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People get it in their heads that art is this impossible task, something only to be admired and not to be made. But now more than ever, art is incredibly accessible-- and not because of generative artificial intelligence. Here's how you make art.

First, identify what kind of art you want to make. Do you want to do some oil painting? Sketches? Digital work? Comics? Pixel art? It's okay to not know! In fact, being good at multiple facets or styles of art makes you a stronger artist.

Second, learn from someone who is more experienced. If you know someone personally who can walk you through the process, that's great! Take advantage of that! Otherwise, there are so many free resources online, especially on YouTube. Watch an artist work; sometimes seeing how the pieces fall into place for them helps you understand art in a new way.

Third, start with the fundamentals. This doesn't mean draw a thousand boxes from a million different angles, (although that can help you understand perspective!), it just means draw something that works. Make something small, and grow from there.

(Aside, the number one thing you should think about in your art is value, or how light or dark a color is. Good color, shapes, framing, etc. will not save you from bad values!)

Fourth, experiment. How many pixels do you really need in order to draw a cat? How many colors do you need to show a garden in sunlight? What happens when you make the sun green and the sky orange? What if you reverse your piece's values?

All of that being said, remember-- there's no right or wrong way to make art. Art is a means of sending a message, a craft that takes passion and curiosity and turns it into something tangible that can help you feel connected. Enjoy the process of making art. Enjoy figuring out where things go, at what angle, using what colors. Enjoy all of it, indulge in all of it.

Pick up a pencil. Put in the work. It pays off.