Having a hobby is the best. You finally have a skill that sets you apart from other people. One small problem. I’ve been told that my drawing capabilities are always improving, so what do I do? I don’t bother to draw! I took a drawing class one semester ago and was incredibly proud of my own work, but since then, I’ve freely sketched once or twice.

In said drawing class, I did learn that imagining how the final product would look was not the right answer. I’d like to thank my professor Michael Rich for this advice. That was a major deterrent I had from drawing for years. 

I finally got to challenge myself in this class. I worked with charcoal a lot, and found out that drawing bottles, vases, flowers, and even skulls was not that difficult. Charcoal does wonders when it comes to shading. I highly recommend this class. It’s VARTS 101, otherwise known as Foundations of Drawing. Even if it’s not in your major, if you like drawing, it’s a great elective.

Remember that I’m no perfectionist. My advice is not expert level, but as someone who inconsistently draws in his pastime, I urge you to sketch as much as you can. Even if it isn’t daily, just make it frequent. Doodle something in the margins of a notebook during a boring lecture. I do that all the time. Remember to keep up the grades though, heed my advice carefully.

For what it’s worth, draw anything you’d like. It may seem like all the “experts” know realism and can replicate a person’s face down to the finer details. There is no right or wrong way to draw, because any form of practice will show results.

I’ll use my interests as an example. I take inspiration from a lot of the video games I play, the shows I watch, etc. One of my current favorite media is the Amazon Prime show “Invincible.” Ryan Ottley’s art style in the comics alongside this adaptation is astonishing, and as I read through it I like to replicate panels that pique my interest.

If you still feel overwhelmed, and like drawing fictional characters as much as I do, I suggest focusing on one thing: anatomy. I’m slowly improving myself, but knowing proportions and how to pose the character you are drawing can be a life-saver. Again, for those familiar with “Invincible,” I once sketched the titular character from head to shoulders, but every time I look back at that particular drawing, the shoulders seem too bulky. As long as I get practice with the errors I see, I have goals to accomplish.

Make this hobby something you look forward to. Draw things that put you in a good mood. The outcome can always be adjusted, so there is no sense in worrying about it in the present. There’s no penalty if you just want to copy or trace something. At the very least you are getting practice in. Tracing something can make the process comfortable.

Try to get to a local art store or even look online for a pack of drawing pencils. They are fairly inexpensive, and you can test out different levels of shading. The average set of pencils are marked from H to B, indicating the hardness or blackness of the lead. Hardness produces lighter, simpler lines, while blackness makes bold, darker markings.

My last bit of advice is to find artists on social media that capture your interests. If someone is talented at drawing your interests, try going under their wing and listen to their tactics. Never be afraid to ask questions, I have reached out to influencers with my confusion and have gotten generous feedback. Art communities are full of very kind people, believe it or not.

I’ve said a lot about myself already, so I’m afraid this is where I conclude my spiel. Have fun with the drawing process. You can create anything that comes to mind in any amount of time. Be consistent but move at your own pace, be open about improvements, and tell everybody about your brand new hobby.