Firstly, analytical drawing and painting from life. Understanding light and form as it appears in nature, and interpreting it through simplification and compositional tools, lays the foundation for creating believable work in representational art. Recognizing the qualities of the elements in an image (such as shapes, tonal value, temperature, edges, visual weight etc.) and how they interact, complement, and depend on one another, allows you to make intentional decisions and curate your marks with confidence and competence. It is like practicing the scales for jazz musicians—the grammar behind the poetry.