Is drawing animate beings forbidden, and will the artist be punished on the Day of Resurrection if he is unable to erase the drawings he made previously?

Drawing living beings (animate objects) is forbidden, and Allah forgives the one who repents from it. He must efface what he has drawn if he is able to do so, based on the hadith of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded him not to leave any statue without effacing it. Effacing means erasing and removing the trace of something. If one is unable to efface what he has drawn, he is not held accountable for it, because Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. The repentance of a sinner is accepted even if the trace of his sin remains.