Drawing What You Think, Not What You See One of the most common mistakes beginners make is drawing from memory or assumption instead of observation. People often draw what they think a hand, eye, or chair looks like, rather than carefully studying the object in front of them. This leads to flattened forms, incorrect proportions, […]

The Problem with Overtraining Academic drawing requires discipline, repetition, and careful observation — but too often, students fall into the trap of grinding through exercises without rest or reflection. When practice becomes mechanical, stress replaces progress. Burnout sets in, and motivation fades. Drawing becomes something to endure rather than enjoy. That’s why understanding how to

Why Most People Start with Symbols When most people begin drawing, they don’t actually draw what they see — they draw what they know. A sun becomes a yellow circle with rays. A person becomes a stick figure with a smiling face. These are visual symbols: simplified mental representations rather than accurate observations. While this

The Illusion of Mastery Many artists reach a point where they feel they’ve outgrown the basics. They move into complex compositions, dynamic poses, or digital painting — only to find their work lacking structure, clarity, or consistency. This is where the illusion of mastery becomes dangerous. Advancing without solid fundamentals is like building a house