How to get really really good at drawing, art or anything

I've been to three exhibitions at the British museum recently - Edvard Much, Rembrandt and Manga.

There was something about them all - something that connected the brilliance of all these amazing artists. Something that connects them with the greets sportspeople, scientists and the greatest in any other field of endeavour.

Repetition - working at it - incremental improvement, day by day. It's the boring truth of the matter.

Often the one that wins is the last one standing, never mind about the talent. It's the ability to keep going - to be a little obsessive - to keep true to a vision, to keep working working working through repletion animi repetition, until, maybe even by mistake, on a bad Friday afternoon, you make that iconic image that appears on everyones mug, t-shirt or carrier bag.

With award winning children's author and illustrator, Shoo Rayner

Rotring Tikky Graphic Pen

The Pentel Aquash Brush

Huion A4 Tracing Light Pad

The Seawhite of Brighton a5 travel journal

The Cotman sketching watercolour set

Neutral Tint Half Pan Watercolour Paint

Naples Yellow Half Pan Watercolour Paint

Sharpie White China Marker

Pentel Brush Pen

Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils

Shoo Rayner is an award-winning illustrator and author of over 200 books for children.

The Shoo Rayner Drawing Channel won the 2011 YouTube NextUp award.

[christelsmit]

That is so true. The other day I redrew a horse I sketched many years ago and when I put them next to eachother, people have a hard time believing that it is the same artist. Practice makes perfect!

[tobiiboii]

I think for a lot of people it's hard to grasp how effective practice is for developing style. I didn't really realise how true the idea of practice was until I had actually diligently done it every day for some amount of time. It's not just a matter of having some goal to be "as good as" or something, it's more that over time your own sense of direction emerges, you get better at the thing you're tuned into and no longer focus so much on direct comparisons against other people

[spirallion]

Spot on shoo practice and constant repetition

[bdm]

I certainly agree; I think you’ve gotten at a fundamental truth of learning. To practice, I’d add feedback, even feedback that comes from the artist him or herself — studying and critiquing the completed work. At a different level, you mention seeing repetition in the works of others. Is this reinforced? That is, do we encourage sameness in artists, scientists, and others? Do we want to see variations on a theme among our favorite “celebrities”? In sum, is repetition a virtue and a vice?

[MostlyLoveOfMusic]

Your discussion videos are my favourite

[aeonkwiz]

Have not seen the video, I will. But is it practice? It is practice isn't it? 🤔😁

[rachelm]

You are so right, sir! The more I draw, the better I get! Which means I'll be as good as Edvard I live to be 100!!!😆

[mettainacan]

Thank you for the reminder Shoo! I went to draw cats after watching this

[HumbleVoyager]

I get it, I promise. My problem is deciding what to practice. Every time I start drawing, something goes off in my head that tells me I’m no good; not going to be good and then I go cook something instead...sigh...maybe I should start drawing all my dinners...hmmm...🧐

[MAGAComedyHour]

Great video as always Shoo!
You mentioned anime being uninformed in style as opposed to the west, well check out Madoka Magica for a more outside of the box style and story—you won't be disappointed.

[XxMyvxRocksxxX]

practice of course, but i get overwhelmed on where to start (painting) 😭