Starting something is always difficult in everything we do in life. External factors, problems here and there... or worse: when we give up in our minds without even really starting the journey. I see people already giving up at the first problem that appears.

How do you want to improve if you already quit in the beginning?

Other than that, people who think that what you do is easy and/or that you will be able to do just like you if you have the material you have. No, it's not quite like that.

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, guys. I hit that key a lot because people often think it's the material I use, and no, it's not. What made me better were the 5 years in which I have been practicing non-stop. And look, it wasn't until the end of last year that I started using better pencils and pens, but before that I was already creating good drawings with ordinary pencils on cheap paper.

You can already create a lot of good things with any pencil and any sulfite. You just have to be patient and practice a lot.

It's no use wanting to use expensive materials if you don't know how to use them. You will only get frustrated if you follow that path. The important thing is to be based on light and shadow, to study anatomy, expression, perspective, etc. At the beginning we always think that there is a shortcut, some way to improve quickly and “easily”... But the real truth that we always say, but few want to hear, is that you have to have A LOT of patience and train A LOT. There is no other alternative.

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I see people in drawing groups complaining when artists who have been in the business for a long time say that practicing is important, but that they practice and don't go ahead. The person says this after training, for example, hand drawing for just one week and already thinks that they should be a master.

I have so much to learn! I'm not even close to what I'd like to be yet. The truth is that. I'm learning more and more with each drawing I make and that's why I'm where I am.

Don't think it's because of the material I use or that I performed some ritual to be a better artist. It's because I practice a lot and I always try to improve by studying and drawing a lot. That's the truth. I only started using better materials after I learned A LOT of things. Having a base is key!

There is no better way to practice and don't expect very fast results! Many only see minor improvements after a few months, for example. I myself, when I started training in search of making this a career, back in 2013, only began to see some improvement after about 6 months.
At the time, I didn't even have so much confidence in what I was doing. I simply DID and I learned by doing.

I was frustrated countless times, but I didn't give up. I trained light and shadow with ordinary graphite pencils for a long time. When I started painting (after I had a great base studying light and shade, after a year of practicing, more or less) it was the fear of destroying my drawings by painting that came to light. Oh my God, how difficult it was. Gradually, I lost my fear and explored watercolor and colored pencils as well. I was already making digital art, but I was always exploring and learning little by little. My lines in ink pen were still compared to what I do today. My first order was this year, that is, 5 years later. And of those, I needed 4 to have confidence in what I do today and to begin to have some recognition. 5 practicing and I want to continue practicing for many, many more years!

It is important to have patience and a lot of determination to follow this wonderful dream. Be firm because, I know, it's not easy... But with time and a lot of patience you will find that all the effort paid off.

And let's face it: this isn't just for drawing. It goes for EVERYTHING you want to do in life.

Anyway, there is no ritual, miraculous material, or easy path. It's just really hard work. The journey is arduous, but at the same time too good, especially when you start to define your own style (it also took me 4 years to start defining mine, by the way) and seeing how much you have improved over time! ;)

Credits: photos by Estée Janssens and Ricardo Viana at Unsplash.