How to start practice art?

[Olooriel]

What usually works best for me is to focus on my greatest weaknesses first, whatever it is that my works are consitently lacking, that never really turns out right, because that's what will improve my work the most if I can get better at it. That's in regards to fundamentals (drawing, composition, value, perspective, anatomy...) Focusing on any one specific thing like "how to paint jewelry" for a lengthy period of time doesn't really get you far in the long run, these are the things that you study best when you need them for a project. As for the fundamentals, I don't think you can ever feel that you know enough of any one of them, the more you learn, the more you'll notice that you still have to learn. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but it helps to realize that you have a lifetime to learn it, and you'll still never learn it all, and nobody ever has - just start with the most important basics, and never give up, never get comfortable with the level you're at, never stop learning.

If a final painting isn't working, figure out why. Put your work next to work you admire and compare - what is yours lacking? If you can't figure it out, get critique from a more experienced artist. Then start the next piece and try to apply what you've learned. The best way I've found to deal with disappointing pieces or crushing critiques is to tackle that monster head-on - it'll make you feel better to know that you're doing something to fix the problem. The worst thing you can do is let it discourage you and stop drawing for a while, because it gets you out of practice.