I want to learn how to draw, because I want to create my own comic, but how long does it take on average to reach a high level of drawing? Is it worth the effort?
Who says you need a high skill level?
Look at XKCD or Cyanide and Happiness very popular comic strips that doesn’t require a high skill level.
Their simplicity is what makes them good.
Practice daily, any chance you get. Then see how far you get and if you enjoy doing it.
It’s a function of how inspired you are to achieve the goal you set, and how many limitations exist for you personally.
Do you have no arms and no legs, and no money? Okay, this is your Everest. But it’s achievable. When? Idk bro. But it IS. As achievable as Everest is for any out of shape average-obese couch potato.
Do you have working arms and eyes, and money for drawing supplies? No other cognitive or motor disabilities to speak of etc? Idk, like 6 months to 5 years-ish. Probably. Depending on how much free time you have and how relentlessly you are able to stay inspired.
There’s no answer, but your drive/inspiration, whatever you want to call it, that’s important.
Look at the webcomic copy of one punch man. ONE can’t be considered a Rembrandt, but he tells compelling stories in a world populated by interesting characters. OTOH, if your goal is to get as good as the manga edition of OPM, I’ve been reading comics for a while, and he’s a genuine talent. Most talents believe they’re still a work in progress. You’ll pick it up quickly, but thereafter will sort of plateau. Maybe 2-5 years from personal experience…? Good luck!
Edit: oh, and rob liefeld was never ever considered ‘good’, but that didn’t stop him from developing some names you’ve no doubt heard of.
Depends on how much you like drawing. If it’s something fun for you, then it’s not time wasted and it’s definitely worth the effort.
I will say that while constant practice is definitely important, it’s also important to have structured practice. Practice without structure will just lock in bad habits.
By far the fastest and easiest way to improve quickly is to practice blocking. This is a technique where you simplify an object or a scene into simple geometric shapes - cubes, spheres, rectangles, etc. You draw out those shapes onto the page. Then, you add in the details. This forces you to map out where the objects are in your composition before you start drawing. Not only does it help with spatial awareness, it also lets you notice if the positioning of objects doesn’t look quite right and requires fixing, before you’ve spent a lot of time on drawing that object
If you plan to draw comics, then you might be drawing scenery or backgrounds as well, in which case you’ll probably also want to study and practice perspective drawing
I think the key is not to think of drawing as a like a skill you can cap out. It’s more that it’s an art form which if it’s really for you, you’ll spend time interrogating and exploring it and finding your own “level.”
Like, if it’s just because you want a medium for story telling because of the comic - if it’s a barrier - a lot of really good webcomics shine because they use other techniques. Or sometimes writers and artists work together.
Something that helped me go from stick figures to things recognizable as animals and my environment was a drawing course from the Smithsonian (online during Covid - I think they still have regular courses though). That kind of formal instruction helps you focus on what is is essential and gives you opportunities for specific feedback. Being encouraged to invest in things like charcoal, pencils, the right kind of paper - these things aren’t necessary but then sometimes part of learning to enjoy a hobby is spending $5 on a pencil.