If you are very ambitious to improve your drawing skills from scratch, it is worth analyzing the general ability to draw a little more closely and dividing it into different skills. This makes it possible to analyze and identify any weaknesses. And it also allows to work specifically on one or more skills.
I would differentiate into the following sub-skills:
- Theory of colours
- Composition
- Proportions
- Handling medium
- Perspective
- Shadow/Light
Colour theory
If you know colours well, you can create a coherent picture. The colours support the light and the mood of the illustration. Colours are used stylistically consciously, either natural, monochromatic or with a limited colour palette. Pay attention to contrast, brightness but also warm/cold contrast.
Proportions
It doesn't matter whether you draw a human being, an animal, a plant, a house or a landscape. The proportions influence whether it looks realistic or unrealistic and wrong. Proportions can be intentionally drawn in a surreal style. An example of this are fashion drawings, where in most cases the head is drawn very small and the legs very long.
Perspective
There are several ways to add dimensionality to an image. There is foreground and background, shadow and light, and of course perspective drawing. There are different perspectives, try them out and find out what suits you best.
Composition
Composition describes how the elements of the picture work together as a whole. Are they coherent, balanced, do they point to the desired point? Composition also includes, for example, the relationship between foreground and background and the subject itself.
Dealing with medium
No matter how good you are at drawing, if you don't know the app or the specific procedure for drawing with oil, watercolour or acrylic, you will be frustrated. So it's important to learn that too. This will help you to focus on colours and proportions when drawing.
Shadow and light
It is very important to work with shadow and light to make your drawing more exciting. There are many ways to draw shadows. Try different things and practise often and a lot where shadows fall. Because often it is in more places than you think.
I hope this helps you a bit in your creative development. If you have any questions, feel free to write me and I will try to help you.
Maybe I'll have the time to go into more detail on individual points soon.
Be inspired and blessed!