/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

I'll ask here but how do you deal with encouraging friends? Both started as /beg/ dogs a year back. I went about it casually because I have courses still so I haven't burnt out yet but my friend went all in and practiced all the books shapes, gestures, positions; you name it. I feel like he went too hard on it because he hasn't done many full pieces of art since and has shown no visual improvement. I can kinda look at my weeb shit and see a bit of improvement despite the very big use of references. At the same time me and him can both see his complete lack of improvement despite tryharding more. This makes him not want to practice anymore and no encouragement works. He thinks it's all about talent and doesn't want to just put the daily effort it because it doesn't reward him. I can't pinpoint his habits but if he's not improving after a year of daily practice, is he just not focused enough on picking up his mistakes? Or is he practicing extremely wrong by not finishing art all the way to coloring?
I feel it's rude to post somebody else's art without permission so I won't I think. I'll post my progress but any advice you would give to him/me idk. What's an easy way to give a 'wake up call'?