It's a skill

Anyone can draw or paint.
Drawing and Painting is a skill, some people are born with it and some had to learn it. If you have the desire to learn this skill you can make great works of art. It takes long hours and a lot of studying and practicing to be good at it. How long exactly? I don't know...I guess it depends on how hard you work at it.
I'm still learning. I'm no expert artist but I strive to get better and better through practice, and study. I only have high school art classes under my belt, but reading art books and watching video tutorials has helped me improve. However watching video's and reading books only get you so far. Actually putting paint to canvas or pencil to paper is where your skills will improve. You don't have to start out doing a master piece, just start small doing little studies, that way if it doesn't turn out right it's ok because it was just a study.
So get out there and get your painting on! You can do it!

No time??

Many of us have so many things to do in a day we feel there is no time to get everything done.
That's were making a list comes in very handy. Listing the top priority items first and working your way down makes accomplishing them a little easier and less stressful.
I hear some people say they don't try to make time for themselves because of their busy schedule. To me that is an excuse. We have to set time aside for ourselves to regroup or just relax "from our busy life".

 Making a daily list of priorities not only helps you stay organized it also can be an eye opener of things you originally thought were important turned out not so important. In turn freeing up your time for yourself. 
Painting and Drawing is what I love to do and with a full time job I find making a list of my daily priorities helps free up time to do what I love to do.
Try it out! You might be surprised at how much free time you have. 

Horse Head Study

Always practicing.....The horse is the hardest animal to draw in my opinion.

Practice, Practice, Practice

We are all good at something, riding a bike, drawing, playing guitar,etc.... I think you get my point. These abilities didn't just fall in our laps, we had to practice and practice. If anyone ever thinks they will never be good at that one thing they want to do, they are wrong.

When you were little and you were first riding a bike, did you just hop on and take off without falling? NO. It took a few falls, and crashes before you could ride without falling, and what was the one thing it took for you to ride the bike without falling? PRACTICE! 

No matter what you strive to be good at just remember "practice makes perfect".

  

Sketch

Random Sketch 

Off The Wall

I'm doing a value study using the grisaille method. Oil on canvas panel.

Working out the lights, dark, and every value in between. Just one more step in my learning process.

Practice, practice, practice

Click the link below to watch some of my process..

Oil Painting Study: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtoAGB4YRtwa3RiVwF1f7yFooaky6JSdn

Art & fear

I was told about this book by a co-worker and I gotta tell ya, it is a good book. Before reading it I thought I was alone in feeling frustrated, and doubting my artistic abilites. It is an uplifting book and makes you think about all those doubts and turn them into positive. I purchased it from Amazon but I'm sure it is available at most book stores. I encourage you to check it out.

Click on the link below 

Link:   Art & Fear by David Bayles, Ted Orlando

David Bayles, Ted Orland

Image Continuum Press, Apr 1, 2001 - Art - 122 pages

Horse

Acrylic on Canvas Paper - Click the link to see some of my process on this painting.
http://youtu.be/EbCoPkAHq4Y