Summary

Improving artistic skills can be achieved through consistent daily practice and continuous learning, as demonstrated by the progress of a young artist over three years.

Abstract

This article tells the story of Ruby, a young artist who started drawing at age ten after being inspired by Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel Smile. Over the course of three years, she consistently practiced drawing daily and sought out resources to learn new techniques, significantly improving her skills. Her journey serves as an example for aspiring artists across various disciplines, demonstrating that consistent practice and a commitment to continuous learning are the keys to enhancing artistic abilities. The author, Shaunta Grimes, emphasizes the importance of daily practice and continued learning in developing artistic skills, regardless of the specific art form being pursued.

Bullet points

Ruby, aged ten, was inspired by Raina Telgemeier's graphic novel Smile and began drawing, including creating a self-portrait.
She impressed herself with her abilities and decided to become a better artist, following her father's advice to practice daily and constantly learn.
For three years, Ruby practiced drawing daily and improved her skills by learning techniques like drawing noses and shading with pencil.
At age fourteen, she drew another self-portrait showcasing her progress in art.
Consistent practice and continuous learning are the keys to becoming a better artist, and this principle applies to all artistic disciplines.
The author, Shaunta Grimes, shares her experience as a writer, emphasizing the importance of daily writing practice and continued learning through reading.
The author's message is that dedication to daily practice and a commitment to lifelong learning are the only paths to improving one's artistic skills, regardless of the specific art form.

How To Be A Better Artist (There is Only One Way)

Practice and learn. Repeat every day.

When my daughter Ruby was ten, I bought her a copy of Raina Telgemeier’s book Smile. She was on the verge of getting braces to correct an underbite. She was scared, and I thought Telgemeier’s graphic novel about her own experience with braces might help.

It did. Ruby’s one of those kids who would rather be outside riding her bike or playing soccer than sitting down with a book — but Smile struck a chord. She even took her copy with her when she had her braces put on.

Ruby, age ten, with Smile on her way in to get her braces. September 2015.

So, Ruby got her braces. But something else happened. Inspired by Smile, she started drawing. After a couple of months, she spent hours on her eleventh birthday looking at herself in a mirror and working on a self-portrait.

Ruby, self-portrait age 11, December 2015

Everyone was impressed. I remember being a little stunned, even. But the most important thing was that Ruby impressed herself. After she finished this drawing, she decided that she really wanted to learn to be a better artist.

It reminded me a little of the shift I felt when I finished my first novel. Once I knew I could do it, I knew that I could learn to be a better writer.

I like to think that she learned from what I’m constantly teaching other writers: Work a little bit every day and put in the effort to make each effort better than the last.

She definitely knows that Ray Bradbury’s quote is a driving force for me: Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens.

Whether she picked it up from me or just came to it naturally — she has drawn every day for the last three years.

And she constantly pushes herself to learn how to draw better. She’ll Google “how to draw noses” or “how to shade with pencil” and spend weeks perfecting that one thing.

In December, Ruby turned fourteen. Almost exactly three years after she drew the self-portrait above, she drew another one in preparation for an audition she hopes will get her a spot at an arts-based high school in the fall.

Ruby, self-portrait age 14, January 2019

Daily practice and continued learning work. When you combine them and you are diligent, they always work.

I like the example of drawing, because obviously it’s so visual. Anyone can see that Ruby started with some natural talent, put in three years of daily practice, and became a better artist.

Ruby’s self-portraits, ages 14 and 11, side-by-side.

Writing is more subjective. It’s more dependent on the reader’s taste. But the principle applies. Get into the habit of writing everyday. And make a commitment to continue learning how to write better.

For writers, that continued learning looks like a lot of reading. Fiction, especially. Reading like a writer involves being aware, as you read, of the technique behind the work. Read craft books, too. And apply what you learn to your daily practice.

It doesn’t matter what your art is. If you want to be a better painter, sculptor, banjo player, roller skater, poet, playwright, or cupcake baker, the method for getting there remains the same. Consistent practice and a commitment to constant learning are the only path.

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the author of Viral Nation and Rebel Nation and the upcoming novel The Astonishing Maybe. She is the original Ninja Writer.