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You've probably heard the saying "Practice makes perfect" at least a couple of times during your life. And there's nothing cryptic about this phrase - it merely means that you'll get better with repetition. Nowhere is this more obvious than in drawing and illustration, where an understanding of proportions and proper painting technique can turn rough doodles into a detailed face.

The list that you'll find below is composed of our reader's submissions of their process of learning to draw. The techniques vary from pencil drawings to digital images, but with every before and after photo the improvement is more than evident.

Now, scroll down for some practice inspiration below. You'll find that even the most simple illustration is actually a diamond in the rough for beautiful drawings.

#1

Drawing Progress Over The Last Few Years

Drawing Progress Over The Last Few Years

Drawing Progress Over The Last Few Years

banksied Report

RELATED:
    #3

    Progression From 2 Years Old To 25

    Progression From 2 Years Old To 25

    Progression From 2 Years Old To 25

    Marc Allante Report

    guess
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lol I couldn't draw that well at age two ;u; ...I'M NOT CRYING YOU'RE CRYING

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    #4

    Eye Drawing Progress In 3 Years

    Eye Drawing Progress In 3 Years

    EndOfAllHope Report

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    #5

    About 8 Years Of Progress

    About 8 Years Of Progress

    Noah Bradley Report

    #6

    Practice Pays Off

    Practice Pays Off

    Noah Bradley Report

    #7

    I Think My Style Changed A Bit

    I Think My Style Changed A Bit

    winterfingers Report

    #8

    5 Years Of Progress

    5 Years Of Progress

    5 Years Of Progress

    Arvalis Report

    MyrandaValles
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I wonder who this character is. He likes him a lot.

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    #9

    The Difference 2 Years Of Practice Makes

    The Difference 2 Years Of Practice Makes

    seaweed_is_cool Report

    Maegan Tse
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ignore the random guy below. He said it was easy, but realism requires skill and precision. It's not called a copy. It's called making beautiful, flawless art

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    #10

    My Drawing Progression From Age 12 To 14

    My Drawing Progression From Age 12 To 14

    Krumpts Report

    #11

    From 2013-2015: Same Reference :)

    From 2013-2015: Same Reference :)

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    SaraNacman
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, that is an amazing drawing. Like a photograph almost!

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    #13

    Just Work Hard And Believe In Yourself. 3 Years

    Just Work Hard And Believe In Yourself. 3 Years

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    #14

    Drawing Improvement Over 6 Months

    Drawing Improvement Over 6 Months

    honeydips Report

    #15

    My Drawing Progress

    My Drawing Progress

    josemacrz Report

    JorgeDeArmas
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can see how he mentally grows up and his interest as he gets older

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    #16

    2008 - 3 Hours / 2015 - 15 Minutes

    2008 - 3 Hours / 2015 - 15 Minutes

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    #17

    The Progression Of My Drawing Between Ages 2-24

    The Progression Of My Drawing Between Ages 2-24

    The Progression Of My Drawing Between Ages 2-24

    Jake Lockett Report

    #18

    My Drawing Progress 2007 - 2012

    My Drawing Progress 2007 - 2012

    rosene547 Report

    #20

    Works In 2013 And 2014

    Works In 2013 And 2014

    Report

    #21

    Difference From December 2013 And February 2015

    Difference From December 2013 And February 2015

    Report

    #22

    Age 16 To Age 27

    Age 16 To Age 27

    Report

    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I struggled to find any before work (mostly thrown out *sad face* ).

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    #23

    My Drawing Progress

    My Drawing Progress

    lihnida Report

    #25

    Same Character Over The Years

    Same Character Over The Years

    Report

    #26

    My Drawing Evolution Between 2006 And 2013

    My Drawing Evolution Between 2006 And 2013

    Report

    #27

    Drawing Progress

    Drawing Progress

    briannam7900 Report

    AmandaWhittaker
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love how the drawing develops into a recognizable person...Bella right?

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    #28

    20whatever To Present: Practice Is Everything (talent Is Overrated)

    20whatever To Present: Practice Is Everything (talent Is Overrated)

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    #29

    Drawing Progress Over 4 Years :)

    Drawing Progress Over 4 Years :)

    Report

    #30

    My Drawing Progress

    My Drawing Progress

    Report

    #31

    Progress In Regards To Color Understanding :)

    Progress In Regards To Color Understanding :)

    Report

    Femke Uyttebroeck
    Community Member
    8 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You should totally commit your drawings to Magic The Gathering for card creation... this is amazing

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    #32

    Same Kind Of Concept Separated By 2 Years Of Work!

    Same Kind Of Concept Separated By 2 Years Of Work!

    Report

    #34

    My Progress - Fanart And Original Work

    My Progress - Fanart And Original Work

    Report

    #35

    2014-2015 Progress. (got It Right This Time)

    2014-2015 Progress. (got It Right This Time)

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    #36

    1 Year Difference Feat. Lorde!

    1 Year Difference Feat. Lorde!

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    #37

    My Self Portrait Progress Over Two Years

    My Self Portrait Progress Over Two Years

    Report

    #39

    Over The Period

    Over The Period

    Report

    #40

    My Improvement (december 2014- June 2015)

    My Improvement (december 2014- June 2015)

    Report

    #41

    3 Years Of Practice! Age 12 To 14 (almost 15)

    3 Years Of Practice! Age 12 To 14 (almost 15)

    Report

    #42

    8 Years Of Photoshop Practice

    8 Years Of Photoshop Practice

    Report

    #43

    Found On The Internet (not Mine). Great Progress In 10 Years

    Found On The Internet (not Mine). Great Progress In 10 Years

    soar99.blog78.fc2.com Report

    #44

    10 Years Of Improvement - Same Character

    10 Years Of Improvement - Same Character

    Report

    #45

    I've Been Drawing More Than 25 Years...

    I've Been Drawing More Than 25 Years...

    Report

    LittleHedgehog
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No way that's age 6. Plus, I like the second one better than the last.

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    #46

    My Drawing Progress 2012-2015

    My Drawing Progress 2012-2015

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    #47

    Drawings From Age 12 To 15

    Drawings From Age 12 To 15

    Report

    #48

    Mond 2015 Now! (stefanie Götzky) 85*85

    Mond 2015 Now! (stefanie Götzky) 85*85

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    #49

    My Work From Age 14 To 36 - First Starting Out With Acrylics And Then Moving Onto Watercolours

    My Work From Age 14 To 36 - First Starting Out With Acrylics And Then Moving Onto Watercolours

    Report

    #50

    My Self Portrait Over The Years - 22 To 36 Years Of Age

    My Self Portrait Over The Years - 22 To 36 Years Of Age

    Report

    #51

    2 Months Difference, But Can Be Achieved In 4 Days (check Betty Edwards)

    2 Months Difference, But Can Be Achieved In 4 Days (check Betty Edwards)

    Report

    mermaidgirl960
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, I draw every day and see improvement (even if it's only a little) every month :)

    #52

    11 Years Of Progress

    11 Years Of Progress

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    #53

    Age !9 - Zero Experience.. To Now :)

    Age !9 - Zero Experience.. To Now :)

    Report

    Meh Meh
    Community Member
    4 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It kind of creeps me out...but in a good way? I love it, could be a Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark cover

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    #54

    12 Year Old

    12 Year Old

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    #55

    December 2015

    December 2015

    Report

    #56

    The Difference Between The Two, Is Only Two Years!

    The Difference Between The Two, Is Only Two Years!

    Report

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    #57

    Self Portraits, 16 Years Difference

    Self Portraits, 16 Years Difference

    Report

    Denise van der Jagt
    Community Member
    9 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    2 different techniques. But the 13 year old is beautiful as well.

    #58

    Progress From 2004 To Now

    Progress From 2004 To Now

    Report

    #59

    Well... It Is Something!

    Well... It Is Something!

    Report

    #60

    2 Year Difference!!

    2 Year Difference!!

    Report

    #62

    Feb 2015

    Feb 2015

    Report

    #63

    2 Years Old To 12 Years Old, My Drawing Difference

    2 Years Old To 12 Years Old, My Drawing Difference

    Report

    Guy on the internet
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Marilyn Monroe put on toooo much lipstick...

    #64

    2 Year Difference!!

    2 Year Difference!!

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    #65

    Same Person's Portrait...2 Years Of Progression :)

    Same Person's Portrait...2 Years Of Progression :)

    Report

    #66

    2 Years Worth Of Practice

    2 Years Worth Of Practice

    Report

    mermaidgirl960
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why is this downvoted so much? It's still an improvement and every artist should respect that. Not everyone can go from a stickman to a beautiful masterpiece in 2 years...

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    #67

    11 Years Done In An Hour

    11 Years Done In An Hour

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    #68

    Age 14

    Age 14

    Report

    #69

    At 8 Years..............20 Years

    At 8 Years..............20 Years

    Report

    #70

    13 Years Old Done In 15 Mins

    13 Years Old Done In 15 Mins

    Report

    Artistic growth is a fascinating journey that often begins early in life and is fueled by dedication and relentless practice. For those interested in how consistent effort can lead to remarkable improvement in art, a notable example is Marc Allante, whose disciplined approach to his craft since childhood highlights the importance of dedication in honing artistic skills.

    By exploring Marc's evolving style, one can see firsthand how an artist progresses over the years through persistent practice and exploration.