Everyone Can Draw!

When I was young, I spent a lot of time convinced I was too old to learn a new skill and yet too young to be skilled at anything. It was a confusing place to be.

Then I met a young sommelier, around my age, who was a total dickhead about his wine expertise. He acted like he was better than everyone else just because he could taste wines expertly. After telling him anyone could do his job, mostly just to be a dickhead right back, I realized I was right.

Anyone can learn anything. Being ‘good’ is a social construct.

Less than 5% of people are good at a skill the first time they try it. That discouragement often stops them from mastering it, which means the rest of us—the majority—can surpass them through persistence.

• Natural talent is rare. Some people have innate aptitudes like perfect pitch or spatial reasoning, but most of us improve only with practice.

• Skill acquisition follows a curve. The Dunning-Kruger effect shows beginners may feel confident early on, but real proficiency comes after hitting the “valley of despair” and grinding through it.

• Practice beats potential. Anders Ericsson’s research on the “10,000 hour rule” emphasizes deliberate practice—not day-one success—as the key to mastery.

That said, people who learn multiple skills at once or develop aptitudes across areas often thrive and are better received.

“Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than master of one.”

• David Epstein’s Range shows that those who explore multiple skills early often outperform early specialists.

  
  

• The Harvard Business Review endorses hiring “T-shaped people” with depth in one area and breadth across many—ideal for collaboration, innovation, and leadership.

So, now that we've cleared up my childish notion, here are the top three ways to "Become a Better Drawer!"

1. Daily Practice — Power That Muscle

Drawing is like going to the gym—you have to show up. Even 10–15 minutes a day helps. Keep your tools handy—whether that’s a sketchbook on your desk or a tablet in your bag.

Pro tip: Experiment with pencils, ink pens, brush markers, or apps like Procreate and Adobe Fresco. The more you play, the more you grow.

2. Take a Class — Learn From the Pros

Being a student fast-tracks growth. Whether in-person or online, classes teach structure, proportion, and gesture better than random doodling.

I highly recommend Todd Bright’s All in Gesture course—intuitive, fun, and packed with practical tips.

3. Put Yourself Out There — Build Confidence Through Sharing

Showing your work is scary but transformative. Pin sketches on your fridge. Post progress shots on Instagram. Start a blog or share with friends.

Confidence grows through repetition and recognition. Every share is a brave step forward.

Everyone can draw! Trust me. People who hoard skills and don’t share? Total asshats! You don’t need that negativity. Instead, look up to these multi-talented legends:

Real-World People to Look Up To

• Maya Angelou — Legendary poet and memoirist, Angelou was also a dancer, singer, civil rights activist, and professor. Her multidisciplinary life gave her work a unique rhythm and depth. She earned over 50 honorary degrees and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

  
  

• Issa Rae — Writer, producer, director, and actress who rose from her YouTube series Awkward Black Girl to create the Emmy-nominated HBO show Insecure. She built a media empire by embracing creative range and forging her own path.

  
  

• Brian Eno — Musician, record producer, painter, and theorist. A pioneer of ambient music, Eno has collaborated with David Bowie, U2, and Coldplay, revolutionizing how music is created and experienced.

  
  

• Hayao Miyazaki — Animator, screenwriter, environmentalist, and director. Co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Miyazaki crafted emotionally rich films like Spirited Away and My Neighbor Totoro, earning an Academy Award and worldwide acclaim.

  
  

• Octavia Butler — Groundbreaking science fiction writer who blended sociology, anthropology, race theory, and feminism in works like Kindred and the Parable series. The first sci-fi author awarded the MacArthur “Genius” Grant.

  
  

• Leonardo da Vinci — Quintessential polymath: painter, anatomist, engineer, architect, and inventor. Known for The Last Supper and Mona Lisa, his genius came from fusing many disciplines.

  
  

• Satyajit Ray — World-renowned filmmaker, graphic designer, writer, music composer, and calligrapher. He illustrated his own book covers, designed film titles, composed scores, and created a typeface. Awarded an Honorary Academy Award, he remains one of cinema’s most revered auteurs.

  
  

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XOXO