t control others’ opinions.
Debunking the Myth: Drawing Skills Can Be Acquired in Less Than a Lifetime
It’s a common misconception that mastering drawing requires an entire lifetime. However, evidence suggests that becoming skilled at drawing takes significant time, but not necessarily a lifetime. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence is the existence of exceptional young artists. If a lifetime were essential, how could these individuals achieve mastery so early in life? Numerous artists become highly proficient in drawing within just five years of dedicated practice. Furthermore, observing the progress of artists over even shorter periods, like three years, reveals remarkable improvement. Scrolling through artists’ early posts on platforms like Instagram often showcases impressive transformations in skill over just a few years.
Age is Just a Number: Learning to Draw as an Adult
Another common worry is that childhood or teenage years are crucial for learning artistic skills. While it’s true that athletes often need to start young to reach elite levels due to physiological factors and typically retire in their 30s, art is different. Artists can continue to refine and create throughout their lives, well into old age. In fact, adults often learn new skills as effectively, if not more so, than children.
Children do have some advantages when learning to draw: they generally have more free time to dedicate to practice, and societal expectations are different. Children’s drawings are often praised as part of their learning process, regardless of their technical skill. This encouraging environment contrasts sharply with the adult experience, where beginner drawings might be unfairly judged against higher standards. We can learn from this: dedicate ample time to practice and relax self-criticism during the learning phase. Embrace the learning process, allowing yourself to create ‘beginner’ drawings without undue pressure.
The Inspiring Example of Van Gogh: Late Starter, Timeless Master
Vincent van Gogh’s life story provides a powerful example of learning to be a great artist later in life. Before dedicating himself to art, Van Gogh worked various jobs, including bookseller, teacher, and minister’s assistant. It wasn’t until the age of 27, encouraged by his brother, that he earnestly pursued art. His active artistic career spanned only ten years before his death. In that decade, Van Gogh immersed himself in drawing and painting with extraordinary intensity, ultimately becoming one of history’s most celebrated artists. His rapid ascent to mastery is a testament to what focused dedication can achieve, regardless of when you begin.
The Three Pillars of Artistic Development
So, if decades of childhood training aren’t necessary, what is essential to learn to be good at drawing? Three key factors stand out:
Firstly, quantity of practice is crucial. This is simply a matter of mathematics. Consider someone who practices drawing for one hour per week consistently for 20 years. They would accumulate approximately 1000 hours of practice. Now, compare this to someone who dedicates 10 hours per week. They would reach the same 1000-hour mark in just two years. The intensity of your practice significantly impacts your rate of progress.
Time availability can be a challenge, especially for adults with responsibilities. When younger, time might have been more abundant, but adult life often brings constraints.
To overcome this, integrate practice into your daily routine as a habit, rather than treating it as another task on a to-do list that might get postponed.
For me, drawing has become an evening habit, something I do almost automatically as the day winds down.
Secondly, enjoyment and relaxation are vital. Habits are more easily sustained when they provide intrinsic rewards. Make your practice enjoyable and relaxing, allowing it to replace less fulfilling activities like excessive TV watching. Adding an element of discipline to this enjoyable routine can effectively solidify your practice.
Finally, smart practice is essential. Instead of mindlessly sketching, engage in focused exercises and deliberately challenge yourself in areas where you know you need improvement. Targeted practice is far more effective than simply drawing without conscious effort or direction.
Focus on Your Medium-Term Trajectory for Lasting Improvement
If you’re prone to worry, shift your focus to your medium-term trajectory. This means concentrating not on your current skill level, but on the rate of your improvement over time. Starting late or not being initially skilled is less important than the direction of your progress.
What truly matters is whether your artistic growth is trending upwards. Lack of practice will certainly lead to stagnation. Practicing within your comfort zone will result in slow progress. However, consistently challenging yourself and remaining open to learning, even through failed attempts, will propel your artistic journey forward rapidly.
Ignore Short-Term Fluctuations, Embrace Long-Term Growth
In the short term, from one practice session to the next, your skill level may seem to fluctuate. Drawings might not consistently improve session by session; progress often occurs in steps and plateaus. You might feel fantastic after one session and discouraged after the next. This is a normal part of the learning curve. It’s crucial to disregard these short-term ups and downs and concentrate on your medium-term progress, comparing your work to what you were creating months ago.
Think of it like physical growth as a child. You don’t feel yourself growing daily, but over months and years, significant development occurs. Tracking your progress periodically, like marking your height every few months, helps visualize this long-term growth, making the journey and improvement tangible.
Stop Doubting, Start Drawing
Your mind might create obstacles to prevent you from practicing. One common tactic is to sow doubt about whether you should even be learning to draw at all, suggesting “you’re too old” or “not talented enough.”
Here’s the truth: your interest in drawing is real. You are drawn to the visual beauty of the world. This inherent interest isn’t going to disappear. You’ve invested time in reading this article because you care about drawing. It took me too long to accept this fundamental truth and simply start practicing. The question of whether it’s too late is often just an excuse to avoid practice. Let’s dismiss that excuse right now and engage in some drawing practice. Consider exploring draw-along videos to get started and actively learn to be the artist you aspire to be.
