Although not everyone is born with the ability to draw, almost everyone can learn how to draw and enjoy the results of your artistry. There are some obvious things that need to be done, such as practice, but if you truly want to draw, that will be a pleasure and not a chore.

 

Practice

When learning how to draw you sometimes need to draw the same thing over and over again to make sure you've captured the essence of the person or thing.  Don't be afraid to start over.Each time you look at a subject with fresh perspective it will look different to you.

Talent

While it helps to have some talent, drawing isn't like singing--if you can't carry a tune, probably no amount of teaching or practicing is ever going to make you able to hit the Metropolitan Opera.  But with drawing, with practice you will get better.  You'll have more confidence in your drawing ability and you'll attempt things that challenge your ability which will help you grow even further. Take the time to look at the work you've done in the past,  try to determine what makes it acceptable or poor. Learn something about how to use and develop your natural talent by focusing it on the drawing that you do.

 

Instruction

Instruction on how to draw can take the form of finding a mentor who is willing to critique your work.  You can also find instruction manuals and books in many bookstores, or online.  If you just need something to get you over a rough spot, a few classes from a good teacher at the community college might be just the thing.  It will help you by visiting with other students about common concerns or things that have worked well for others. A good instructor is one who assists, but doesn't try to change your style into something you're not.

 

Supplies

Other than instruction books, the basic supplies you need are pencils and paper when learning how to draw.  You can experiment with other mediums if you want, but pencils, charcoal, crayons and pastels are readily available at most craft stores.  Don't be afraid to try new subjects, or the same subject presented in a new way.  A subject done in pencil will sometimes look very different if you do the same subject in pastels. 

 

Looking vs Seeing

As an artist, one of the hardest things you may find is when learning how to draw what you see, instead of what your mind tells you is there.  Sometimes beginning artists especially will add things to the picture that exist in the mind.  Maybe it's a shadow, or a mischievous glint--whatever you actually see, that is what needs to be included in your work. At the same time, you don't need to draw every hair on a person's head when they're posing for you.  It would be better to show the major lines of the hair flow and skip the hair count. To help you understand and put this concept into practice you may need to find a teacher to help you.