Just to get you off in the right direction, try drawing something like, for instance, copying a photograph or an object. You might notice that you have your brain looking over your shoulder telling you what your drawing “should” look like. Try to forget this ever-present critic and just draw what you see. If your drawing does not reflect what the subject looks like, your job now is to practice until you start to see more and allow your seeing and the action of your hand to work together.

Almost everybody is too demanding of themselves when learning a new skill, so begin with something REALLY simple.

The video shows how to draw a tree.

Becoming an artist requires mixing with people, learning from them and discussing art with them. But at the same time you will find that much of the time it is very lonely. So find opportunities to work with other people, even at the risk of your painting time becoming a social activity. You can’t compartmentalize your life completely.

If you want to become an artist you will need to choose the area of art you are interested in. You will not become an artist if you do not practice your art every day. Even if your technique is not very good, you need to work with what you have. If you feel that you won’t be able to make any improvement in your art without help, you should look for a class to take. Taking classes is not only worthwhile as far as improving your technique goes but also in getting out and mixing with other artists.

Here is another blog post on becoming an artist.

Your interest could be in the medium you use, for instance you might feel good applying pastels to paper. Your interest could be in the subject matter you choose or a certain pallet of colors. You begin with what you are interested in and then you learn whatever techniques or ideas that you need.

You could start by buying art books to discover your areas of ignorance. Do you you know about colors, light and shade? Are you aware of the different ways of seeing? You can develop an interest and an authority in art without ever having produced a work of art.

Producing art can take talent but it is not necessary. This is due partly to the fact that we don’t know what we are capable of till we try, and partly to the portability of the boundaries between art and the fumblings of a diletante.