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Many people tell me they can't draw because they weren't born with the "talent" for it. After 25 years of teaching, I want to destroy this idea. Drawing is not a talent. It is a skill that anyone can learn.

The Myth of Natural Talent

In my career, I have taught hundreds of thousands of students from all over the world. If natural drawing talent exists, I should have seen it by now. I haven't.

What I see every day are ordinary people who learn to draw through practice. Sometimes, new students come to class with impressive abilities. However, it always turns out that these students have already had a huge amount of practice, training, or both. I have never encountered a student with a natural ability to draw who has not had prior experience.

Even if a few naturally talented individuals exist, it wouldn't change the fact that drawing is a teachable and learnable skill for everyone else, just like reading or math.

The Two Keys to Learning

You only need two essential ingredients to learn how to draw.

1. A Willingness to Practice

Getting good at drawing requires a lot of practice. In my courses, the students who draw the best are almost always the ones who practice the most. Your skills will improve in direct relationship to the amount of practice you put in.

• If you practice an hour or two a week, you'll see some improvement.
• If you practice three to five hours a day, you will be amazed at how quickly your skills advance.

2. Good Instruction

A good teacher is essential because they will structure your practice. It is possible to practice in a way that can delay or even hurt your progress. With a skilled and experienced teacher guiding you, your practice becomes much more effective.

Let Go of Fear and Start Drawing

This isn't just my personal experience. Researchers in fields from sports to business have found that world-class performance comes down to two things: the amount of time spent practicing and good instruction.

If you want to learn more about this, I recommend reading Talent is Overrated by Jeff Colvin and Peak by Anders Erikson. Both books show that nearly anyone can learn nearly any skill.

So, if fears about talent are holding you back, let them go. Drawing is a skill you can learn. All you need to do is put in the practice.

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