How do I draw my own ASCII art?

    Unfortunately, there aren't many text books on the subject. ^_^
    A good way to learn is to study how someone has made a picture.
    What characters are chosen and how the characters are laid out.
    Basically, how a texture is made. I mean really people, if I can do
    this than I know others can...

    #########::::::::::########   The best way to learn is to practice.
    ##########::::::::#########   Draw your dog, your microwave, your
    ###########::::::##########   lover, your musical instruments,
    ###########,---.###########   anything that will sit still long
    ##########/`---'\##########   enough will do. And, as with anything,
    #########/       \#########   practice makes perfect, orat least
    ########/         \########   pretty good. Whether you do small
    #######:`-._____.-':#######   pictures or large ones is totally up
    ######::::: ( ) |::::######   to you.
    #####:::::: ) ( o:::::#####  
    ####::::: .-(_)-. :::::####  
    ###:::::: '=====' ::::::###  
    ######################SANG#
                                           _
    A good way to begin drawing is to      \`"-.
    type a row of spaces for however        )  _`-.
    wide you want your picture, and        ,  : `. \
    then copy this row and paste it        : _   '  \
    for however many rows high you         ; *` _.   `--._
    think the picture will get.            `-.-'          `-.
    Turn Overtype on and place the           |       `       `.
    cursor  somewhere in the middle          :.       .        \
    and begin drawing. This can save         | \  .   :   .-'   .
    using  Delete, Backspace, Enter          :  )-.;  ;  /      :
    and Space-bar keystrokes.                :  ;  | :  :       ;-.
    Saving this empty 'canvas' as a          ; /   : |`-:     _ `- )
    read-only file for future use can     ,-' /  ,-' ; .-`- .' `--'
    save you even more time later.        `--'   `---' `---' SANG

    Another method is by tracing a picture either onto clear-plastic
    and sticking it onto the screen then opening an editor to trace
    under or using an editor which allows the loading of a background
    image to trace over, a process known as 'water-mark'.

    You can also modify existing art. Take a piece of art you think
    could be improved.  Make a copy.  Now work on it.  When you are
    good at that, try to improve a really good pic. Then see if you
    can fix a damaged file.  Now take some small pics and put them
    together into a big composite image.

    When drawing ASCII art be aware that there are a few characters
    that differ in size, shape and position among fonts:
    ' apostrophe -- tilts southwest-northeast or vertical
    ^ caret -- differs in size and shape
    ~ tilde -- appears in the middle or top
    I aye   -- straight line in sans-serif, with strokes in serif
               try using the vertical bar (|) instead.
    # hash  -- hash symbol on most, currency on some old computers.