When I was younger, I believed art was something you were born with, like an inherited gift you either had or didn’t. I thought you needed some rare genetic predisposition to be good at drawing, and since I wasn’t immediately amazing at it, I figured I didn’t have “the talent.”

But over time, I started to see things differently. I realized that drawing—or really any creative skill—wasn’t just about talent. It was about persistence. I began to practice, not just casually but consistently. I studied shapes, shadows, and textures. I made mistakes, scrapped entire pages, and started over countless times. And slowly, I improved.

The truth is, talent can only take you so far. The real magic lies in believing in yourself and refusing to give up. Every line you draw, no matter how imperfect, is part of the process. Every challenge is an opportunity to grow. And if you’re willing to put in the work, there’s no limit to what you can achieve.

There’s an artist in all of us—it’s not about genetics, but about heart, passion, and persistence. If I can discover it in myself, I know you can, too.