My mom found a box of my drawings and artwork from when I was between 10-13 years old. I sifted through piece after piece. Many of them I remembered. It was so neat to go through all the memories!

I mostly drew on lined notebook paper and even old rolls of computer paper. I found partial roll after roll of birds and little drawings. Looking back, it’s interesting to see that I followed the same themes and subjects into my adult life. Birds, animals, flowers/nature and people.

The pictures below are a comparison of my artwork from back then to my artwork now.

If ever there was a testimony of a 10-year-old beginner starting from simple drawings who develops into a professional, award-winning artist….here it is!

At the time, I thought my drawings were nothing special. I just drew what I could and to the best of my ability but nowadays with all the technology blasting everyone’s talents and abilities in your face we can more easily get caught into the trap of comparison and high expectations.

To the little budding artist out there….take heart. Look at my drawings. Do not lose hope. Practice, practice, practice. If you keep at it and don’t give up, you will learn and you will grow as an artist. If this is something you enjoy, stay with it. And compare your art to no one else’s but your own. Work on your technique. Be inspired by others and learn from them but do not compare.

Only work at making YOU better.