My Sketching Journey: From 2019 to 2025 and What I Learned Along the Way

Hey there, my friend. My name’s Black Heart (not my real name), and today I want to share something a little personal with you, my sketching journey. I started back in 2019 when I was in the 9th class, and over the years, I’ve gone through phases of sketching a lot, quitting completely, and then coming back to it again.

If you’ve ever started drawing and then stopped because of school, work, gaming, or just life in general, you’re going to relate to this. I’m not here to pretend that I sketch every single day, because the truth is, I don’t. But I also never lost that spark for it.

Along the way, I’ve learned some important lessons, and I want to share them with you. I’ll also talk about a few tools I use now that would’ve made my early journey a lot easier, because honestly, when I first started, I had no clue what I was doing.

My Early Days in Sketching (2019 – Class 9)

I still remember it clearly. I picked up sketching around 2019, back when I was in 9th grade. At that time, I didn’t have any real art supplies. I would just grab whatever notebook I had lying around and start drawing. And what did I draw? Guns. Yep, lots of guns. Pistols, rifles, and anything that looked cool to me.

I didn’t have much time to sketch every day because of school, but whenever I did get some free time, I’d sit down and try to draw. It wasn’t about making “perfect art”, I just loved the process.

Looking back, I realize how much better my experience would have been if I had a proper sketchbook instead of scribbling on random paper. Something like Brustro Sketchbook would have been perfect. The smooth texture and thicker pages make shading and erasing much easier compared to thin notebook paper. But hey, back then, I was just happy to be drawing.

The Big Pause During COVID (2020 – 2022)

Then COVID happened. Like a lot of people, my routine completely changed. Suddenly, I had way more free time, but instead of sketching, I got into gaming. To be honest, I didn’t draw much at all for almost 2 years.

At first, I felt guilty for not sketching, but then something unexpected happened, gaming inspired me in another way. I thought, “Why not make my own game?” That’s how I started learning game development.

Sketching took a back seat, but creativity didn’t leave me. It just shifted into another form. If you’re curious about that side of my journey, I share it on my site blackscarstudio.com.

Still, during those two years, I barely touched a pencil. And that’s something I want to point out: it’s okay to take breaks. Creativity isn’t a straight road. Sometimes you pause, sometimes you switch directions, but it’s always there waiting for you when you come back.

Back in 12th Class (2022 – 2023)

When I hit 12th class, I started sketching again, but not as much as before. I was balancing school studies with game development, so my time was split. But whenever I did sketch, I felt that old feeling again, the calmness, the focus, the simple joy of creating something on paper.

This was also the time when I realized that if I wanted my sketches to look better, I had to improve my tools. I stopped using just one random pencil for everything and started experimenting with graphite sets. Having a range of pencils from light (H) to dark (B) really changes your drawings.

And when it came to blending, I used to just rub with my finger, which, by the way, makes the paper dirty and uneven. Later, I switched to a simple makeup brush, and honestly, it works so much better for blending charcoal and graphite smoothly. If I had known about this earlier, my shading practice in 12th would have been on another level.

College Years (2023 – 2025 till now)

When I started college, I thought I’d sketch a lot more. And in my first year, I did. I made some good sketches, experimented with different styles, and even played around with colors. But as I got deeper into game development, sketching again became something I did only once in a while.

Last year and this year, I haven’t sketched much, maybe just a few drawings here and there when the mood strikes. But that doesn’t mean I don’t still consider myself an artist. Because here’s the thing: sketching is like riding a bike. Even if you stop for months or years, the skill is still there. All it takes is picking up the pencil again.

These days, when I do sketch, I like experimenting more. Sometimes I’ll shade using charcoal and blend with the makeup brush. Other times, I’ll add a splash of acrylic color just to give life to the sketch. Having some acrylic paints lying around makes it fun to mix sketching with painting. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about playing with creativity.

What I Learned From My Sketching Journey

Now that I’ve been through all these phases, starting, stopping, coming back again, I’ve learned a few lessons that I think every beginner should hear:

1. It’s okay to take breaks. Life happens. School, gaming, work, all of it takes time. Don’t feel guilty if you don’t sketch every day. The love for art doesn’t go away.

2. The right tools make a big difference. Back in 2019, I had nothing but a random notebook and one pencil. If I had invested in a proper sketchbook like Brustro Sketch Book or used something like a Makeup Brush for Blending, my progress would have been faster and smoother.

3. Experiment with different media. Graphite and charcoal are great, but don’t be afraid to try things like Acrylic Colors. Even if you’re mainly into sketching, adding colors once in a while opens up new creative ideas.

4. You don’t need to draw daily to be an artist. Some people say, “Draw every day or you’ll never improve.” Sure, daily practice helps, but even if you take long breaks, your creativity will still be there. You’ll just need a few warm-ups to get back into it.

5. Creativity connects everything. My sketching improved my eye for detail, which helped me in game development. My gaming inspired me to try new things in sketching. Everything you create adds to your creative journey.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, my sketching journey from 2019 to 2025 has been anything but straight. I’ve had phases where I sketched a lot, phases where I didn’t sketch at all, and phases where I combined sketching with other passions like game development.

The most important thing I’ve learned is this: once you’re an artist, you’re always an artist. Even if you stop for months or years, the spark doesn’t die. All it takes is picking up the pencil again.

So if you’re starting your sketching journey, my advice is simple: don’t worry about being perfect, don’t overthink daily practice, and don’t stress about breaks. Just enjoy the process.

And if you want to make things easier for yourself, here are the 3 supplies I personally recommend:

• Brustro Sketch Paper – A proper sketchbook makes all the difference.

• Makeup Brush for Blending – A cheap but game-changing tool for smooth shading.

• Acrylic Colors – Perfect for experimenting and adding life to your sketches.

Keep sketching, keep creating, and remember: your journey is your own.