The First Sketch That Made Me Believe I Could Be an Artist

I still remember the first time I picked up a pencil just for fun, not for school notes or homework, but to actually draw something. Back then, I didn’t even think of myself as an artist. I was just a student who liked shapes, lines, and shadows. But that one sketch, that one drawing I made one evening, changed how I saw myself forever.

How It Started

It was sometime around 2019. I was in the 9th class, and I didn’t really have much time to sketch daily. Between classes, homework, and the usual chaos of being a student, drawing was just something I did when I was bored.

But that day, I found myself staring at a picture of a gun online (I used to be really into guns and mechanical stuff back then), and I thought, I should try drawing that. I didn’t have fancy tools or expensive sketchbooks. Just a rough notebook and a regular pencil.

It didn’t look perfect, but when I finished that sketch and looked at it again… something clicked. For the first time, I felt proud. Not because it looked amazing, but because I made something from scratch, something that existed only in my mind a few minutes ago.

That was the moment I realized maybe, just maybe, I could actually be an artist.

When I Fell in Love With the Process

After that first sketch, I couldn’t stop. I drew more, sometimes late at night, sometimes during breaks between classes. I’d sketch weapons, characters, and random things I saw online. It became my escape.

Drawing felt like time slowed down. Every stroke made me forget about deadlines, stress, or noise around me. I didn’t draw to impress anyone; I did it because it felt peaceful.

That’s when I understood what Leonardo da Vinci meant when he said, “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” I started to see my sketches not as tasks, but as small pieces of something bigger, my own growth.

The Break That Changed Everything

Then came COVID.
Everything shut down: schools, plans, routines. At first, I thought I’d draw more during lockdown, but instead, I drifted away from it. I started playing games a lot, and soon I was obsessed with the idea of making my own.

For about two years, I stopped sketching completely. My pencils just sat on the shelf. But even during that time, a small part of me missed it, the calmness, the focus, that sense of creating something with just my hands.

Getting Back to Sketching

When I reached 12th class, something inside me said, “You should start again.” So I did. But it wasn’t easy. I had lost some of the flow and patience. My lines weren’t steady, and I got frustrated easily.

But I remembered that first sketch, that feeling of pride and curiosity. That’s what pulled me back. I started slow, just a few sketches a week. I was also learning game development during that time (you can check out my game dev site blackscarstudio.com), so art started to blend naturally with my digital work.

I wasn’t just drawing anymore; I was designing, thinking like both an artist and a creator.

The Moment I Truly Believed

There was one particular sketch that made me feel different. It wasn’t the best technically, but when I looked at it, the details, the depth, the way it captured emotion, I thought, “I actually made this.”

It was that moment I stopped calling myself “someone who draws” and started calling myself an artist.

I think every artist has that one moment, that one sketch or painting that makes them realize this isn’t just a hobby anymore. It’s a part of who they are.

What I Learned From That First Sketch

1. Perfection Isn’t the Goal
   My first drawing was full of mistakes. But those mistakes taught me more than any tutorial ever could.

2. Consistency Beats Talent
   I wasn’t born with “artistic talent.” I improved because I kept trying, even when my work looked bad.

3. Tools Help, But Passion Wins
   You can create great art with simple tools; your heart matters more than your pencil brand.

4. Art Reflects Who You Are
   My sketches changed as I changed. What I drew said a lot about what I was feeling.

5. It’s Okay to Take Breaks
   Sometimes, you need space to grow in other areas. Art will always wait for you.

My Message to New Artists

If you’re just starting, I want you to remember something: your first sketch might not look like what you imagine, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you begin.

Don’t wait for the perfect time, tools, or inspiration. Just draw something today. A leaf, a bottle, your hand, anything. Every great artist started with a single line.

You don’t need to draw for hours either. Even 10 minutes a day can significantly impact your creativity. And if you ever doubt yourself, remember, your first sketch doesn’t define your ability. It defines your courage to start.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, I’m grateful for that first sketch. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the beginning of something beautiful.

Art isn’t just about how well you can draw; it’s about how deeply you can feel. Each line tells a story, and each sketch teaches you something about yourself.

So, if you’ve ever held a pencil and thought, “Maybe I could draw,” don’t let that thought go. Try it. Who knows? Maybe your first sketch will be the one that changes how you see yourself, too.