Let's get something straight first.

I get a fair number of emails asking me: Can you teach me to draw?

The answer is no, because the only person who can teach you to draw is yourself.

Oh, now she's pulling zen BS, you're thinking.

No.  There are hundreds of books on learning to draw anything under the sun in practically any media.  There are countless art classes.  If they truly worked, everyone on the planet would be an artist.  The simple fact is that art takes practice, and my little page on the web isn't going to help you worth crap if you aren't willing to put in a great deal of effort.  There's no way I can reach through the screen and direct your pencil.  I can point you in a certain direction and give you some things to think about, but your artistic future is in your own hands and sketchbook.

This also means, don't take anything in this section too seriously.  One of the great joys and curses of art is that it is subjective.  What works for me may not work for you, so feel free to pick and choose what you take away from this page.  Don't copy me.  Don't do everything exactly as I do.  I'm certainly not the best artist in the world.  Find your own style and don't do something one way just because it's how I do it, or how any one artist does it.  Be original, and experiment.  :-)

I do not consider myself anywhere close to being an art expert (if there is such a thing).  It's pretty obvious that my artwork has a long way to go, and I hope that in the future I can continue to improve.  My reasons for making this page are pretty simple - I have been drawing for quite a few years, and I would gladly share what I have discovered if it might prove useful for other artists, especially those who genuinely want to improve their art but don't know how.

Obviously, there's no shortcut to learning how to draw well.  I believe that there is such a thing as talent.  Some people simply pick up artistic skills easier and quicker than others.  But that does not mean that there are people who 'can't draw'.  Everyone can draw.  Everyone has some artistic skill.  The trick is to develop what you have to the highest degree possible.  And that entails . . . you guessed it . . . practice.

Enjoy this section.  I hope you learn something.  Just remember - the best advice I can give any beginning artist is very simple:

Practice, and don't be afraid to try new things.