Do you wonder if your unique style of drawing will ever be revealed to you?

The reason I ask is because that is something that bothered me for years. Whenever I read about drawing techniques, I'd also read ... "Practice this and your own style will evolve." Yes, ok, but ... when?

Unfortunately, there is no standard answer to that question. It depends on how much you practice and draw.

I think a lot of us beginner artists worry because we copy all the time, we worry that we can't conceive anything original, and that it will never happen for us.

I love to copy from books because I draw a lot at night. Books are convenient. I also copy pictures from newspaper travel ads, junk mail, anything I see that interests me. Keep your interest in drawing stimulated by choosing subjects that appeal to you.

Copying is all part of your drawing apprenticeship. The time will come when you will have your own original ideas.

The absolute best way to propel your drawing skills to the next level is to practice drawing from real life.

Going outdoors and copying from nature is really good fun, and you do impress yourself with the images that you can produce. The realization comes to you that you are still copying, yet you have produced an original drawing! You are looking at your own interpretation of a natural thing.

Once you see your drawings come alive, you can't get enough, you just have to draw more. While you are intent on this process, you're unaware that you are practicing, and improving, and your style is evolving. Really, it's an unseen process. One day you'll just look at your drawings and you will notice your own style right there, before you.

Look for things in everyday life (inside and out) that you are attracted to, things that capture your interest. Don't just look at it though, look closer. What do you see? What can you create from that? You can improvise and turn something completely ordinary into something spectacular. Just omit and include whatever you like.

Your unique style + improvisation = your artistic fingerprint.

The way you interpret something would likely be completely different to the way I would interpret it.

Have you ever watched a group of artists paint the same subject? It is the most fascinating experience. I stand in awe of all the various ways each artist sees things. It's like taking a peek into their souls.

If time constraints make you struggle to put pencil to paper, I really think you would benefit by drawing thumbnails. The fact that you only have to fill a one or two inch square, and it takes a mere couple of minutes, should give you the incentive to just do it. It's up to you, it's always up to you, and how much you want this.

If you watch tv, keep your sketchbook beside you. Make a quick sketch of things that grab your attention. I've tried to draw live from the tv, and my efforts have been dismal. However, I come away happy in the knowledge that it is all progress. I will be able to draw fast one day! If you record shows on tv, you can always press pause and draw at your leisure. If you love drawing landscapes, record a travel show. You'll be able to capture images from all around the world!

So there you go. Stop worrying that you're not original. You are. All art is copied, whether it be from real life or books. Even when we use our imagination, we use references from real life.

There is not a lot of difference between copying a picture of a flower, or copying a real flower. You only need to try this experiment with nature and prove to yourself that you can draw anything you set your mind to.