Try to practice your art on a regular basis

If you want to get better at your art and painting; you must make time to do your art on a regular basis. Even if it is only 10 or 15 minutes a day, or every other day. Every time you pick up your paint brush and make an effort to paint something you improve and grow your skill. It is as simple as that. You have to practice to get better. The more you practice, the better your painting skills will get, I guarantee it. If you cannot paint, then just practice on drawing some small "thumbnail" pictures, re-arranging items for composition purposes. If you have never heard of a "thumbnail" it is just a small picture size such as 3" x 3"

I have wanted to practice and get better at my portrait painting and have been working on this type of painting recently. I have just finished a painting of "Ken" who is 90 years old. You can see his picture on my website under "portraits". Ken has some unusual colour eyes, extremely light blue colour. I have also seen people with extremely light grey eyes here in Australia. They almost look like albino eyes.

For people just learning to paint just practice very simple subjects to paint. For example just paint some fruit (maybe an apple) under a lamp to get some good shadows and lights. Still life set ups are great because you are in control of everything, including the lighting. You can also paint from a photograph, but pick something simple. Nothing too complicated or difficult or you will get discouraged.
The main thing is to just keep practicing and working on your painting and you will improve. Keep some of your old paintings and look back at the way you have grown with your painting skills, you will be amazed and pleased.