I recently started learning how to draw. I already knew how to do some things because I used to draw quite a lot when I was a kid, and about five years ago I also made an attempt to get better at it. But this time I'm trying to start from the very beginning, learning the basics first.

And that brings me to one of my problems, and the reason for this post: strokes.

I've never had a particularly steady hand, so one thing I've always done instead of making direct strokes is making lots of small strokes until the overall line looks the way I want it to. Some of the videos and courses I've watched recommend stopping doing this and learning to make proper lines. I'm not sure if "proper lines" is the correct term, but I'll use it for simplicity.

At the same time, I've seen a lot of other people use multiple strokes and go over each line several times, with good results. I think I more or less understand the difference: I use multiple strokes to compensate for my lack of steadiness and shaky lines, while they do it to reinforce the overall line, slightly correct its direction, or something along those lines. But I don't quite understand the difference, or how to tell whether I'm doing it correctly.

I've attached a couple of sketches I made before trying to change this, and one I made afterwards.

I've also been making my drawings larger because I think that should help me... learn to make more confident lines? I think that makes some sense, at least. 😅

Anyway, thanks for the help! Any criticism or advice is very welcome.

Struggling with confident lines