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How To Practice Drawing Effectively: The Ultimate Beginners Guide

Nathan Hughes

  • Last Updated: November 22, 2023

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I’m sure you will agree with me: when you hear the word “practice,” it is often met with a groan.

You hear it A LOT.

Every time you ask an experienced artist the question, “How can I get better at drawing?” it’s evitable the answer they will give.

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Want to get better at drawing faces? Want to be able to draw your favorite anime character? Looking to master figure drawing?

Yep, you guessed it. Practice.

And there is a reason for that. It’s true. The more you practice something, the better you get at it.

The act of rehearsing a skill again and again, for improvement or mastery is at the core of developing yourself as an artist.

But, what is the best way to practice drawing?

Below I share the three different types of drawing practices you can take on to skyrocket your artistic skills.

You will also find seven simple to follow, highly effective drawing exercises that will boost your rate of learning.

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Innate Practice: The Steady Sharpening Of Your Artistic Sword​

Inspired practice: harness your creative passion, deliberate practice: go from good to great, fast, the 7 simple drawing exercises of highly effective artists, how to use these practices, practice pitfalls: a warning to beginners (and veterans too), wrapping things up.

Innate Practice is the practice you inherently get when you consistently draw.

Whether you are actively trying to improve or not, the act of consistent and repeated action over time will improve your ability to draw.

(Cudos goes to Draw With Jazza for coming up the term ‘Innate Practice’)

It is the type of practice people recommend when they say you should take up a daily sketching habit.

Daily Drawing Practice

Whether you like it or not, if you commit to a daily drawing practice you are going to see an improvement.

This type of practice is less about actively expanding your skillset and more about volume. It is creating, often at a skill level you are familiar with, at volume.

Drawing on a consistent basis doesn’t have to be a huge commitment! Get a small portable sketchbook or portable drawing tablet to carry around with you.

  • Are you sitting on the train? Sketch what you see.
  • Do you have a lunch break? Go somewhere quiet and draw whatever comes to mind.
  • Are you watching TV and an ad comes on? Do a quick sketch of a character.

It doesn’t need to be the next Rembrandt. The act of drawing, whatever it may be, will take you one step closer to mastery.

Ever learned something new and had the compulsion just to draw?

Just finished watching an awesome anime, and are blasted with thousands of new ideas screaming to be captured on your sketch pad?

Inspired practice is when you act on that burning passion to create, try new things, and capture your ideas.

Best Way To Practice Art

Often this can be an intense drawing session where you completely lose yourself in the process, and come out completely exhausted, with a real sense of achievement. Inspired practice often comes in rapid bursts of learning through observation and enthusiasm.

It can be incredibly addictive too!

However, it comes with a catch. It isn’t easy to maintain.It might be the easiest way to motivate and improve yourself. However, it can be incredibly fickle, difficult to conjure and very hard to keep.

And it can leave you exhausted.

If innate practice is a marathon – steady progress over a long period of time – then inspired practice is the sprint. Trying to go over a million miles an hour over a long period of time will often burn you out.

But, it is still a powerful tool in your creative arsenal.

Before you try and inspire yourself to draw, it is essential to understand one thing: Inspiration is affected by your surroundings and emotions.

We have all experienced difficult times, or gone through depressive periods. It can make inspired practice seem so far away, and unreachable.

The key to this is addressing yourself first before you address your artwork or craft. Otherwise, you will be fighting an uphill battle (which can often make progress slower).

If this means talking to a counselor, then see a counselor. It could look like meditation , adopting a healthier lifestyle , getting out of the house with friends or taking up a different hobby.

Also, your surroundings will greatly help in improving your drawing.

Make sure you have a clean and tidy workspace, ideally dedicated to your creativity.

A clean space motivates you and inspires you to do great things. Cleanliness also removes any obstacles to expressing your creativity.

So, How Can You Get Inspired To Draw?

Practicing Art

Inspired practice can be cultivated through new experiences and information. I am often inspired when I look at movie concept art or play a game that excites me. I will look at art styles I love, and just soak it all in.

Make sure in those moments you have a sketchbook or a good drawing tablet handy to capture that inspiration. Moments like these can be created to feed your projects, ideas, and artwork.

Another way to inspire yourself is to learn a new tool or technique that allows you to do something more efficiently on a computer or paper. Sometimes, you just can’t help but grab the closest piece of paper and try out the new tricks you have just learned.

And finally, get out of the house and go somewhere inspiring. Getting out into nature, or go to a museum or art show. By stepping out of your regular routine, and actively seeking these experiences, you can cultivate rapid bursts of inspired learning.

Ultimately, when surrounded by things that inspire you, and are in the emotional state where you are fearless, you can carry out those creative intentions and skyrocket your ability to draw in a short burst of time.

That is the power of inspired practice.

Deliberate practice is a particular type of practice that is purposeful and systematic.

While innate practice might include mindless repetitions, and inspired practice comes in intense spurts, deliberate practice requires focused attention.

It is conducted with the specific goal of improving your ability and performance. It is the type of training where you assign tasks and exercises to do.

Drawing Practice

It is when you consciously choose to improve.

And it isn’t always fun.

Often you might find yourself gritting your teeth, tempted to scrunch up a piece of paper as you draw the same thing for the 100th time but just can’t seem to get it right. But it is also one of the most powerful and constructive forms of practice.

It can have the same rapid development that inspirational practice has, however, without the need for inspiration. It is more mechanical and intentional.

So, where do you start?

If you want to get better at drawing, here are three steps you can take to find out where to start:

  • Choose what you want to practice. What are the core skills you need to practice? What have you been struggling with? What do you look at and avoid? You will likely have more than one. Write them all down and pick one.
  • Choose a way to practice those skills in isolation from everything else. Focus on each skill separately, one at a time. Break it down if need be. Is learning to draw the human head overwhelming? Break it down and practice noses, mouths, ears, and eyes in separate sessions.
  • Make an appointment with yourself. Put aside time for you to regularly practice these skills uninterrupted.

Once you know what you want to improve, and have set a time aside to practice, what do you do then? Here are seven deliberate practices you can take on.

It’s easy for someone to say, “just practice,” but how can you practice?

Here are seven drawing practice exercises you can take up to deliberately improve your skills.

Drawing Exercises

1. Repeat An Image Over And Over

This activity involves choosing a single image or object and drawing it many times over with an ever-decreasing time limit.

  • Step 1: Find a picture and draw it on a piece of paper. Time how long it takes.
  • Step 2: Draw the same image again. However, see if you can draw it quicker.
  • Step 3: Continue to replicate the image as best you can and continue to reduce the time limit.

After doing this at least 20 times, you will notice something interesting…

Look at the first image you draw and then the last image you drew. You will notice you are looser and more relaxed. By this stage, you will be more efficient at being aware of the most relevant forms, details, lines, and silhouettes of the image.

This exercise helps you understand an image or object as a whole because you are rapidly interpreting it.

Below is an excellent example of this exercise in practice. When drawing the eye, don’t just practice drawing it once. Draw it, again and again, aiming to get quicker and more efficient.

Yes, you will likely need to refer to any tutorial you are following, however, this method will develop your speed, which moves you towards mastery.

By the time you have done this exercise, you will have drawn the object repeatedly and will be confident you can do it again.

2. Draw From Direct Observation

The ability to produce a 2D representation of a 3D object is an essential skill of any artists.

And it isn’t easy.

The task of replicating what you see in a 3D space and producing it on a 2D piece of paper as a representation of 3D space uses a part of our brain that needs to be exercised repeatedly.

Nobody is good at life drawing at first. It is not something people do naturally. As artists, it is something we need to learn and practice.

Ever heard the saying “Draw what you see, not what you know”? This is what we are training our brain to do.

By practicing drawing from life, you train your mind to understand 3D space and form to eventually be able to replicate and manipulate objects without the objects even being present.

Now, by this stage, you might be thinking, “Aaaaah drawing fruit and cups is soooo boring.”

It doesn’t have to be. Ultimately, you get to choose what you draw.

  • Pick interesting items to draw. What looks cool or has an interesting texture?
  • Set up your lighting so you get interesting shadows and forms. A simple desk lamp beside your collection of objects can make a massive difference.
  • Go to a life drawing class and socialize. (All the introverts just collectively groaned)

Wondering where to start? Check out this video on how to sketch from life.

WARNING: Resist the temptation to draw from a photo.

There is no doubt that working from a photo reference is convenient and easy, BUT it can also lead to the development of bad habits.

You want to master the ability to translate 3D space to 2D space. A photograph is already in 2D.

When you work from real life, you experience you subject matter in a way a photo would never allow. You can touch it, walk around it, smell it and see the object within the context of its environment.

For the purpose of this exercise, stick to drawing objects from real life.

3. Tutorial Marathon

How To Practice Drawing

Do you have some how-to art books or videos that you have been itching to try?

A solid tutorial marathon is a perfect way to tackle a new drawing skill. Spend a dedicated amount of time to learn from great creative resources.

The key here is to keep your choice of tutorials to a narrow selection of themes. If you tackle everything from anatomy , to drawing spaceships, or perspective, in one sitting, then your brain will not be able to process it all.

Pick one subject. If you spend several hours consistently and methodically apply yourself to master one particular aspect of art, by the end of that session will have taken very clear steps and learned the finer aspects of that topic.

As a result, you will experience a definite feeling of progress.

Can’t find any tutorials to try? Check out our favorite drawing tutorials , or these YouTube artists .

My personal favorite is New Masters Academy .

4. Deconstruct And Simplify Structure

Deconstruction is when you take a complex image or object and break it down into simple shapes and geometry.

To practice deconstruction, find an image, object, person or animal and break it down into its basic shapes and forms. Many things can be broken down and represented as a collection of cubes, spheres, cylinders and other basic shapes.

It makes drawing so much easier. Breaking down complex shapes into simpler shapes will teach your brain to understand how form and space work. If you can deconstruct something, you can reconstruct it (which is the next exercise)

In the below video, Proko talks about structure, and how it can apply to animals and people.

5. Construction

In the previous exercise, you practiced breaking down an object into basic shapes.

Construction is taking the simple representation of a complicated object, such as the human form or an animal, and filling in the blanks.

When you look at a fantastic piece by your favorite artist, all you see is the finished product. It is easy to look at something like that and convince yourself you can’t do that.

However, most artists start with the basic shapes and framework, before refining and polishing everything to produce the final outcome.

You have likely seen the human form broken down into basic shapes. It is easier to manipulate these shapes to create the pose you want, and then add the details, such as muscle structure, later.

Deconstruction is about finding the simple shapes that make up a complicated form. Construction is about using that understanding to reconstruct the same object in any way you wish.

Jazza from Draw With Jazza, shares his method of deconstructing and constructing the human form.

6. Experiment

Once you have started to gain a firm understanding of the structure and form of an object, you can start to experiment with it.

Play with variations of a forms shape and structure.

  • What if you change the shape of the face? Create a face that is square, and another that is long.
  • What if you played with the proportions of the figure? Give them long arms and shorter legs.
  • Make certain features bigger and others smaller.

This can be a lot of fun, and a laugh. What’s more, is it can help you develop your own unique style.

Getting Better At Drawing

The key here is trial and error. Experimenting is a journey of discovery. You are going to try something, and it will look horrible. Don’t worry too much about it, start your next experiment and see what it looks like.

If you have practiced using the previous exercises, you will have the speed to quickly create these “experiments” and consistently play with new drawing ideas easily.

7. Tackle Your Flaws

Don’t avoid the scary things. Attack them head on.

Ever sat down and started drawing a character, and when it came to drawing the hands you feel the urge to just skip it for now, or just put a simple shape as a placeholder?

It is common to be fearful and avoid doing things we are not good at. However, this attitude can be damning in the long run.

For a long time, I avoided drawing feet, hands and mechanical devices.

I love figure drawing , but when it came to hands and feet my characters looked like they had bricks for hands, or were victims of a mafia hit.

Improve Your Drawing Skills

And I didn’t draw anything such as cars or bionics for years!

Ultimately, it made me less capable as an artist and hindered my progress.

I ended up setting aside a month to tackle each of these different aspects I was avoiding. I found easy-to-follow art classes online and set aside time (and a lot of coffee) to tackle each of these aspects.

Now it wasn’t a walk in the park. The first couple of days my wife would hear an audible groan every time I sat down to try drawing. I felt like an absolute newb. But after I started to get into the flow of things, it became enjoyable as I began to see improvement.

You don’t have to set aside a whole month, however, I do recommend spending a dedicated amount of time (such as an entire weekend) tackling your weaknesses.

Find easy to follow drawing tutorials or books around what you want to approve. It is a very constructive and productive way to develop your skills.

Things To Practice Drawing

Don’t Just Do One Type Of Practice

All of these practices have their benefits, but honestly, sticking to just one can make you feel drained and uninspired.

Sticking to innate practice can be a lot of fun, however, doing things without a goal can get draining and uninspiring. Over time you will lose your passion and won’t see any practice.

Practicing when you are inspired is exciting, but you can quickly burn out. It can come in bursts, and often inspiration is not enough to see you through an entire project.

Deliberate practice is an awesome way to learn and measurably grow as an artist. It can also be the most draining and disheartening form of practice if that is all you do.All of these types of drawing practices are important. No one is better than the other.

The easiest way to practice is to take on something that uses all three types of practice.

Pick A Project That Is Done Over A Period Of Time

It can be a series of drawings or character designs. Maybe you want to try produce a comic strip, manga or animated short. The purpose is to choose something that requires some form of repetition.

Choose Something That Inspires You

Have you recently learned how to use a new tool or technique you have been itching to put into practice? Is it on a topic that excites you? If drawing dragons or cyberpunk characters from the future inspire you, then that’s what you should make your project about.

Challenge yourself.

Make sure the project challenges you in some way. Does it require a skill that you haven’t used before? Or is the standard of achievement required a little higher? Is the project bigger than what you usually do?

If you choose something that you make for yourself which also that challenges you and inspires you, make sure you complete it all the way from the beginning to the end. When you look back, you can see the progress you’ve made.

How well you improve with practice will depend on some factors, such as how often you practice and the type of feedback that is available. Whether you are drawing , trying out digital art , or learning oil painting for beginners , the following tips apply…

Seek Out Feedback

If you do not receive feedback, either from an instructor or from self-correction, practice can be ineffective, or detrimental to your learning. Bad habits can start to creep in.

To combat this, undertake a paid course where an experienced instructor can provide corrections, or post your work up online for the specific purpose of receiving constructive feedback.

How To Get Good At Drawing

Level Up and Ten Thousand Hours are excellent Facebook groups for artists (tell them I said hi!).

Be Consistent

If you do not practice enough, you can often forget what was learned. Consistency will reinforce what you have learned, so be sure to create a habit.

It is better to spend 1 hour each day drawing than to spend 7 hours drawing in one huge chunk on the weekend.

Don’t Compare Yourself To Others

Everyone is at a different level, and some people just naturally improve on a particular activity quicker than others. Keep in mind, for every great picture you see of other artists; there are 1000 failures that you don’t get to see.

The only person you have to be better than is your past self.

Stick To It

The key to success is the ability not to give up. Often you will feel impatient with your drawing. Don’t expect results straight away. Improvement is a slow and gradual process. You can’t be an Olympic level gymnast with a week of training, so don’t expect to be a master at drawing after a few days.

For most artists, it can take years of rigorous practice and commitment to achieve a level of mastery.

Practice is a process. Stick with it and enjoy the process.

Drawing can be a great experience. The act of picking up a pencil and practicing is you willing to confront yourself and improve.

Congratulations, you have already won. The fruits of your victory will come in time.

By taking on these different ways of practicing, and taking on the exercises, you will see your abilities improve in leaps and bounds.

Pay attention to what works for you and what doesn’t, then relax (don’t judge yourself) and try again.

Be patient and be proud that you have the courage to practice.

So, how do you practice? What have you found helps you refine and improve? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Article Written By

Nathan Hughes

6 thoughts on “How To Practice Drawing Effectively: The Ultimate Beginners Guide”

Thank you for making this article, I’ve been working a comic book for a while and I’ve been looking for techniques on how to practice and improve my drawing ability. This article was a good read and I’m going to take some time to practice each of these techniques. I liked this article a lot and I’ll be revisiting this website again thank you again for the techniques and tips.

Thanks Pervis, I’m glad the article helped. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know 🙂 Good luck with the comic book!

This is the best article I’ve read. I knew some things posted here but you just summary all in one article and just make it perfect. Really helpful, I’m a beginner trying to improve everyday 🙂 u help me a lot

Thanks Maria 🙂 Glad I could help.

Excellent article! I particularly like how you have linked to tutorials. The tutorials are good resources and helpful. Its nice to find them all in one place. Thank you!

Thanks Peggy, I’m glad you have enjoyed the article. There are some great tutorials out there!

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13 Drawing Exercises for Beginners (Absolutely Easy to Do)

You may think that you can’t draw. But I promise you you can get better with consistent drawing exercises, even if you’re only a beginner.

Every beginner is afraid of messing up and not getting the results they want.

Very few people are born with extraordinary talents. The rest of us need to practice and practice.

And by doing some basic drawing exercises on a daily or weekly basis, you must get better at drawing. You’ll see.

Now, let’s see what you can do to improve your drawing skills in your art journals or sketchbooks so you can make wonderful pages and enjoy every second of it.

This post covers

Why you should practice drawing regularly

Well, there’s a thing called the muscle memory . Yep, that exists.

The dictionary explanation breaks it down like this:

“… the ability to repeat a specific muscular movement with improved efficiency and accuracy that is acquired through practice and repetition .”

Imagine yourself doing sports. With time, your body and muscles get better and you improve your skills.

This is because you train your muscles and they remember what they need to do.

The same thing happens with drawing.

The more you draw different things, the more your hand muscles remember the moves and strokes, and you simply improve.

That’s it. Drawing will then become more natural for you and you’ll feel more confident.

Disclaimer: Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means that if you purchase something through that link, I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Refer to our Disclosure .

Simple drawing exercises

Here are the drawing exercises you can do almost every day. Take 5 or 10 minutes a day and do one exercise.

If you feel you need to repeat the same one, do it. Don’t set any time frames or deadlines for yourself. Just enjoy the process of practicing.

You can also choose one sketchbook or a journal and use it only for these exercises.

Line drawing exercise

As simple as it may seem, you need to practice drawing lines: straight, curvy, zig zag, swirls, etc.

Trust me, you need to train your hand to always draw a straight line. This is also true for any kind of line.

Drawing is all about the lines, so if you master this, you’ll be able to draw many things, like faces or animals and flowers .

Straight lines

drawing exercises with straight lines

Take your pencil or a pen and draw straight lines first. Start slowly and later try to draw the lines as quickly as you can but try to make them straight.

If you need more guidance, draw two dots and try to connect them with your lines.

Yes, you can repeat the same line over and over again if you want to practice drawing quick lines.

Then, start experimenting with long and short lines. Begin with short ones and once you feel up to it, continue with longer lines.

Also, what you can practice is the space between the lines. This will help you get the lines straight.

If you manage to keep the space even between all the lines, you’re close to mastering this.

When you draw lines, they don’t always need to be horizontal. Practice drawing vertical lines, too. It’s a bit more difficult, but it’s worth it.

horizontal straight lines

This drawing exercise is a great warm-up exercise before drawing something more complex. Your hand needs to get warm and ready.

So, when you want to draw something, do these simple exercises to help your hand feel the vibe.

Curvy lines

You can practice all kinds of curvy lines. Here are some examples:

curvy lines

These lines are also important. Practice drawing them as same as the straight ones. Start with shorter wavy lines, then draw them longer.

Zig zag lines

They seem very easy to draw, but they can be challenging, too.

I believe it’s important to practice these lines as well. It’s all about making your hand steady and memorizing the movement.

Vary the lines in size, length, and the space between one another.

Here are some zig-zag lines you can practice:

zig zag lines

Shape drawing exercise

Shape drawing is as important as line drawing.

Once you practice lines, it’s time to spice them up a little with shapes. You can draw basic shapes like circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, and ovals.

It might seem that anyone can draw a circle or an oval, but in reality, many people struggle with that.

For example, when I first started drawing faces , I struggled to draw the basic oval for the head.

But I practiced this shape and now I can draw it quickly and it will always look like an oval on the first try.

Do the same with circles and squares. Repeat the lines of one circle multiple times, then draw another one, but vary in size.

You’ll see how your muscles will remember this and soon you’ll draw any shape on the first try and it’ll be amazing.

Also try drawing shapes in 3D perspective, not only flats. This way, you’ll discover new areas you need to practice, which is always a good thing.

3d shapes drawing exercise

Just scribble

Scribbling is a great drawing exercise, no matter how silly it sounds. Scribbles are often underestimated but I love making them and they really relax me.

So, take a pen or a pencil and draw without any purpose, meaning, or shape. Go all over the paper if you want to.

Experiment with the way you hold your pencil and the way your wrist moves when scribbling. Check the video below:

Draw something new

This means that you should draw something you usually don’t.

From time to time challenge yourself and trick your mind by drawing something you normally wouldn’t. Your brain will be surprised and pay more attention.

All in one take

This is an amazing exercise and you’ll feel like a playful child. Giggles guaranteed.

So, try drawing without lifting your pen from the paper. This makes your brain figure out ways of drawing certain things and sparks your creativity. It’s like a problem-solving exercise, as well.

Your drawing in this exercise will probably look funky and wonky at first but never mind that. Embrace the learning process. This is only a drawing exercise, not a drawing competition.

The easiest way to do this is to decide to draw something simple like a flower . You need a few petals, a stem, and maybe a couple more details.

Start drawing from the inside out, or from the bottom of the stem up. Of course, you can repeat the same lines more times because your pen must stay on paper the whole time.

simple flower sketch

One thing in two ways

Try drawing one thing in two different ways, eg. a face that’s happy and one that’s sad, a fresh flower and a dying flower, etc.

two flowers drawing

You don’t have to nail these drawings so they look perfect and realistic, stick figures will do, too.

If you expect perfect results, you’ll never survive these simple drawing exercises. They’re made to be easy, simple, and for practice.

two faces drawing

This exercise will spark your creative thinking and who knows what ideas you’ll come up with. It’s so much fun to think of new ways of doing something, right?

Sketch what you see

Sit in any room you love and just sketch out everything you can see. You can do this outside as well.

Imagine your view in a box/container and sketch everything you see. The important thing is to sketch, not pay attention to details. Just go with the flow.

Don’t worry if your perspective is distorted, mastering these things takes time.

a sketch of a room corner

Draw patterns & mandalas

Drawing patterns is a great way to practice your drawings. This exercise makes you repeat the same lines and shapes over and over again and they slowly become your second nature.

Also, drawing patterns is always fun and you can make amazing designs with lines and basic shapes.

Remember how important it was to practice lines? With patterns, you’ll feel like you moved to the next grade of drawing skills.

long pattern

Drawing mandalas is similar to drawing patterns. They’re round designs with repetitive elements.

So, start from a small point that will be the center in the end, and build around it. Fill the white space with smaller elements.

The easiest way to start is to draw a circle and then divide it into equally sized triangles that grow from the center to the outside of the circle.

Then, draw more circles inside the big, main circle.

Finally, fill each space you created with identical patterns and connect them to one another.

mandala drawing

Magazine images transfer

What you need for this are some magazine images of faces and carbon paper . I say faces because that’s the easiest and the most common thing in magazines to copy.

Every face consists of the same features , that’s why I didn’t tell you to copy buildings, for instance.

There are so many different ones that your muscles won’t remember what you drew.

To start, just follow the lines on the magazine image and transfer them to your paper. Later, you can add more details to the paper drawing.

For example, if you copy 10 eyes like this, your hand will remember how you drew the eyes so it’ll be easier later. This is also true for any other shape.

This drawing exercise is easy to do and you can make as many as you want.

Try holding your pencil in different ways to see how this changes your drawings. Maybe you’ll figure out a way of holding your pencil that better suits you.

Even if you don’t, you can always play with this exercise and create new and interesting drawings.

This drawing exercise is very common among artists. All you need to do is draw with your non-dominant hand.

I know it sounds daunting, but it costs you nothing to try. I promise giggles with this one, too.

Your perspective will go crazy, your eyes will be all over the place, and your brain…totally and utterly confused. But it’s a great thing to step out of your comfort zone.

What should a beginner start drawing?

If you’re only a beginner, you can try the simplest things to draw.

For example, choose one of the following:

  • simple flowers
  • shapes like clouds, buildings
  • very simple faces (nothing fancy, just some line and shapes practice)
  • leaves (try different sizes and shapes)
  • abstract shapes (and maybe fill them with patterns)

Best pencils for drawing

I’d be lying if I told you I was an expert on pencils.

However, I have a set of pencils that I really like using for drawing.

So, here they are:

Staedtler Mars Lumograph set of 12

Staedtler Lumocolor Permanent : these pencils are waterproof.

Stabilo All : not waterproof, but great for adding dimension to sketches with a bit of water and a brush.

Best pens for drawing

Pens are a bit trickier to use for drawing but of course, you can use them. They’re just not as flexible as pencils. And you can’t erase them.

I’ve used two brands of black pens that I really love for drawing.

They come in different nib sizes and are waterproof, which is really important if you’re going to use your drawings together with wet media.

So, I’d recommend these two brands:

Micron pens

Uni Pin Fineliner by Mitsubishi

You can also use Posca pens which can be great for detailed work, but not so much for practicing drawings because you don’t want to waste them on practicing.

At least I don’t. When I practice, I use mostly the pencils I told you about or the fine liner pens.

Other tools for drawing

If you feel you can advance a little bit with drawing tools , you can try ink or chalk .

Ink can be messy but it’s fun to try it. You can use a brush or a dip-in pen for inks. The brush is messier than the pen and will give you thicker marks.

I sometimes use chalk for larger drawings but not very often because its powder transfers to other pages.

If you still want to try it, maybe you can seal the drawing with a fixative. I’ve never tried any fixative, so I can’t recommend anything specific yet.

What to do with the pages you practiced on?

Well, use them. If you already reserved a separate art journal for drawing, after you use all the pages, just paint over them and make art.

Or, you can tear out the pages, cut out the drawings and use them as stickers or elements on your other journal pages.

You can also color in those drawings.

There is so much you can do, so don’t throw them away. Be creative with them.

Drawing exercises – final tips

Just remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, that practice makes perfect (although I don’t believe in perfect), that patience is everything…and so on.

Don’t rush yourself into expecting spectacular drawings right from the start. Give yourself time and enjoy the process.

These simple drawing exercises will help you in the long run. Just don’t give up on them. Patience is key.

Also, these exercises are great for warming up before you start drawing more complex images. Take a few minutes to remind your hand of lines, shapes, etc.

Furthermore, be consistent. You don’t have to practice drawing every day if you don’t have time. But do something at least once a week. All you need is 10 minutes for one drawing exercise.

Your inner artist will thank you and you’ll see there are many ways of playing in your art journal.

ROCK YOUR ART JOURNAL PAGES EVEN IF THE BLANK PAGE TERRIFIES YOU

Hit the orange button to join my free Art Journal Starter Course and start making art without staring at the blank page and without the fear of ruining everything. (Spoiler alert: you can’t ruin anything in art journaling).

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Drawing with Pri

12 Fun Drawing Exercises For Beginners

Want to improve your drawing fast? Try these simple drawing exercises that remove the challenges that beginners face. Whether you are a traditional artist or a digital artist, learning a new media can be a challenging road to take. There is so much that is new… it’s all so daunting.

In this post, we cover some of the most basic drawing exercises for artists. Whether you are a professional or beginner you will find some techniques that you could easily add to your daily practice. While this post is directed at digital artists you can easily try these exercises with a pencil, pen, ink or brush.

When I got my first drawing tablet I couldn’t get my head around drawing on a surface that was not paper, canvas or even my laptop screen. I was drawing on my tablet and had to look at my laptop, and it was confusing the first few times. If you have an iPad or a Cintique one of the things you might also have to overcome is parallax ( the distance between your pen that touches the glass/plastic surface and the digital canvas ). While newer models have promised to reduce that issue, it can still be an issue for new digital artists.

Digital drawing tablet

Practice these exercises to improve your hand-eye coordination. I find that when I make time for them, I spend lesser time using the eraser or the undo button. While I encourage you to keep practising traditional media, I also feel you should try out digital media for its wonderful flexibility. The exercises below can be practised with a pencil or pen as well as digitally.

While most of these exercises might not make you feel ‘productive’ they will help your creativity and recharge your artistic batteries.

Doodles and textures

Draw whatever comes to mind, go with the flow. Try edgy, flowy, jagged, furry effects. Let your pen dictate the moves, try not to overthink it. This is often an underrated activity in the creative process. Letting it flow can be deeply relaxing and creative. If you are going through a creative block, this method is a wonderful exercise to get you out of your head. There is a sensuous pleasure that is very relaxing in the movement of your fingers and stylus. It is no different from how you drew as a child – with no expectation of ‘perfection’.

Drawing exercise example - Doodles and textures

Draw parallel lines

Draw a line from one end of your digital pad to the other. Keep it unbroken and steady. Use your whole arm to draw, not just your wrist; you will have more control over the flow this way. Next, copy the line you just drew. Try drawing another line parallel to the first but maintain the same angle and smoothness. Mistakes and bad lines are okay! Attempt it as many times as it takes to get straight parallel lines.

Drawing exercise example - parallel lines

Dot to dot connection – straight to curvy

Start with two dots across your page, then try to draw a straight line connecting the two. Your first few attempts might not work, but keep at it. Next try a curved line with 3 dots. Connect them by trying to hit every dot as you draw. Want to level up? Try more dots as you get better at this. It starts to be fun and challenging.

Shapes big and small

Yep, you heard me! Draw those shapes you drew in kindergarten. Circles, squares, ovals, triangles, rectangles and diamonds. Cover each page with one shape. When you are done, move on to another one. Focus on your drawing; you are trying to build smooth lines and brush strokes. Keep it consistent and purposeful. The ability to draw shapes will help improve the accuracy of your drawings without having to resort to the eraser. The point is to get it right in a few attempts.

Drawing exercise - shapes

Cubes, cones, boxes, spheres, cylinders

Did you ever think that drawing has a vocabulary too? A larger number of words (in this case lines, shapes and forms) will give you more flexibility. Creating the forms that we see around us is a comprehensive exercise to build the vocabulary to a mental library. With this, you can draw almost anything. Being able to draw cubes, cones, boxes and spheres in space will create the foundation you need to draw most things, including three-dimensional figures. This exercise will help you draw from your imagination with ease. Start by drawing any form, then attempt to spin it around in your mind as you redraw it from a different angle.

Drawing exercise - drawing forms

Squiggly parallel lines

Draw a few random squiggles and then attempt to draw a parallel line right next to it. Try to use a long smooth motion to draw this line rather than small jagged lines. Try several parallel patterns of squiggles and straight lines. The point of this exercise is to learn to move your hand smoothly and build your hand-eye coordination.

Mandala trace-outs

One good way to practise drawing different kinds of lines is to use a copy of a mandala. Choose the straight short lines, then the straight long lines, short curved lines, long curved lines and just draw over them with your pencil or pen. Keep your wrist in a position that is comfortable for the drawing. Short lines usually require only your wrist. Use your forearm for the longer lines. As you practise you will notice that it gets easier and your lines are accurately drawn on the lines on your mandala. Soon you will be able to create these lines smoothly and evenly.

Drawing exercise - mandala tracing

Continuous blind contour drawing

Focus on the subject that you would like to draw. Trace your subject with your eyes. Draw on the paper or tablet on your desk without moving your eyes off the subject. For beginners, this is a bit like learning to use your keyboard. While this method is confusing and difficult initially, it can be fun once you get used to drawing this way. This forces your mind to use only the sense of sight and touch while removing the critical left brain from taking over. This technique was introduced by Kimon Nicolaïdes in the book The Natural Way to Draw .

Continuous blind contour drawing

Experiment with pressure thickness and brush types

I won’t lie. I have a few brushes that I stick with and it takes a big push to get me to use an unfamiliar brush. Experimentation is key to improving and evolving your artistic style. It is so daunting to try one of the thousands of different brushes. But just pick one that is unfamiliar to you! Try any of the exercises given here with a new brush. Vary the pressure and thickness. Make it interesting. Attempt shading a sphere with a new brush. You might find a brush that makes all the difference and incorporate it into your regular practice.

Pen pressure brushes drawing exercises

Draw with one line

Try to draw something without moving your hand off the paper or tablet. Attempt to draw in a continuous uninterrupted fashion. If you need to stop, give up. Start again. Draw from top to down and left to right. Change directions while keeping your pencil on the paper in a smooth motion.

Drawing exercise - one line drawing

Quick sketches

Set a timer. Start with one minute. Try sketch a subject as quickly as possible. Attempt to get the essence of it without getting caught in the details. You can increase the time to 3 minutes and then 5 minutes. The point of this exercise is to notice how much your mind captured in those quick moments. What did you miss? What did you draw? What can you improve on?

Quick sketches of birds

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Home > art & design

5 Drawing Exercises That Will Turn Anyone Into An Artist

drawing exercise ideas

As an artist, creator or hobbyist, it is hard to always have creative ideas. We caught up with illustrator Whitney Sherman to get drawing exercises to spark your creativity when you are stuck. 

Whitney Sherman is an award-winning illustrator and director of the MFA in Illustration Practice at Maryland Institute College of Art. She is also author of  Playing with Sketches, 50 creative exercises for designers and artists (Rockport Publishers). We asked Sherman for advice on  how to draw and she offers up five drawing exercises from her book to help anyone get started.

If you’re looking for more resources on how to  hone your design skills , check out our classes on  Hand Lettering ,  Creating a Knockout Portfolio ,  Logo Design , and  Photoshop tutorials .

Get into the habit of making: draw inspiration from the every day. Drawing the Everyday Every Day is your guide to exploring your creativity and integrating a drawing habit into your daily routine. Learn more.

Why do you think it’s so hard for people to get started with drawing or figure drawing?

For non-artists, I think that the culture of drawing is not extended or continued with or for them beyond early childhood. Grade schools and high schools, for the most part, value math and science over the arts, which gets cut out when budgetary pressures arise. What is then neglected is the haptic qualities of “making,” which can contribute to retention of learning as well as foster communication. If a non-artist is only shown an example of classical or academic drawing, they will be thwarted by not having those skills. If encouraged to make native marks [draw in their own way] and be respected for that, most people would grow up with less doubt on their ability to draw and would enjoy the process, which is a very important part of drawing!

For creative people who are working in mediums other than drawing, some of the reasons are the same – recognizing and celebrating native marks, but I think it goes a bit farther to include practice. Creatively leaning people continue drawing beyond childhood for longer than most, yet their particular area of creative focus as an adult may have not required the use of drawing, and so it is left behind, unpracticed. In both cases, having permission [from a teacher, from one’s self] to draw as one does, to appreciate that and practice it will foster comfort and confidence with drawing.

I had a drawing teacher in college who said, “Draw what you see, not what you know.” Do you find that holds true for everyone?

Although I can’t say I know how everyone behaves, I do think that extended focus is very hard for most people. Numerous conditions and environments discourage this. Have you ever been bored because it feels like nothing is happening? If so, you are probably less likely to be able to focus on what is going on around you.

The ability to quiet your mind and observe is central to the theme your teacher was addressing.  Knowing  involves conceptual thinking with additional abstract qualities based on memories of the circumstances surrounding the knowledge (Was there a smell in the air that caused us to form an opinion?).  Seeing,  on the other hand, requires that we participate with what is currently happening, and letting go of memory. Time is a key ingredient of seeing, although like many things, practice helps our seeing happen faster. If you purposefully act to see, you can then make the observations that allow you to translate your seeing into mark making.

Here are five step by step exercises taken from  Playing with Sketches  to help anyone get started with their drawing skills:

1) Drawing Exercise: Doodling

Anyone can do this drawing exercise, doodle and create simple shapes. It’s as simple as putting pen or pencil to paper and randomly sketching anything that comes to mind. You don’t even have to make straight lines. Doodles come in any shape or form, and in any color. But don’t let the simplicity of this exercise fool you!

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Doodling increases your visual literacy and helps you process ideas, even when you are not trying! Experiment with different materials and drawing tools, and draw whatever comes to mind. You can also recruit your friend and co-workers to develop a doodle quilt using sticky notes in different colors.

2) Drawing Exercise: Entopic Graphomania

This drawing exercise is based on a Surrealist game. Simply grab a sheet of paper—it can be a page from an old paperback book, or anything with markings—and place dots on specific words or letters. You choose what set of marks, words, or letters you want. Then connect the dots with curved, zigzag or straight lines to create a pattern. These exercises reveal hidden patterns in negative space, show you how choices can make a difference and will help you engage in randomness to take your work a few steps further.

3) Drawing Exercise: Non-Dominant Hand 

If you have been drawing for some time and are feeling stuck or uninspired by your marks, it may be time to reinvent in order to discover something new. Years ago I had developed a great exercise that involved rendering minute and exact details using graphite pencils on a fine surfaced drawing paper (Strathmore Drawing paper). I was bored, and so I set out to change my habit by using tools and paper that were the exact opposite—ink in a faulty dip pen on hot press paper, which is slightly spongy. I also used my non-dominant hand and no photo reference.

This simple exercise lasted for a few months. It felt awkward and I didn’t expect anything massive to come from it, but it did! When I went back to drawing with familiar tools, I was breaking down the image in different ways and drawing with less restrictions.

4) Drawing Exercise: One Day, One Theme

For this drawing exercise, choose one theme or one kind of object, and only draw that thing during the course of a day. You can vary your approach to this by choosing an animate or inanimate object, a color, a size of something, things that are scary or make you laugh, or things that start with a specific letter.

You can also use synonyms, such as things that move you emotionally versus things that literally move you, like modes of transportation. The more thoughtful you can be, the more you exercise your concept-building abilities as well as you hand skills.

5) Drawing Exercise: Word Stacks

Take 25 blank index cards and cut them into thirds. On the first stack, print an adjective on each card, on the next stack, print a noun, and on the third stack print a verb on each card. Shuffle each stack separately, then draw one card from each pile and put them next to each other, forming a phrase such as Devilish/Book/Laughing. Then draw it! It might not turn into fine art but it will help cultivate basic skills and build your confidence in the craft.

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drawing exercise ideas

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Emily J. Potts has been a writer and editor in the design industry for more than 20 years. Currently she is an independent writer working for a variety of clients in the design industry. www.emilyjpotts.com

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5 Art Exercises to Boost Your Creativity (even if you’re non-artistic)

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Introduction

Looking for Art Exercises to boost your creativity and loosen up a bit even though you can’t draw? I got you covered! This blog post will address 5 fun Art Exercises to Boost Your Creativity and Improve Your Drawing Skills even if you’re non-artistic . 

These 5 Art Exercises will not only help s harpen your observation and boost your creativity , but will also teach you how to maintain a good mind-hand coordination .

1-       Doodle monsters

This Art Exercise tops the list for a reason. To do this Art Exercise you don’t have to be an artist, you don’t have to know how to draw at all, and it’s a great way for non artists as well to practice visual thinking and imagination skills. For artists, it will help you let go of expectations and perfectionism.

Let’s get started together:

( Warning: the drawings included are for demonstrative purposes only. Don’t copy them. Get creative 😉 )

1- Draw a free shape

Let it be as random as possible.

drawing exercise ideas

2- Turn on your imagination

Answer these questions:

  • What kind of character does it have?  

Is it brave? soft? feminine? edgy?… 

  • What mood does it radiate?

Do you imagine it being Angry? happy? calm? excited?…

(I’m deciding to make mine feminine, fun and happy)

3- Start drawing

Add the eyes, mouth, extras (hands, legs, horns, tail….).

drawing exercise ideas

Congratulations! You have just created an original character of your own.

It’s time now to experiment and have more fun starting with coffee or paint smudges instead of random shapes.

drawing exercise ideas

 2-      Blind contour exercise

This art exercise is great if you want to develop eye-hand coordination and sharpen your observation . It also brings you to look at objects from an artist’s point of view. And if done properly, it feels just like meditation, a great opportunity to slow down and be in the moment!

This drawing exercise is not only for artists but also for anyone willing to try it.

To get started, you need to follow three basic rules: 

0 – Choose an object to draw.

drawing exercise ideas

1 – Place your pen on the starting point.

2- start drawing without looking at the paper, keep your eyes on the object you’re copying., 3- don’t lift your pen..

Say bye to your inner critic and have fun. 

–          Optional: if you want to upgrade the challenge, use your non-dominant hand.

3-       Find the art element

Do you remember when we talked about The 7 Art Elements and why it is necessary to learn about them?

Nah? Check it right here 

Now this is a very simple art exercise that will make your observation skills go from 0 to 10, only by following these two steps only:

1- Pick a painting of your choice and print it.

I chose this one by: Anna Maiko

2- Try to find as many art elements as you possibly can.

3 -name the art elements., 4- how is each art element giving character to the painting. , 4-   upside-down drawing.

This exercise is for artists , and it’s an excellent way to improve your drawing accuracy.

What you need for this drawing exercise is: 

  • A pencil (any pencil is OK), 
  • A4 paper to draw on, 
  • A black and white line drawing as a reference to work from. 

drawing exercise ideas

You can use one of your own line drawings or search the internet for a line drawing image. You can also use the same one I used here. 

Note that the line drawing should be smaller than your A4 paper.

1- Draw a rectangular frame around the drawing to enclose it, then flip it over. 

drawing exercise ideas

2- Now create a frame the same size on the blank A4 paper.

drawing exercise ideas

Next, observe the shapes in the upside-down line drawing for a moment.

3- Firstly, draw them inside your frame.

Be careful where the lines cross and where they touch the frame’s sides. Don’t try to decipher the shapes; simply draw what you see .

drawing exercise ideas

After that, turn both the reference drawing and your own drawing the correct way up. Take a look at the outcome.

The result should be a rather exact replica of the drawing you were copying. In fact, you might discover that your drawing is more precise than usual.

drawing exercise ideas

This is likely to happen because of one reason: when we look at a familiar thing and start drawing it, we often have to choose between portraying what is actually there and what our brain tells us should be there. While drawing something upside down , the interference of our brain is turned off, allowing us to easily copy and draw what we’re really seeing.

5-       Shitty art challenge

Last but not least, this art exercise is for my fellow aspiring artists who are willing to commit and keep up with habits that would change their attitude towards art and creating.

This art exercise consists of intentionally creating “ugly art” to teach your brain to remove the pressure of creating great, aesthetically pleasing art, and to focus on having fun instead. Practicing this art exercise daily creates a habit of less judging, no comparing, and boosts creativity along the way .

drawing exercise ideas

See? Art will never look ugly! Not even if you create it with the intention to make it ugly. So stop judging and underestimating your own art just because you created it.

In this blog post I suggested 5 art exercises to help you boost your creativity, improve your drawing skills and have fun learning:

  • First A rt exercise: Doodle monster
  • Second Art exercise: Blind contour
  • T hird Art exercise: Find the art element
  • Fourth Art exercise: upside down drawing
  • Fifth Art exercise: Shitty art challenge

Beyond making art, drawing, and painting, being creative is all about leaving your comfort zone and adopting new habits to challenge your mind and ideas. Enjoy learning and creating.

Question : Which of these exercises will you first try? 

Let me know in the comments below and feel free to DM me on any of my Social Media platform.

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Genuinely no matter if someone doesn’t know then its up to other people that they will help, so here it takes place.

It’s definitely useful to seek feedback from others. Just make sure they’re not trolls (someone who isn’t interested in improving your work and only wanna throw hateful negative critiques)

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8 Drawing Exercises That Every Artist Should Practice

December 22, 2009 by Rainey - artist resources , drawing

drawing exercise ideas

Wire Drawing Exercise

Example from save-janos.net – this example has been placed on a painted acrylic background With this exercise you are not going to be drawing at all. All you need is some wire and a pair of pliers with cutters. My favorite wire for this exercise is tie wire and you can get it almost any hardware store. The idea is to explore shapes and lines that you create by bending the wire. This exercise will force you to focus more on the line and less on the “drawing.” The nature of the wire also makes it more difficult to create tight corners. Don’t fight this and allow the properties of the wire to influence your piece.

Non-dominant Hand

Give your non-dominant hand a chance to shine. Control is not always a good thing and, unless you are ambidextrous, this exercise will require you to give up much of your learned control. By drawing with your non-dominant hand you are giving yourself the opportunity to be more free with your line. During this exercise you should notice your line becoming more loose and fluid.

Draw Vertically

you should be doing most of these drawing exercises vertically if you have an easel or drawing horse. Drawing vertically is a great way to loosen up your line. Focus on drawing with your entire arm and not just your hand. Drawing this way will also allow you to get your line recorded faster. Remember, focus on looking at what you are drawing as much as the drawing itself and do not stop moving your hand when you look up.

continuous-contour-line-drawing

Continuous Contour Line Drawing

Examples from Draw and Paint Online A Continuous Contour Line Drawing is an exercise to help us focus on the line. The idea here is to create a drawing where you never lift your drawing utensil from the paper. I like to use a pen on this one to help me resist the urge of erasing mistakes. If you have never done this exercise you may find your drawings odd and “imperfect” but that is what makes them beautiful. Also focus on looking at what you are drawing as much as the drawing itself and do not stop moving your hand when you look up.

blind-contour-line-drawing

Continuous Blind Contour Line Drawing

Example from Anne Leuck Feldhaus If you enjoy the contour line exercise, then you should certainly try this one. In this exercise, look only at the subject that you are drawing and not at the paper. Yes, you read that correctly. Again, I use a pen in this exercise and try to coordinate your hand and eyes to work together, recording the lines as your eyes follow them. The idea here is to train your hand and eyes to work in unison. As you do more blind contour line drawings you will get better and begin seeing some wonderful, fluid lines.

gesture-drawing-exercise

Gesture Drawing

Example from about.com – the one on the right is an example of tighter more expressive execution In this exercise you want to get as much information down on the paper in short amount of time. You will be doing a series of drawings here, so make sure you have plenty of paper and a timer on hand. The first drawings you only have 20 seconds to complete. Yes 20 seconds! Repeat the 20 second drawings about 10 times and increase the timer to 40 seconds. You want to be bold with these drawings and forget about the “mistakes” that you are making. Make sure you keep drawing like you were when you only had 20 seconds. Increase the time again to 2 minutes after you have completed about 10 drawings at 40 seconds. You should begin to notice improvement in your line quality as become more confident with your drawing. Also focus on looking at what you are drawing as much as the drawing itself and do not stop moving your hand when you look up.

negative-space-drawing-exercise

Draw the Negative Space

Example from NBCC.ca In this exercise you will be drawing the space around the object, negative space, rather than the object itself. First try using a solid marking as shown above to create a very flat looking finished product. I would also suggest doing some where you draw the negative space more realistically. And, don’t forget to focus on looking at what you are drawing as much as the drawing itself .

value-drawing-exercise

Value Drawing Exercise

Example from Julie’s Journal Usually when drawing we begin sketching the outline of the object we are drawing. In this exercise, do not drawing a single line. Instead, simply shade using your favorite drawing utensil and build the drawing up this way. I suggest using charcoal or something large that will allow you to put your shading down quickly. You can always erase or add white Conte if your shading gets too dark. You should still be looking at what you are drawing as much as the drawing itself and do not stop moving your hand when you look up.

I know that many of you know all of these as they are very common exercises. If they are new to you, hopefully these help and good luck to you with your drawings! If you have a favorite that I didn’t include, please add it in the comments.

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21 Responses to “8 Drawing Exercises That Every Artist Should Practice”

Thanks, good to be reminded of these sometimes. The craziest one that I ever heard of is stand on your head and draw with your non-dominent hand. I have not tried this though, not sure I am that coordinated.

I recommend reading Kaupelis’ “Experimental Drawing” for a ton of other fun and enriching exercises. Some very important ones i’d had to the list: – Smudge drawing (avoiding the use of lines, using charcoal and other blunt instruments, helps develop a sense of high contrast, but the approach may be more stylish than realist) – Positive drawing (the same technique for negative drawing, but with an enphasis on avoiding sillouette contours. try to draw only the inside of a model – very hard to master!) – Fast drawing (probably the best exercise and the hardest. time your drawings. 7sec ones are my favourites. You should get someone to model for you and change pose by the clock) that’s about all i can remember right now. I’m sure there’s more of course. Good work on this list. Nice to stumble upon it.

Thanks for the info! I will certainly check that out.

This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are unanimous and needs to be appreciated by everyone.

drawing white objects on white backgrounds is a great way to learn to see value … an egg on white paper for example…

Negative space drawings are really cool imho. A great start if you are sued to still life drawing, but want to branch out a bit.

I feel you really should be aware that the comment prior to me may be unsolicited mail.

@kup dom – thanks, I am getting a lot of that these days. My spam tools are only so good I guess. Thanks for the heads up!

The example for the value exercise is a real bad one, the pumpkin doesn’t appear to be in the third dimension. Why on earth would you practice with your weaker hand, when you already have a dominant. The continous blind contour Drawing is a joke, that doesn’t teack drawing, it teaches copying. Drawing is designing with a pencil, not drawing what one sees. Looking at great artists of the past (Raphael, Michaelangelo, Leonardo) noone ever drew what they saw. Copying what you see isn’t drawing, much less scribbling on paper without seeing what mess you’re causing

Re Alex Vablahblahblah (omit “Alex Verble-Diarrhea”) “A man with little learning is like the frog who thinks its puddle a great sea” —Burmese proverb

@Alex Vablahblahblah: I can understand where you are coming from and shared many of the same thoughts that you expressed before actually trying these exercises. Drawing came very natural to me at a young age and I felt confident in my skill, cringing when others would try to teach me anything.

When I was in college level drawing classes, my instructor forced me to do some of these exercises. I found that these exercises helped me loosen up and draw with my whole arm rather than just my hand. Also, my drawing scale grew in size and I could crank out dozens of drafts before settling on the composition, angle, etc. that I wanted to explore.

So, I would encourage you to try doing these. You will likely hate it at first so give it a few months. Buy large, cheap newsprint and go nuts.

I’m always up for experimentation. A wise man believes firmly in the benefits of getting outside your comfort zone. You can’t let your work/style stagnate.

A very useful summary. Thank you. Now for a try…

Some great stuff here. Another exercise I find really helpful is to deconstruct and simplify structures. Essentially you take a complex image or object and break it down into its simple shapes and geometry. Most things can be broken down into cubes, spheres and cylinders. This will help artist gain a great understanding of the object, and makes it easier to draw something in the future 🙂

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17 Digital Drawing Exercises To Boost Your Artistic Skills!

Photo of author

Whether a beginner artist or a veteran, the best way to improve your digital drawing skills is by doing good digital drawing exercises!

From drawing with a limited color palette to creating mixed media and sculptures, there’s a suitable drawing exercise for you in this list.

Here you can find a healthy mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced digital drawing exercises to match every skill level.

These digital drawing exercises are ordered from easiest to hardest , so if you want more of a challenge, keep scrolling!

Table Of Contents

  • 1 Draw Using A Limited Color Palette
  • 2 Practice Drawing Basic Shapes Of A Simple Subject
  • 3 Fill A Sheet With Simple Lines
  • 4 Draw From (Easy) Reference Material
  • 5 Experiment Drawing With New Tools Or Brushes
  • 6 Draw An Old Art Piece Again
  • 7 Practice Drawing In A Different Art Style
  • 8 Practice With Different Brush Thickness And Settings
  • 9 Draw The Same Scene In Different Perspectives
  • 10 Practice Drawing A Difficult Animal
  • 11 Draw Something Out Of Blobs
  • 12 Try Digital Sculpture And 3D Modeling
  • 13 Master Drawing A Specific Body Part
  • 14 Do A Drawing Exercise With A Time Constraint
  • 15 Expand Your Color Palette
  • 16 Draw Dynamic Poses For A Character
  • 17 Digitally Paint A Complex Environment Or Landscape
  • 18.1 What Are The Benefits Of Using Digital Tools In Art?
  • 18.2 How Can I Stay Motivated With Consistent Drawing Practice?
  • 18.3 What Digital Tools Or Software Should I Use?
  • 18.4 Can I Do These Digital Art Exercises On My Phone?

Draw Using A Limited Color Palette

sketches of characters using a limited color palette of two colors

One of the best way to boost your artistic skills AND improve at color theory is by using a limited color palette.

With this digital drawing exercise you can not only work on composition and value, but also creating better artwork by blending and mixing colors correctly.

So here are the steps for this digital painting exercise:

  • Choose a subject to draw. Try choosing something simple at first, such as a mug or a ball. You can check this list for other simple drawing ideas.
  • Select 3-5 colors that work together. Don’t go overboard with colors ! 3 to 5 colors are more than enough. I recommend you to use a website such as coolors.co to help you find a good palette.
  • Use ONLY these colors in your drawing. Use the colors you’ve picked. Don’t try to add more colors or switch them up, use your palette. A tip: don’t try to use the colors equally. Make 1 or 2 predominant colors and then use the others for small details.

And you’re done! This is a especially useful digital drawing exercise if you want to improve at using colors in your artwork.

Practice Drawing Basic Shapes Of A Simple Subject

Drawing of a hand from simple shapes to finished painting

Drawing basic shapes is a fundamental aspect of being a good artist.

In fact, this is a great drawing exercise if you plan on doing some figure drawing. The entire human body can be split into basic shapes and then refined and detailed later.

Many digital artists warm up by drawing shapes first, and then move on to other exercises, before starting to work on their main projects.

To do this exercise:

  • Get a reference of a simple subject.
  • Draw simple shapes. Circles, Rectangles, Squares, Triangles, draw shapes that are in their essence very simple. Either on top of the reference photo or to the side, it doesn’t matter!
  • Pay attention to the relation between each shape. Your entire digital drawing of the subject should be easily identifiable with these shapes.
  • (Optional) Refine the shapes and add details. The base exercise is meant to draw only the basic shapes, but you can go a step further and add details and refine it if you want an extra challenge!

This is one of many great digital painting exercises where you can keep ramping up the difficulty with more complex subjects. Have fun!

Fill A Sheet With Simple Lines

a digital sheet of paper filled with straight lines, a great digital drawing exercise

One of the best ways to improve your line quality and control of your digital drawing tools is by drawing lines on a canvas, sheet, or file.

This simple exercise can feel almost dull, but it’s actually pretty satisfying to see all those lines drawn together!

For this exercise:

  • Choose your drawing tool. You can use the same brush you use normally, or try other digital brushes.
  • Fill a layer with lines. You can draw straight lines, parallel lines, or some curved lines. Totally up to you! This is a great time to draw some patterns and just doodle around. What matters is that you keep your lines confident and flowing.

Do keep an eye out on the pressure that you’re applying to your tool, and vary it to see the effects on your software! Just have fun and play around with it.

Draw From (Easy) Reference Material

photo of woman sitting, with a version of the photo drawn on top on the right with basic shapes

If your weakness in drawing (either digital or traditional drawing) is accuracy to the details of what you’re drawing, you most likely are lacking good reference!

Either that, or you’re not using any reference at all! (don’t do this please)

To make this an easy digital drawing exercise, I recommend you grab a reference photo of still life . Then you just focus on the proportions between each element of the photo!

You can even draw directly on the original photo so you can improve your muscle memory of the subject. Notice the light source, how the shading looks, and pay a lot of attention to the details!

Tip: If you’re taking the photo, take it from different angles so you can practice different perspectives.

Experiment Drawing With New Tools Or Brushes

cartoon drawing of pencil, brush, fountain pen and spray, different drawing tools for artists

This is the exercise for you if you’re looking to try new techniques or want to expand your artistic skills!

And it’s very simple. Choose a tool that you’re NOT used to.

This can be anything. For example, the procreate default brushes are amazing, but maybe you can download some new different brushes from the web and use those!

You can also try using the Pen tool to draw and the smudge tool to tweak and distort your drawing around.

Another fun technique is blind contour drawing , for example. It can lead to some quite interesting results.

Draw An Old Art Piece Again

comparison of two digital drawings practice side by side with two different styles

Drawing challenges are always a great and fun way to practice drawing! And the “Draw This Again” trend is a wonderful exercise for digital artists.

Many artists have taken this challenge , and it’s a great way to see how much you’ve improved your drawing skills.

  • Choose an old art piece.

It’s quite simple, but effective.

You should try and recreate it as closely as possible. But if your art style has changed or if you’ve learned new techniques, feel free to incorporate those in your new drawing!

It will show your improvement over time, so it’s a great drawing exercise to do every couple of months.

Practice Drawing In A Different Art Style

Classic Disney art style with mickey mouse in steamboat willie

Want to try something new? How about a cartoon art style !

This is easier if you turn your digital artwork into a different style than your usual one. (Instead of just trying a new art style and drawing something new at the same time)

So choose an art style, a subject or previous work, and try your hand at it!

When you find a new art style you like, I recommend you save a painting in that style for future reference. Better yet, save a bunch of different digital paintings, so you have multiple sources of inspiration!

This is a great challenge for any digital artist , and it will help you stay inspired.

And if you’re unsure on what style to try, here are a few very simple art styles for you!

Practice With Different Brush Thickness And Settings

cartoon image of a brush making a line with different thickness

Being an artist in the digital world has its perks! And one of those perks is the number of settings you can tweak and the versatility of your digital tools.

This is one of those digital drawing exercises that seems pretty common. But most artists, when they find their favorite settings in a tool, they stop experimenting.

Take some time exploring your brush tool, play around with the line thickness of the brushes, and test out different pressure sensitivity options!

And don’t just doodle. Really go at it and draw an entire subject or artwork using different settings than usual.

This will make you more comfortable with your digital work and you might even find some new favorite settings to use!

Draw The Same Scene In Different Perspectives

drawing explaining the different types of perspective, one point, two point and three point

Perspective drawing can be pretty scary. But once you master it, your drawing skills will improve tenfold!

  • First, get a subject or picture of real life with an interesting perspective.
  • Then, make a drawing based on that picture! Keep it as close as possible to the original perspective.
  • Finally, draw it again, in a different perspective!

This final step can warp your mind a bit, since you need a good imagination to draw in different perspectives. But if you know the basics of perspective, you should be able to do it!

Consider it a big challenge. This is more of those advanced digital drawing exercises.

For example, you can try a simple two-point perspective (a great way to draw architecture) with two vanishing points .

Or you can try one-point perspective if you’re looking for an easier challenge.

If you’re rusty on perspective drawing or just want a quick reminder, here’s a complete guide on the types of perspective drawing.

Practice Drawing A Difficult Animal

draw the horse meme image, with an unfinished drawing of a horse

Drawing anatomy , in general, is pretty difficult! And creating a digital drawing of animal anatomy is the same.

Go outside of your comfort zone and draw a difficult animal. Be sure to use reference photos and videos to help you get the overall shapes right!

Don’t worry too much about perfection. Do several quick sketches first to capture the overall essence of the animal you’re drawing, then add details later.

Here are some difficult animals for you to draw:

And if you’re still looking for some more ideas other than animals, here are 7 other hard things to draw.

Draw Something Out Of Blobs

One of the most fun drawing exercises (in my opinion) that you can do is draw something out of blobs!

This will help you improve your imagination and give you a new (or several new) pieces of art.

To do this digital drawing exercise:

  • Draw blobs of color on a sheet. You can do this digitally or traditionally. If you do this traditionally, take photos so you can work on them digitally after.
  • Focus on the shapes and draw what comes to mind! This is pretty self-explanatory. Just draw whatever comes to mind when looking at those forms!

This is like looking at the sky and imagining the clouds look like a pig or cat!

You can also take this a step further and turn your blobs into full original characters. I did this in a video some time ago, check it out below!

drawing exercise ideas

If you’re not happy with your original blobs of color, just redo them in a new sheet or layer. The most important part on this exercise is to have fun and keep on experimenting.

Try Digital Sculpture And 3D Modeling

wings3d screenshot of the free drawing software from the website

On the subject of trying new tools, there’s always a possibility to try some digital sculpturing!

Doing 3D modeling or digital sculpturing is a good way to experiment with new mediums, and it can spark some inspiration for your projects.

To practice this exercise, here’s what you can do.

  • Choose a 3D Modeling/Sculpturing software. Some popular options for this are ZBrush (paid) and Blender (free).
  • Pick a subject. If you’re just starting out I recommend you to pick a simple subject such as a vase or a mug.
  • (Optional) Look up tutorials. These are pretty complex pieces of software, so I recommend you to look up some helpful tutorials about 3D. Youtube is always a good place to do this!

And don’t stress out about it not being perfect at first. This is a new skill so it should take some time getting used to.

If you’re looking for an extra challenge, just choose a more complex subject or a whole big environment.

You can even try sculpting a real painting , like the mona lisa, and turning it into 3D!

Master Drawing A Specific Body Part

Draw circles for the finger joints, it makes drawing hands much easier

There are many difficult body parts to draw, such as drawing hands. So if you’ve been postponing drawing the anatomy of a part of the body, now’s the time. To practice drawing the body:

  • Gather reference images
  • Sketch the basic shapes
  • Draw the details of the body part
  • Clean up the lines

Fill your digital software with practice drawings of this specific body part, and you’ll improve MUCH faster. Trust me on this.

Do A Drawing Exercise With A Time Constraint

cartoon drawing of a phone with an alarm, a great way to practice digital drawing with a time constraint!

Time constraints (just like other constraints) tend to make you hyper-focus on what you’re doing, and make you get creative with your work.

So doing a drawing exercise (such as the ones we mentioned before) with a time constraint will help you improve your drawing skills much faster.

With that said, some people don’t react well being “on the clock”. So if this drawing exercise is stressful for you, feel free to skip it.

If not, then I recommend you to do some gesture drawing ! These are quick gesture sketches that will improve your dynamic posing of figures.

You can use a website such as line-of-action.com and choose a time interval setting from 30 seconds to 2 minutes. According to your preference!

I recommend you start with a longer time interval and then push yourself for the shorter intervals. Have fun!

Expand Your Color Palette

color palette with 6 different colors

This is the opposite of another digital drawing exercise we mentioned before, where you limit your color palette. Here you make it a challenge to increase your color range and add more elements to your artwork.

For example, you’ve done a grassland painting. But you want to add some red to it. So what can you add? To increase your color palette , you could add:

  • A Red Bird, such as the Northern Cardinal
  • Some Red Flowers, like roses

The options go on and on, but this is a great exercise and challenge to practice painting with a bigger color palette.

Draw Dynamic Poses For A Character

A drawing of a stiff pose and an exaggerated pose on the side

When digital drawing characters and figures, you might feel that your drawings look too stiff.

The usual problem here is that the poses aren’t dynamic enough.

This can be because of many things. From lack of confidence in your skills, a reference photo that isn’t very good or anything else.

I recommend you to really try to understand the reason your pose looks “boring” and what you can do about it! Try exaggerating the pose or start again with a stronger gesture and line of action!

This is something that you can easily get better at with some practice, and I’ve created specific videos on my Figure Drawing Course to help with this step-by-step.

Digitally Paint A Complex Environment Or Landscape

Painting by Pierre Auguste Renoir - Coucher de soleil a Douarnenez c.1883

If you’re too used to drawing the same subjects (such as characters or objects) over and over again, it can become quite boring.

You can even find yourself losing motivation and inspiration! So why not try a different subject , such as doing a digital drawing of a complex environment?

When creating a digital painting of a Landscape or other environment, you should pay close attention to ALL the elements you want to include.

Whether you’re doing this digital painting with a reference photo or solely using your imagination, the distance and proportion between elements matter a lot.

Learning to draw an environment on a digital canvas deserves a whole blog post dedicated to it.

But for now, here’s what you can do:

  • Choose GOOD reference images of an environment. Save several references with different elements and points of view. This will help you take elements you like from each reference image.
  • Sketch the composition and perspective. Focus just on where the main elements are and add them to your composition.
  • Add details and shading. Once you’re done with the sketch, take time to add details, do some shading on your canvas and figure out the light source.
  • Refine, refine, refine. Now it’s time to refine! Clean your lines, see if you need to erase some elements or create new ones. Keep going until you’re happy with your digital painting!

The most important thing is to have fun with this process. Digital painting is hard and, just like in real life “traditional painting”, it takes time to get better at.

Don’t worry if it isn’t perfect yet, and concentrate on improving your painting techniques.

Related Questions

With all these digital art exercises ready for you, let’s review some quick related questions that you might find helpful.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Digital Tools In Art?

Is Digital Art Easier - Digital vs Traditional Art, learn the differences and which to choose! by Don Corgi

With so many benefits to drawing digitally, you can even argue that digital art is easier than traditional painting. Some of the benefits of using digital tools in art are:

  • Better Portability. You can create art at any time, in any place! Simply carry your tablet (or even phone!) with you, and you’re ready to start drawing.
  • More Sustainable Than Traditional Tools. Not only can you generally use the same digital tool for longer (I have used the same drawing tablet for over 10 years!), but they also have a smaller ecological footprint.
  • Easy To Share And Collaborate. Want to share your artwork on different platforms? It’s easy! Save your file in a size appropriate for the platform you’re uploading, and it’s done. Want to get your traditional painting in a larger size and frame? Well… that’s a bit harder. You can also send you file to a partner to edit across the world to collaborate. Super handy!
  • Thousands of Tools At Your Fingertips. Using digital tools is very versatile, since you can simply change from one tool to another with a click of a button. Want to go from a digital oil brush to charcoal? One click and you’re done! No need to wait for paint to dry or prepare surfaces.

There are many other benefits to using digital art tools, but I just wanted to cover a few here!

How Can I Stay Motivated With Consistent Drawing Practice?

Consistency is key when drawing, so if you lack motivation, you won’t be able to keep on doing these digital art exercises to improve. Worse yet, you might even burn out!

I recommend you to take consistent breaks and make a schedule, so you can make drawing a habit. I’ve gone over getting the motivation to draw in more detail in this article here.

What Digital Tools Or Software Should I Use?

I recommend you to use drawing software that you like and are used to. Some good options are Clip Studio Paint , Krita, Adobe Photoshop, and GIMP.

For more specific recommendations, check out my list of the Best Free Drawing Software here.

Can I Do These Digital Art Exercises On My Phone?

While I do recommend using a drawing tablet or a regular tablet (like an iPad with Procreate and an Apple Pencil), you can also use your phone to improve your digital art.

This will take some time to get used to, but it’s possible! Sit in a comfortable area and just use your finger or a stylus for touch screens like this one and start painting!

I hope these exercises to improve your artistic skills are helpful to you! And if you’re looking for a more guided approach to drawing, grab my Complete Figure Drawing Course , filled with helpful step-by-step video lessons!

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Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!

Enjoy your stay and as always: Keep on drawing!

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Fine Art Tutorials

Pencil Drawing for Beginners

Pencil drawing is a fun pastime and a great way to hone your artistic skills. Learning drawing for beginners is relatively easy, as you don’t need too many supplies and the basic techniques are relatively easy to learn.

Pencil drawing is the process of using a pencil—whether that’s a charcoal , graphite or coloured pencil —to create an artwork. The process and techniques of pencil drawing can look slightly different for each of these pencil mediums, but I’ll explain more about that later.

In this guide, learn everything you need to know about pencil drawing for beginners. From choosing the right drawing tools, to the essential techniques and exercises. Plus, get some tips on how to improve at drawing and ideas for what to create.

Disclaimer: Fine Art Tutorials is a reader supported site. When you make purchases through links on this site, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Pencils: Find the perfect pencil for your practice

drawing exercise ideas

The best pencil for your drawing practice will depend upon what you want to achieve. Pencils range in hardness and the materials that the core (also called lead) is made from. These two variable properties both have an effect on the artist’s drawing experience and outcome of the artwork.

drawing exercise ideas

Pencils range in hardness from around 6H (hard) to 12B (soft). HB pencils have a medium hardness, as do pencils labelled as F. With softer pencils, artists can achieve a greater range in values, compared to harder pencils. If you draw with a 8B, 12B or 6B pencil, you will be able to render deep shadows, as more of the softer pencil core will impart on the paper. However, with hard (H-6H), the lines will look finer, more precise and fainter. Hard pencils are easier to erase and suitable for technical drawings, but you won’t be able to achieve the range of tones and values that you would with softer pencils.

The next thing to consider when choosing your perfect pencil is the pencil medium you will draw with. Graphite pencils are made from graphite, which is a type of carbon. This results in smooth lines and stable mark-making. Charcoal pencils are made from vine or willow that has been heated to a high temperature. It is often used for sketching as it’s loose, easy to apply, can be smudged and erased easily. Coloured pencils are either made from oil or wax and artist grade coloured pencils usually use pigments that are lightfast. These pencils are soft, blendable, layerable and the best artist grade pencils are incredibly bright and pigmented.

Pencil drawing supplies

types of pencil drawing

When learning to draw with pencil you really don’t need to invest in all the best drawing tools to get started. All you really need is a pencil, paper and eraser to clean up mistakes. However, if you’re looking for some new supplies and need some recommendations, if you want to try some new materials, or if you’re just a bit of an art supplies addict, here are some of our top picks.

Caran d'Ache Grafwood Pencil Set - Assorted, Metal tube, Set of 15

Get a few different graphite pencils in different hardness levels when if you’re a beginner to drawing. Some of the best brands of graphite pencil include the Faber Castell 9000 Series which feel smooth to draw with and have a grey-silver tone. Another great brand of professional graphite pencils is Caran d’Ache , they are some of the smoothest and highest quality brand of graphite on the market. However, they’re on the expensive side. If you’re looking for a cheaper pencil, Staedtler are both great choices.

General's Peel and Sketch Charcoal - Soft, Single Pencil

General’s Peel and Sketch charcoal , is a wrap pencil. So instead of sharpening with a blade, peel back the paper to reveal more of the charcoal beneath. It’s high quality, soft charcoal that is resistant to snapping and breaking. Create deep shadows and smooth lines with ease.

Coloured Pencils

Faber-Castell Polychromos Pencil Set - Wood Box, Set of 120

The best artist grade coloured pencils are the Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils and Prismacolor pencils . These pencils are soft and blend beautifully, making them ideal for shading and creating coloured textures in your drawings. The colours are bright and highly pigmented, meaning they won’t fade over time. These pencils are oil based and harder in texture compared to wax based pencils. This means that the pencil core will wear down less quickly and details appear fine and sharper on the surface.

Bruynzeel coloured pencils are a more affordable option for those just getting started with the medium. They are artist grade, but have a smaller colour range than some of the more expensive options.

Drawing paper

Charcoal drawing ideas

The best drawing paper for your artwork will depend on the medium you’re using. If you want to achieve ultra small details in your drawings, choose a smooth paper like Bristol Board . Bristol Board paper works best with graphite medium.

Clairefontaine Pastelmat Sheet - 9-1/2

For mediums like charcoal and coloured pencils, use a paper with more tooth. This enables loose particles to adhere better and aids layering with mediums like coloured pencil. Mix layers of colours and make seamless blends with paper like Pastelmat . Pastelmat has a velvety texture that clings on to particles of pencil. It’s acid-free, thick and professional quality. Coloured pencils will appear bright and saturated on the surface, and it reduces the need for fixative and varnish.

Mixed media paper like Clairefontaine Mixed Media Pad is great for a using with a range of media. It’s great quality and cheaper than some of the more specialist papers.

Easy things to draw

Sketchbooks are a great tool for jotting ideas down when inspiration strikes, planning compositions for larger drawings and experimenting with new techniques. Stillman and Birn sketchbooks come in a range of paper weights. They’re professional quality, with acid free pages that won’t yellow or degrade over time. They’re ideal for using with graphite, charcoal and coloured pencils.

To get crisp, clean lines in your drawings, a good sharpener is a must. A plastic one will get the job done and keep costs low. They’re simple to use and easy to replace if it gets lost or broken.

To sharpen the edges of charcoal, use a sanding block or a knife. Charcoal pencils are too brittle to use with regular sharpeners.

With graphite and coloured pencil, you can use a regular sharpener, but a good quality one will preserve the core, meaning that your pencils will last longer. Sharpeners like the Derwent Super Point Manual Sharpener , or the X Acto Mighty Electric Pro sharpener will both do the job excellently.

how to use a kneaded eraser

There are many different kinds of erasers , made from different materials that work in different ways. Kneadable gum erasers are gentle on paper fibres, and mouldable into any shape. It’s useful to have on of these erasers for detail work, or subtly erasing highlights in a drawing. Another eraser that’s useful to have is the Tombow Mono Zero eraser . This eraser has a small width, making it great for erasing those tiny details.

Drawing for beginners: Tips

drawing exercise ideas

If you’re just starting out with drawing, there are some tips and techniques that you can use to improve your skills and make your drawings more professional.

The first step is to choose the right tools for the medium you want to work in. Graphite pencils are great for creating fine lines and detailed shading, while charcoal pencils are best for bold, smudgy strokes. Coloured pencils can be used to add bright, vibrant colours and textures to your drawings.

Once you’ve got the right tools, the next step is learning some basic drawing techniques. Shading techniques like cross hatching, stippling, and hatching will add texture and depth to your drawings.

When it comes to choosing a drawing style or approach, there are many different options to consider. Some popular styles include realistic pencil drawings, line art and loose sketches. Grab a sketchbook and practice, you will begin to learn what your favourite subjects and techniques are, which is the first step in honing your own personal art style .

Choose a reference for drawing

When finding a reference for pencil drawing , there’s inspiration all around! Keep a sketchbook handy and try out different drawing ideas whenever you get the chance. You could opt to find your own references, take photos of landscapes, cityscapes, wildlife and draw your own interpretations of the photos you take.

Another option is to draw en plein air. Take a sketchbook with you when you’re hiking and jot down sketches of your surroundings. You could also do a series of drawings or paintings based on the same subject, when you’re drawing outside, such as flowers, trees, people and buildings. This is a really great way to capture the atmosphere of a scene from life.

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to choosing a subject for pencil drawing, try looking online for examples. If you are interested in figure and portrait drawing, try using a 3D mannequin software to create poses to take inspiration from. Or you could try drawing photographs of models from databases, created specifically for artists to practice life drawing. Sites like Line of Action allow you to choose the type of life model and type of image, from animals to people, facial expressions and more.

Drawing techniques

There are a number of pencil drawing techniques artists can use to create a sense of realism and achieve their desired effects. Blending is a fantastic technique for creating soft edges in a drawing, for example, the soft shadows cast in a portrait, or the blurred edges of a mountain in the distance. Get a tortillion to create blended effects in your drawings.

cross hatching

Another technique that can be used to create realistic drawings is cross hatching . This involves creating a series of intersecting lines, with the edges pointing in different directions and varying in thickness. Cross hatching creates a rich texture , perfect for adding shadows and shading to your drawings.

Finally, stippling is another great way to create texture and depth in your pencil drawings. This technique involves using dots to build up shadow and contrast in a drawing. Try using different coloured pencils to add variation in your stippling patterns.

Pencil drawing process: Step by step

Plan the composition.

Pencil drawing process composition sketch

Planning the composition before you start drawing is a great way to ensure that your drawing is well balanced. Create some thumbnail sketches in a sketchbook and plan where your focal point will be and how all the different elements in your drawing will fit together. Sketch the rough shapes and make sure not to spend too long on them. I spent less than 20 seconds drawing the basic shapes of the bird, so I could gauge the best placement for the focal point . When you’re happy with the plan, it’s time to scale it up to create your final piece.

Create the outline

Pencil drawing process

Start by creating an outline of the subject. If you want to be especially accurate with drawing the proportions of the piece, use the grid method to scale up an image from a smaller drawing or a photograph.

Draw with light pressure so that you can easily erase lines if you make a mistake. Work from the centre of the drawing to the outside, starting with larger shapes and gradually adding in detail. Remember to take breaks as you work so that your arm doesn’t get too tired!

Add shading and texture

Pencil drawing for beginners steps

Next, it’s time to add some shading and texture to your drawing. For realistic drawings, aim for a variety of tones and textures to bring your drawing to life. In this drawing, I used the hatching technique to create the appearance of feathers on the white-eye bird. I’m using Polychromos pencils in burnt umber and white, on a Toned Tan sketchbook by Strathmore.

Use harder leads and sharpened pencils for crisp lines, and softer lead for creating smooth blends. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different shading techniques in your drawings—for example, cross hatching can create some really interesting patterns! If you want to create transitional shades and a more realistic representation of light and shadow, blend the pencil with a tortillion.

Work on the details

Pencil drawing for beginners process

Finally, add any last touches to your drawing to bring it to life. Add in any small details that you may have missed, and focus on adding a sense of depth by increasing the contrast in areas of light and shadow. Increase the shadows by applying more pressure to the pencil. Lift highlight details from mid tone areas with a fine tipped eraser like the Tombow Mono Zero . I added the final details, like the reflection in the eye, the brightest feathers and the reflections on the branches and buds with a white pencil. If you’re working on toned paper , using a white pencil is a great way to make those details pop!

Drawing exercises for beginners

Observational drawing exercises

Trying a variety of drawing exercises alongside completing your drawing projects will broaden your drawing abilities and provide great warm ups for larger pieces. Get a sketchbook and don’t be afraid to fill it with practice drawings—these don’t have to be a finished product, just small sketches that you can use to experiment with different techniques and develop your skills.

Some drawing exercises for beginners that can help you improve at pencil drawing include:

• Gesture drawing : This is a great exercise for artists interested in figure drawing or portrait drawing. Instead on focussing on drawing a perfectly accurate figure, try to focus on capturing the movement and gesture of the form. Read our guide on the process of gesture drawing, so you can create more dynamic and fluid drawings.

• Line drawing : Another useful exercise for beginners is to try drawing with just lines, rather than trying to shade or create texture in the piece. Experiment with different line weights and patterns to create different effects, and focus on using your pencil as a tool for creating shape and form.

• Shading exercises: Try creating a smudge drawing. This is where you shade your drawing then blend all the lines of the form so that they appear blurry. It’s a great exercise which will force you to focus on the edges of the artwork and create a more realistic representation of light and shadow.

How to improve at pencil drawing

There are many different tips and techniques that can help you improve at pencil drawing , such as:

• Practising regularly: One of the keys to improving at any skill is practising consistently. Whether you’re trying a new technique or working on a specific project, make time in your schedule for regular pencil drawing practice. This will allow you to build your skills gradually over time and see real progress in your work. Practice your drawing exercises and give yourself time for freeform drawing and doodling.

• Focusing on fundamentals: In order to get better at pencil drawing , it’s important to focus on the foundational elements of good drawing, such as composition , line accuracy, and shading techniques. By mastering these key principles, you can create more polished and visually interesting drawings.

• Seeking feedback: Another great way to improve at pencil drawing is to get feedback on your work from other artists and art educators. Whether you’re looking for tips on improving specific techniques or advice on how to develop your ideas, seeking out feedback can help you identify areas where you need to refine your skills and focus your practice. We have a Facebook group for readers of Fine Art Tutorials—here you can meet like minded artists, post your work, ask for feedback and support others on their artistic journey!

Pencil drawing ideas

You may have lots of ideas for what to draw, but if you’re stuck for inspiration, here are some pencil drawing ideas :

• Still life drawings: Try drawing a range of still life objects, from inanimate objects like fruit and flowers to more complex subject matter like tabletop scenes. This is a great way to hone your still life observational skills and focus on different elements of composition, such as negative space or depth.

• Landscape drawings: Whether you’re drawing a realistic landscape or creating a more stylised piece, landscape drawing is one of the most popular subjects for artists. Try experimenting with different techniques and tools to achieve different effects, from loose watercolour washes to detailed pencil shading.

• Portrait drawings: An iconic subject for artists, portrait drawing can be especially challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Try drawing different people, from friends and family or even yourself. You can also experiment with different methods such as contour drawing or proportion grids to improve your skills. Try drawing with the Loomis Method —this will help you draw the head from scratch .

• Animal drawings: From wildlife subjects to pets, there are endless possibilities for pencil drawing ideas when it comes to animal subjects. Try drawing a bird, or a smaller animal first, then work your way up to more complex subjects. If you want to learn processes for how to draw various animals easily, check out our easy drawing ideas guide.

• Figure drawings: Whether you draw from imagination or use a reference photo, figure drawing is another popular subject for artists who enjoy pencil drawing. Try working on different poses and compositions, such as standing or sitting figures and groups of people. You can also experiment with different materials, such as charcoal pencils or shading pastels to achieve different effects.

The best way to improve your pencil drawing skills is to keep practicing, experimenting, and challenging yourself. Whether you’re working on a specific project or just sketching for fun, the key is to enjoy the process of learning and creating. If you’re interested in learning more about drawing, check out our complete list of drawing tutorials .

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Articles and Insights

Inside linearity, get inspired, ben barnhart.

  • 01 October 2023
  • 21 min read

In this article

Quick question: Do you often want to create something but struggle to find inspiration for what you want to create?

We know the feeling.

When you sit down to draw with your pens or colored pencils, you need to be inspired by what you’re doing and challenged enough for your skill level.

To get the creative juices flowing, we’ve put together a giant list of fun ideas. Our list of drawing prompts combines a variety of objects and scenes from everyday life and some abstract ideas to activate the imagination.

Rather than relying on an intensive stack of books on the drawing process, we thought we'd provide you with the core aspects of an amazing drawing with plenty of fantastic visual sources of inspiration.

Whether drawing in a physical medium and putting pencil to paper or using a vector drawing tool like Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator) , you'll find a source of inspiration here.

Jumpstart your ideas with Linearity Curve

Take your designs to the next level.

6 reasons why drawing is good for you

Any form of art activity is proven to be beneficial for our well-being.

Expressing art ideas helps our brains develop, and it balances our nervous systems. Humans are creative by nature, so we need to express ourselves in this way.

The six primary benefits of drawing include:

  • Therapeutic and meditative: Drawing improves your mood. It helps you become present in the moment and allows you to reflect on yourself and your surroundings. Appreciating the beauty of nature, quieting your mind, and expressing your emotions result in a calmer, happier disposition.
  • Unlocks creativity: Drawing unlocks the part of your brain responsible for innovation and problem-solving. It exercises your ability to think differently and gets creative juices flowing. We love Sunni Brown’s Ted Talk on the life-changing power of doodling to learn more about this fascinating subject.
  • Improves communication skills: Drawing is a visual language not limited to straight lines. That's why it's good to try drawing exercises where you have to visually communicate something abstract, like "draw what is true to you." This pushes your fundamental skills for visual communication and subsequently improves your overall communication skills beyond drawing techniques.
  • Enhances memory: Drawing can be an effective tool for improving your memory. Studies have shown that doodling and sketching can help you remember information better than simply reading or hearing it. This is because drawing engages multiple areas of your brain simultaneously, creating a more robust neural network for memory recall.
  • Boosts confidence: Drawing is a skill. Like any skill, it improves with practice. Seeing your skills develop and improve on your drawing journey can significantly boost your self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Encourages observation skills: When drawing, you need to closely observe your subject, whether it's a live model, an object, or a landscape. This practice can hone your observation skills, leading to a heightened sense of awareness and attention to detail that can be beneficial in many areas of life.

Why is drawing so hard, though?

Drawing is a difficult skill to master.

Whether you’re taking it on as a new skill or improving the drawing skills you already possess, growth is always challenging. When you haven’t practiced drawing enough, you'll struggle to aptly portray the image you set out to draw.

Remember to choose the right drawing exercise for your skill level . If you choose something too difficult, you may become frustrated and disheartened. If you choose something too easy, you'll get bored and hinder your advancement.

Still, starting with a few basic drawing ideas never hurts. Try looking at pictures of everyday things like cute animals or a teapot and begin practicing basic drawing methods .

It’s important not to judge your ability and talent based on what simply comes down to lack of practice.

Improving any creative skill takes time and iteration. Persevere to the point where you make that breakthrough and suddenly find yourself producing pieces of a higher quality and accuracy than before.

Coming up with creative drawing ideas to keep the practice consistent can also be challenging. That’s why we’ve created the list below: so you’re never short of ideas for your next piece of art or design. Don’t let a lack of ideas be why you don’t practice drawing techniques .

If you're feeling completely uninspired, or even burnt out , there may be a few reasons for this:

  • Not challenging yourself
  • Limiting your knowledge
  • Not taking notes and compiling ideas
  • You aren’t surrounded by interesting things and people

People embarking on developing a creative skill often find it too challenging and give up or slack off because they haven’t committed to making a habit of it.

So take care of your biochemical state, stay inspired, and make a habit of practicing creativity.

How to improve your drawing skills

Practicing fun drawing ideas is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what you can do to improve your creativity skills.

There are certain exercises you can do specifically for drawing that are excellent for improving your overall creativity. We’ve listed some suggestions below:

Drawing tips

  • First and foremost, tap into your creative energy by ensuring your nervous system is balanced. This means taking care of yourself and ensuring you're well-rested and not overly stressed. Engaging in healthy activities that make you feel good (such as hiking, baking, or playing board games) is essential for developing your creativity.
  • Practice drawing perspective . This is one of the foundational drawing skills that help you portray subjects realistically. You can practice perspective by choosing any subject, from a room to a landscape or an object, and drawing it from different angles. You can create drawing grids to help you understand how perspective works.
  • Learn how to sketch on paper . Sketching objects, buildings, and people under various light sources will improve your fundamental drawing abilities.
  • Make use of drawing tutorials online . The internet is a vast landscape full of tutorials. You can find plenty of free drawing tutorials on Linearity Academy, YouTube, and online courses. Skillshare is an excellent platform for building your creative skills. There are plenty of drawing tutorials, from creating a convincing outer space scene to bringing a comic book character to life and even mastering everyday objects.
  • Practice creating digital art. Many artistic forms can be emulated on digital drawing surfaces such as computers, tablets, or drawing pads. With powerful digital tools for drawing , such as Linearity Curve (formerly Vectornator), you can unleash your creativity without limitations. For example, you can change your digital drawing to greyscale to create a pencil or charcoal look.
  • Look for #drawinghacks on social media. TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are inspiring creative platforms where you can find drawing ideas.
  • Follow your favorite artists on social media to stay inspired.

Drawing courses

Investing in an educational course is always good if you’re committed to learning something.

You can scout your local area for art teachers and institutions offering in-person courses or opt for an online one. Check out these courses:

  • Linearity Academy on YouTube
  • The Ultimate Drawing Course: Beginner to Advanced on Udemy
  • Drawing Courses on LinkedIn Learning

Ready to learn something new?

Check out our list of great design courses online.

An online drawing course will list the basic tools you need to complete it, so make sure you have everything you need first. We recommend taking courses from different mentors and experimenting with various mediums. There's a course for every budget.

Drawing challenges

Have you tried following a few design challenges ? They can be quite motivating when you want to improve and stay inspired. Participating in or setting up drawing challenges for yourself will ensure you’re constantly pushing your skills to the next level.

Commit to drawing exercises once a week that challenge your skills and develop popular drawing techniques , such as blind contour drawing. You can also search for and participate in art competitions.

Try drawing complex subject matter, like hair underwater, an intricate mechanical object, or your favorite dishes. Not only will this challenge your assumptions about how things look, but it'll also improve your observational skills.

Drawing books

If your budget allows (yes, we know they're expensive), buy a design or drawing book now and again to help with ideas, learning, and inspiration. Some of the most recommended drawing books you might want to check out are:

  • Dover Anatomy For Artists (1970) by Reginald Marsh
  • Perspective Made Easy (1999) by Ernest R. Norling
  • The Sketchbook of Loish: Art in Progress (2018) by Lois Van Baarle Sketching From The Imagination: Creatures and Monsters (2019) by 3dtotal Publishing

Dover Anatomy for Artists book

Drawing from references vs your imagination

So, do you copy reference images or come up with your own original idea for drawings?

If you’re a beginner, drawing from a reference helps you learn how things from reality transfer onto a page. It helps you analyze proportions, perspective, and light. However, you mustn't become overdependent on reference images and spend your time trying to copy other artists .

When you're ready to create original artwork, you can also collect various references, such as photos and objects, to combine into one drawing. You can draw from your own photographs as well.

There's another route: drawing from your imagination, in which case you'll focus particularly on developing this skill using a few drawing materials.

Find your happy (drawing) medium

If you commit to improving your skills, you’ll want to experiment and work with a medium that inspires you.

There are a plethora of drawing implements besides the traditional graphite pencil that you can make drawing marks with. A creative idea for your drawing project or exercise is one thing, but you need a suitable drawing instrument to bring it to life.

You can change between drawing mediums, mix different mediums, or commit to mastering one medium if that suits you. Colorful crayon marks bring a sense of youthful playfulness to your artwork, whereas the even black lines of fine liners convey the preciseness of technical drawing .

Apply your medium to drawing paper or any other surface that can hold your image. A thicker paper will have a coarse texture and will also wrinkle less when you mix drawing with painting.

It’s always good to experiment.

This step is more important than you might imagine. You may create work you dislike when drawing in graphite pencil but then discover you have a unique style when using charcoal.

Types of drawing mediums include:

  • Soft pastel
  • Graphite pencil
  • Color pencil
  • Digital (vector or raster)
  • Ballpoint pen
  • Watercolor pencil

image

Drawing ideas to keep you busy for the rest of your life

Finally, we’ve made it to the good stuff—the enormous list of drawing ideas.

How to use this drawing guide:

  • The drawing ideas have been broken down into different sections. We've included real-life drawing ideas, mythical illustrations, and abstract ideas to challenge your imagination and hand.
  • Plus, we’ve thrown in some ideas for kids if you have a class or children you'll be drawing with.
  • There are plenty of amusing drawing ideas here; some might sound boring or difficult, but they're good challenges for your skill.
  • We’ve chosen these ideas to give you the perfect mix of fun, inspirational, and challenging. You can choose to use the list in any way you like.

Section 1: Drawing the human form

Learning to capture the human figure is fundamental to drawing, and nothing quite reveals human emotion as a portrait drawing does.

Anatomy drawing teaches you to illustrate proportion and perspective with simple shapes. Focusing on the human form is an excellent idea if you’re interested in drawing as realistically as possible.

You can draw particular areas of the body, bodies in motion, facial expressions, clothing, and body proportions. The art of figure drawing never gets old—every person is uniquely beautiful.

  • Hand Gestures: Drawing hands is notoriously difficult, so gesture drawings are fantastic for challenging your skills. You can draw your own hands, a photo, or find images online.
  • Self-portrait: Creating a self-portrait is something every artist should do. You can take a photograph or try to do it from memory.
  • Your family and friends: Why look elsewhere when you're surrounded by people you love spending time with? Not only will your next of kin treasure a drawing you did of them, but you may also see new aspects of their bodies and personalities that you hadn't noticed before.
  • A caricature of yourself: This requires imagination and is a great overall creativity challenge. You can make it as detailed or silly as you like. Look at some other caricatures for inspiration before you begin.
  • Side profile: Drawing the side profile of a face teaches you another aspect of drawing faces and helps hone your perspective skills.
  • A nude figure: Drawing nude figures is one of the foundational drawing exercises taught in art because it teaches anatomy and perspective. You can try to find a live figure drawing class in your local area, look on Pinterest for drawing inspiration, or find resources in an art book or online art academy.
  • Eyes: These are the perfect drawing challenge because they are difficult to draw, especially trying to draw a pair of eyes to look the same. Drawing eyes is the ideal challenge for shading techniques, so if that’s something you’re looking to focus on, look no further.
  • An aged face: This is another more advanced challenge, as drawing aged faces requires more skill (and a lot of shading). It’s an excellent exercise for developing your realistic drawing skills.
  • A dancing form: This will help you learn how to convey a sense of movement. It’s also the perfect exercise to hone skills around the proportions of a human body.
  • An emotive expression: Learning how to visually communicate emotion is an important part of developing drawing skills. You can choose a reference of a face that’s hyper-expressive with laughter, tears, anger, or surprise.
  • People in conversation: This is an excellent challenge that combines skills in portraying movement, gesture, and emotion. It'll teach you how to bring life to a drawing with multiple figures.
  • A fashion illustration: You can choose to illustrate an outfit you own, something from your imagination, or simply copy an illustration from a fashion designer that you find online. This is an enjoyable challenge that also allows you to experiment with different drawing styles.

Section 2: Drawing animals

Most people love animals and would love drawing animals. Besides capturing the human body, anatomical drawing also includes illustrating animal bodies and gestures.

Trying your hand at drawing various species will help you become comfortable depicting different proportions and textures. Household animals, in particular, allow artists to capture something more profound than just the animal’s body.

Maybe there's something about a cat, dog, or bird that you find adorable, and you want to try and portray their personality and cuteness in the drawing.

Conveying the love you feel for the animal to the viewer is crucial for learning to communicate well visually.

  • Cats: These creatures are fascinating drawing subjects. And this is not only for cat lovers—feline bodies can make contortions that can be quite difficult to illustrate in a drawing. And depicting cat fur is an excellent shading exercise. Check out our tutorial on how to draw a cat .
  • Dogs: There are so many different breeds of dogs, and we're sure your dog is one in a million. Drawing some of the various breeds will keep you busy for a while and is a good opportunity to develop your skills with texture and pattern. Drawing a poodle, a husky, an Afghan hound, and a “pavement special” will help you learn how to portray dogs using different shapes and textures. Check out our tutorial on how to draw a dog .
  • Fish: Another excellent opportunity to play with textures and patterns, plus drawing a fish in its underwater context will allow you to observe how light and shade refracts in water. Here's our step-by-step tutorial on how to draw a fish .
  • Koala bears: They’re adorable, and apparently quite smelly. You might not have the opportunity to smell one in real life, but you can rely on reference pictures from books or the internet to capture its furry form.
  • Primates: If you study primates closely, you’ll notice their faces are highly expressive. These animals make for an excellent drawing challenge because of the lines, texture, and details in their faces and hands. You can also have fun and humanize your primate drawing subject by adding clothes and accessories. Learn how to draw a monkey .
  • Birds: You can play with the color of parrots and flamingos and challenge yourself to depict movement by drawing birds in flight.
  • Insects: The most diverse species on earth. You could spend a lifetime studying these creatures and capturing their details in various drawing mediums.
  • Your pets: Because you know your pet, you can capture their personality traits in your drawing. If you can't get your pet to pose long enough, work from a reference photo that captures them in a way that inspires you.
  • Dinosaurs: These ancient creatures can be fun to draw, and there are many kinds to choose from. It’s also a good challenge for playing with unusual textures and proportions.
  • Elephants: These beautiful creatures have thick, textured skin that makes for a challenging exercise in shading.
  • Snakes: Get creative with this one and draw a pet snake wrapped around its prey or draw the mythological character Medusa with snakes for hair.
  • Butterflies: Practice portraying beautiful patterns and color combinations and get creative with your unique patterns on butterfly wings.
  • Traces of animals: Set out some juicy fruit on a piece of paper and watch the birds peck at it. Then, turn the paper with the juice marks into a drawing.

Section 3: Imagining mythical creatures

If you’re inspired by magic, fiction, and mythology, drawing a fantastical creature might motivate you.

It'll also activate your imagination and open your mind to unique ideas that can lead to conceptualizing your own creatures. Drawing mythical creatures falls more on the challenging side of the difficulty scale, but you can always simplify your drawing ideas to basic line drawings.

Practice drawing different realistic textures such as long and short fur, scales, teeth, horns, and nails. This will help you hone the craft of drawing fantasy characters.

  • Dragons: You can challenge yourself to intricacy and detail with these timeless creatures. Find some references by other artists and design your own dragon character.
  • Mermaids: An excellent opportunity to combine your skills in human form and animal form, not to mention depicting water as well.
  • Huldra: This seductive forest-dwelling creature from Norse mythology similarly challenges you to combine human and animal form, with the option to add the context of the creature’s environment.
  • Hecatoncheires: This creature from Greek mythology is terrifying. If you’re into horror, you might enjoy it. It'll make for a more advanced drawing project.
  • Centaurs: Another excellent option for combining human form and animal form. Try challenging yourself to get as detailed as possible by depicting this creature's muscular physique.
  • Your favorite mythical creature: Can you come up with your own mythical creature? You can guide the process of drawing your own mythical creature by compiling and combining references from other creatures.
  • Cerberus: The mythological three-headed dog is an excellent opportunity to challenge your skills.
  • Fairies: You can adjust this subject matter according to your skill level, making it as simple or complex as you prefer. You can also play with color, light, and various textures.
  • Your favorite superhero: Do you have a favorite superhero? Why not combine their specific design with figure drawing exercises? This is especially effective if you want to start drawing your own comics.
  • A unicorn: Similarly to the fairy, you can adjust this to be as beginner-basic or intricately detailed as you wish.
  • Vampires: There is much reference imagery available for this drawing idea because of the vast number of series and films that portray vampires. Choose a favorite character that inspires you and try your hand at depicting them. Challenge yourself by imagining your character with a different hair color, clothes, or setting (for example, what did your character look like in school?).

Section 4: Drawing food

Food art is one of those uncanny, quirky categories of drawing that's lighthearted and visually stimulating. It's an art form that lends itself to mistakes and stray marks because fruit can symbolize many things.

  • Your favorite breakfast food: A creative challenge from start to finish: make the breakfast, take a beautiful photo, and then draw it.
  • An apple: Art teachers love apples. Not because they’re teachers but because apples are simple drawing ideas that you can adjust to any skill level. Try drawing an apple from real life. Then, try drawing it in a different color or style.
  • A super decadent ice cream: Imagine five scoops topped with cream, sprinkles, cookies, chocolate sauce, and a cherry to finish it off. You can add as many toppings and flavors as you like—make the biggest sundae you've ever seen.
  • A bottle of your favorite soft drink or beer: Drawing glass bottles allows you to practice light and shading on a smooth, reflective surface. Plus, the detail on the label will be a bonus level.
  • A fruit bowl: Many famous artists such as Paul Cezanne and Pablo Picasso have depicted the humble fruit bowl at some point in their careers. Whether for practice or for your kitchen space, try to capture the colors and textures of different fruit together in a bowl for a fresh drawing idea.
  • A piece of cake: Make it decadent and beautiful. You can also include fine china, silverware, and a patterned tablecloth to your drawing to create more interest.
  • Sushi: Sushi offers child-like playfulness to food. Try to play with a unique illustration style to depict the simple lines and shapes of the various types of sushi.
  • Your favorite takeout: You can order it and copy it from real life or take a photo. This could make a fun date night idea or an art-inspired hangout with your friends. Order takeout, then draw it in your own style.
  • A salad: Another simple drawing idea, but if you pick the right ingredients, you can make it colorful and visually interesting.
  • Food art: Have you seen food art before? It’s when you combine real food with drawings to create unique artwork. For instance, turning citrus fruit into jellyfish (see below).
  • A cup of warm, steamy coffee: Is coffee the first thing you think of in the morning? Why not draw a simple line drawing of your favorite brew? This makes for a lovely little artwork you could even gift to a friend who also loves coffee. Making this drawing part of your morning routine could unearth some interesting drawing ideas each day.

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Section 5: Drawing the outdoors

  • Cityscapes: Choose a city and draw the skyline. You can trace the silhouette and color it in or try to capture all the windows and facets of each building. You could also gift the finished product to a friend or relative who loves that city.
  • Botanical drawings : If you love flowers and plants, you'll love drawing them. Focus on the minute details and try to accurately capture the blend of colors. With much patience, you may be surprised by the level of preciseness you can achieve.
  • Architectural drawings: Are you fascinated by architecture throughout the centuries? Consider keeping a sketchbook on hand to sketch beautiful buildings on your daily commute.
  • The view in front of you: Drawing can happen anywhere. At the park, the mall, or a quiet diner late at night. Make an outing of it, and go outside to capture real-life scenes.
  • Seascapes: The ocean is very challenging to draw. There’s a lot of motion, shading, and light to capture. And at the back of your mind, you know that water is actually transparent. But your challenge is to find ways to simplify the scene and put it on paper. Look for reference pictures that inspire you and are appropriate for your skill level. Once you've mastered some of the beach textures, go to a local spot and try it en plein air .
  • Trees: Trees are majestic and always give a sense of history. Capture these giants in their natural habitats or look for topiary specimens.
  • A sandy desert: You could get creative with this drawing idea and fill in the dunes with patterns. Add some cacti and a broken-down car to tell a story.
  • A train station: Try and capture the busyness of the scene with people going about their day. Or, draw the trains and their locomotives if you're more interested in mechanical engineering.
  • Detailed landscapes: Choose a landscape, either from a photograph or a real-life view, and attempt to capture its essence. Pay attention to the details—the texture of trees, the reflection in the water, the shadows, and the light. Remember to add a horizon line to create a sense of vastness and distance.
  • Clouds: No two clouds look the same. Capturing these billowy shapeshifters is great practice for shading.
  • A rose: These delicate flowers are a classic subject matter and notoriously tricky to capture realistically. Challenge your skills with this drawing idea.

Section 6: Drawing interiors

  • Indoor plants: Choose a favorite plant, or group a bunch of them together, and try to draw from real life.
  • Game controllers: It may seem too basic, but drawing electronics can be pretty challenging. Give it a try.
  • A room in your home: Take a photo of your favorite room and draw it. You can experiment with different styles and mediums to capture the essence of the room—is it airy and warm, or cast in dappled shade as the sun sets?
  • A peaceful day indoors: Capture the ambiance of a relaxing day at home. Cats, socks, hot chocolate, and your favorite hobby.
  • Books: Stack some of your books up and draw them. You could also try to redraw the book cover you're reading.
  • Musical instruments: Challenge yourself by making super detailed drawings, or try making simple line drawings of various instruments at first.
  • An eccentric lamp: Simple, yet striking. This can be a good exercise to practice shading and artificial lighting in your drawings.
  • A bath: Bathing and grooming have been popular subject matter throughout history. It's a private space where you can completely be yourself and practice self-care. Try to express the calm and relaxation you feel in your bath.
  • A drinking glass: Another good opportunity to capture depth and how light falls on a smooth, reflective surface.
  • Cutlery: Don't underestimate the power of simple designs. We take cutlery for granted, but have you ever stopped and considered how these were designed? Drawing cutlery and other utensils will grow your appreciation of everyday designed objects. ‍
  • An armchair: Chairs represent the people that use them, and often a good sofa has an imprint of the bodies that frequent it. Even TV series like The Simpsons and Friends have iconic couches. Make it colorful, patterned, rugged, or fancy. Have fun with it.

Section 7: Drawing shapes and patterns

Many of the drawing ideas we've explored so far will help advance your realism skills and empower you to develop a unique drawing style.

The ideas listed below, however, will challenge your creative thinking and teach you to play in the abstract realm. Abstract drawing is a valuable and beautiful part of art.

  • Zentangles: They don’t teach this in geometry, but it exists. The zentangle concept was invented by an American monk, Rick Roberts, and artist, Maria Thomas. It's basically a combination of many different patterns inside an organic shape. The idea is to create a meditative exercise through drawing.
  • Free-flow scribbles: Get the creative juices flowing and warm up your hand with some free-flow scribbling.
  • Basic shapes: Try drawing as many as possible, as accurately as you can, freehand.
  • Circles, circles, circles: These are essential for any drawing practice. Circles form the basis of many natural and mechanical objects. Drawing circles as accurately as you can from freehand trains your hand to become steady.
  • Cubes: An excellent challenge for practicing depth and perspective.
  • An icosahedron: This is a challenging shape to draw. An icosahedron is a polygon with 20 sides. We recommend downloading an icosahedron pattern and making one out of paper. This way, you can observe it in different positions and light settings.
  • Spheres: Practice drawing circles, but with the added challenge of depth. Can you make it look perfectly spherical?
  • Geometric patterns: Geometric patterns are fascinating . They have a rich and varied history and help us to understand mathematical concepts. Challenge yourself by conceptualizing your own pattern or find one online to trace.
  • Draw a landscape: Fill each element with a different pattern.
  • An impossible triangle: The funny thing about impossible triangles is they're not impossible to draw. This is a great brain exercise, too.
  • Get abstract: Choose an object or person and interpret them as an abstract drawing.

Section 8: Imagination challenge

Drawing from your imagination is a whole different ball game.

It can be difficult to draw without a reference, but it'll develop your creativity and tap into your authentic style . The list below consists of drawing prompts designed to activate your imagination and challenge your hand.

  • Draw something true to you.
  • Draw how you feel right now.
  • Illustrate something from your favorite book.
  • Draw your favorite song.
  • Draw something you couldn’t live without.
  • Draw a scene from your imagination.
  • Create your dream house.
  • Try to capture a recent dream or nightmare in a drawing.
  • Do a Rorschach test and write down what you see.
  • Make hand imprints and turn them into characters.
  • Draw a cat at a birthday party.
  • Combine two or more animals to come up with one of your own.
  • Draw yourself as a mythical creature or superhero.
  • Draw your ideal day as a comic strip.
  • Draw something impossible.
  • Design a logo for your next big idea.
  • Create a stick-figure flipbook animation .
  • Reimagine a famous artwork in your own style.

Section 9: Drawing ideas for kids

You might have children of your own or young students that you teach, so here are some ideas to start nurturing the creativity of little ones.

These ideas don’t require much explanation. You can choose from the list and find references online or in real life. And they will be equally entertaining for adults.

  • A cupcake with a face.
  • Your favorite animal.
  • Draw a bird using the outline of your hand.
  • A self-portrait.
  • A full-length person.
  • Draw a rabbit using the outline of your hand.
  • Numbers 1–10, each with a different pattern inside.
  • Draw what happiness feels like.
  • Draw the alphabet and make each letter a character.
  • Concentric circles.
  • Draw a tree from your imagination.

Our recent article on cool drawing ideas looks at a range of ideas suitable for various skill levels, with an emphasis on beginner-friendly drawings.

Some ideas include drawings for kids and tutorials on how to draw beloved animals, such as a cat or a dog.

Looking for more cool drawing ideas?

Check out our list of 25 easy tutorials.

Draw it. Share it. Repeat.

We hope your conception of drawing has expanded and you've found some handy tips to keep improving your skills.

You know the expression, "Back to the drawing board"? A true artist always goes back to basics to explore new avenues of expression.

Make sure to play around with drawing realistically and in your own stylized way. The more you practice, the more likely you'll find a unique style you enjoy the most.

We'd love to see your creations—please share your art with us. We often reshare our readers’ designs and illustrations on social media . Use the hashtag #linearitycurve to make it easy for us to find your posts.

If you haven't tried our out-of-this-galaxy digital design software yet, get started with Linearity Curve today. Draw anything in our user-friendly interface and watch your imagination come to life.

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Ben is a Content Lead for Linearity living in Berlin. His hobbies include board games, cooking, reading, and writing.

Ben Barnhart

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Generate Unlimited Drawing Ideas with these 5 Exercises

Drawing ideas

One of the most enjoyable facets of being an artist is feeling the rush of excitement and inspiration of new drawing ideas – when you can’t help but drop everything and run to your easel or sketchbook to catch that fleeting energy and momentum that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

However, a drawing practice (or any artistic practice, for that matter) cannot be sustained if one only chooses to work “when inspiration strikes” with an idea.

What if we learned to cultivate a state of mind and certain practices that would allow us to experience that wonderful rush regularly? Daily even? And, as a result, generate unlimited drawing ideas?

In this article I will present 5 exercises to use to generate unlimited drawing ideas that are unique to you. Notice that this page is not simply "5 fabulous drawing ideas" ( though you can view 30 ideas for drawing on this page ). Because this page presents 5 exercises to use to generate your own drawing ideas, most of these strategies require some effort. You can think of them as guided, internal investigations to use to determine what you truly want to create or express.

Throughout my education, my favorite professors were consistently those who encouraged me to create works that were increasingly more genuinely "my own", and, as a result, felt like extensions of myself. Instead of projecting their own ideas, opinions and aesthetics onto my work, these professors would find ways of asking questions to illuminate what it was that I truly felt compelled to explore or communicate.

I sincerely hope that these exercises will help you do just that: to clarify what you are interested in and provide you with strategies to generate your own, infinite drawing ideas.

5 Exercises to Generate Unlimited Drawing Ideas

Exercise 1: Build upon what you already have

It is easy to assume that in order to create something meaningful we must look outside ourselves to find something “new”, something “else”, something more than we already have. It can therefore come as a delightful surprise to be reminded that we are already sitting on a potential treasure trove of drawing ideas that have been forming throughout our lifetimes … simply as a result of living life!

We have all had a unique combination of experiences, upbringing, and education; we have topics that have become dear to us that we wish to meaningfully communicate and express our opinions about. The challenge is not to find something new, but to get to the core of the ideas that make us tick, and to find the most resonant and meaningful ways to express them.

"Each of us is our own country, an interesting place to visit. It is the accurate mapping out of our own creative interests that invites the term original. We are the origin of our art, its home-land." -Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way

We can find the key to our treasure trove of drawing ideas simply by directing our awareness to all the ideas that we already have.

Create a physical list of all your existing drawing ideas

Generating drawing ideas

Begin, simply, with what you already have, and create a physical list of all your existing drawing ideas.

This will not be a tiny "Post-It" sized list of one or two ideas, however. This will be a list of 50 to 100 ideas . If you're thinking, "If I had 50 to 100 ideas, I wouldn't be reading this article!" - just trust me. Begin with one idea. It can be anything.

It is both a challenge and a skill in itself to let go of the inclination to immediately evaluate your ideas as you write them down. Remember that there are no bad ideas during this exercise, and that you will have a chance to evaluate them later on.

At some point you will hit a block and feel as though you’re tapped out of ideas .

Whether this happens at 10 ideas, 20 ideas – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that you continue through this block, because this is where the magic happens. This is when the intriguing, surprising and often bizarre ideas emerge as you rack your brain to come up with anything and everything.

The key here, again, is to turn off your internal filter. Some of your ideas are bound to be ridiculous. Without fail, every time I practice this exercise I write down something to do with a purple elephant. That is when I know that I must keep going, because my better ideas tend to surface once I’m past this point.

Get past the point of the “I don’t have any more ideas!” panic by writing down any thought that occurs to you. This will allow you to move to the next layer of ideas, and think deeper until you expose the truth of what you are truly interested in.

All this to say, if you think up something that your internal voice tells you is completely absurd – good! Your brain is beginning to stretch as you comb through the parts of your mind that are covered in cobwebs. If you have a few laughs along the way – even better.

If and when you feel stuck:

  • Review the drawing ideas already written on your list, to see if you can combine them in ways that you would not normally have thought to. This forced collision of ideas can evoke new perspectives and fresh thinking.
  • Look around to see what ideas you can derive from your surroundings.

As with any exercise, this one becomes easier with practice. If you take the time to do this exercise, (remember - not ten ideas, but fifty to one hundred!) you will be pleasantly surprised by the drawing ideas that are already in your mind. Perhaps those that you had simply never considered to be "drawing ideas".

Summary of Exercise 1:

Get a notebook and a writing utensil, and begin jotting down any and every drawing idea that comes to you. Turn off that editing internal filter that we all have, and continue until you hit some form of mental resistance. Recognize this resistance as a good thing, and begin stretching your mind for further ideas - they can be anything and everything - until your list contains between 50 and 100 drawing ideas. Once finished you can comb through this list and pick out the ideas that resonate with you the most.

An alternative to writing a list can be creating several sketches, but the key again is in the numbers, in the pushing yourself when you feel that you are "out of ideas" to stretch your mind to make new connections.

Exercise 2: Pose an if/then question to yourself

Ask yourself, "If I were my most creative self, then I would draw ..." Or, alternatively, "What would my most creative self draw/make?"

You may be surprised by your answer to this simple question.

Exercise 3: Discover and challenge your tendencies

Consider what you normally draw. What creative decisions do you routinely make in your drawings? What are your tendencies in your drawings? Look through your recent work to identify and write down at least 10.

For example, you may notice that you regularly draw models of a particular body type or gender, use a particular value range, use the same medium, draw similar compositions, or any any number of other decisions that you have stopped actively deciding on, having switched on a kind of "creative auto-pilot".

I don't mean to imply that all of our tendencies are "bad". Far from it! We do things a certain way and make particular choices often for very good reasons. However, we can also become comfortable approaching creative problems in a certain way, and that is where the danger is. Creative breakthroughs often occur when we push our ideas to the point of risk - when we are unsure if what we are experimenting with is going to be the best or worst work we have ever created.

Taking your artwork to the point of risk

The purpose of this exercise is to become aware of your tendencies, so that you can analyze why they are your tendencies, and whether or not they are relevant and effective in expressing your intended message.

Once you have written your list of 10 tendencies, ask yourself:

  • Did I choose this tendency?  
  • Did I adopt it from somewhere or someone unconsciously? 
  • Is it still (or was it ever) relevant to what I am making or trying to say?

In asking these questions, we put ourselves in a position to evaluate what we are currently doing, and how can we do it with more meaning, impact, and intent.

Next to each tendency, write down an alternate way of approaching this particular aspect of your drawing. Evaluate whether or not this new approach would communicate what you want to express better than the former one, and then – test this new approach in your next drawing!

Exercise 4: Make the work that you want to see

Imagine yourself standing in your favorite museum or gallery. You have just come across an artwork that resonates with you more intensely than any artwork you have ever seen. You stand in front of it completely mesmerized and captivated.

If you were to picture this "ideal artwork," what qualities would it have?

drawing exercise ideas

What does it look like?

What is the medium?

Is it in color?

If so, what is the color palette?

Are the colors vibrant or subdued?

What size is the work? So grand that it towers over you, so that even its size alone is awe-inspiring? Or so minute that you must walk up to it to see it, and have an intimate experience observing it at close proximity?

What is the subject matter?

Is it cheerful? Morose?

Emotion: (The most important element.)

What does this work make you feel? What do you experience when you view it?

If you're unsure, try posing these questions instead:

What do you want to feel when you look at a work of art?

How do you want it to affect you?

(Bonus: This question can be helpful in determining what you think the purpose of art is.)

Perhaps you want to feel uplifted or motivated. Maybe you want to feel centered, or a deep-seated peace. Perhaps you want art to show you an element of the world in a way that you haven't seen before. Maybe you want to feel woken up, as if your eyes have been opened and you have gained a new awareness of something.

It can be anything, and only you can decide how you want to feel. Your answer is the only correct answer in this scenario (how often does that happen?).

In answering all of these questions, try to be as specific as you can. As you do this exercise, I suggest writing down or sketching whatever comes to you. Take some time to clarify your ideas, and then…

Make it! Create your ideal artwork.

You may not create exactly what you envision on your first try. Your drawing may morph and shape into something quite different from what you intended or imagined, as artworks often do.

However, you will be at least a step closer to creating that artwork, and in the process you will learn about yourself and your views on the role and purpose of art.

Exercise 5: Create a gallery of your favorite artwork

Compile images of your favorite artwork into a folder. Select works that entrance you, and that you return to look at time and time again when you need to be uplifted and inspired.

Example of an inspiration folder to generate drawing ideas

Once you have compiled the images in a kind of “inspiration folder”, look through them as a group and consider:

  • Are there any recurring ideas and themes throughout the works that you have amassed (even though they are works of various artists)?
  • What are the recurring themes?
  • What else do the works have in common – do they make you feel a certain way, do they have similar subject matter, aesthetic, etc?

Take some time to journal about this and come up with 5 to 10 ideas.

The recurring themes that emerge in the works you selected are most likely ideas that resonate with you, and that you may be interested in exploring as well.

How can you explore these ideas in your own way, in a way that would be personal and specific to you?

Or – how are the works in your inspiration folder different? What various qualities in these works, different as they may be, resonate with you the most? Could these divergent qualities be combined in a fresh, interesting way?

If you are concerned that developing drawing ideas in such a way will cause them to be derivative, try to remember that:

"All work is influenced by other work. All people are influenced by other people. No man is an island and no piece of art is a continent unto itself.

When we respond to art we are responding to its resonance in terms of our own experience. We seldom see anew in the sense of finding something utterly unfamiliar. Instead, we see an old in a new light."

-Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way

Everything comes from somewhere. We cannot create in a vacuum, and everything is derivative in some way. However, the more influences we have to look at, the more elements we can store in our visual vocabulary to later re-combine in ways that feel uniquely our own.

The Balance Between Idea Creation and Execution

There is a balance to be struck between idea creation and execution (the actual act of drawing).

Much of this site addresses how to improve your technical drawing skills - the way that you execute your drawing. However, because there is so much to learn in the realm of technical drawing, it can be easy to fall down the proverbial rabbit hole of drawing technique and forget entirely that drawing is, first and foremost, a creative opportunity for self-expression, self-exploration and communication.

Even while working specifically on technique, it is important to check in with the “what, why and how” of our creative decision-making.

If you are just beginning to draw, are immersed in technical training, and don’t yet feel equipped to tackle complicated subject matter, I still encourage you to work through these exercises in order to begin discovering what truly interests you, and what you feel compelled to explore.

These internal investigations will inform how you approach your study of technique, and illuminate the specific skills you need to acquire in order to be able to express what you truly wish to communicate.

Happy Drawing,

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Draw Paint Academy

Drawing Ideas for Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Artists

Not sure what to draw? This post will provide you with some ideas. 

What to Look For in a Drawing Subject

Beginner drawing ideas, intermediate drawing ideas, advanced drawing ideas, a drawing can be as complex as you want to make it, general tips, additional readings, thanks for reading.

Nicolai Fechin Drawing

Here are a few points to consider when deciding what to draw:

  • There are no boring subjects. Even a simple egg or apple can make for a great drawing subject. Look close enough and you’ll see the subtle transitions between light and shadow, the textures, and tiny imperfections.
  • Focus on artistic elements-light, shadow, form, shape, pattern, etc.- rather than what the objects represent.
  • The subject can change dramatically by simply changing the light.
  • You are never too advanced to practice the basics. If you think you are too advanced for a simple exercise like drawing an egg, then try drawing an egg with a perfect rendering of light and shadow. You might find that there’s always room for improvement.

Here are some beginner drawing ideas. These are simple in terms of shape, form, and contrast.

  • An egg with a single dominant light source.
  • A coffee mug.
  • An apple or orange.
  • A book (closed or open).
  • Simple forms, like a box.

Simple Drawing Exercise, Overlapping Object

Simple Drawing Exercise, Overlapping Object

Egg Tutorial - Light And Shadow

Egg Tutorial - Light And Shadow IMG_4157

Giorgio Morandi, Still Life with Jugs, 1956

Giorgio Morandi, Still Life with Jugs, 1956

Here are some intermediate drawing ideas. These will require more accuracy with your drawing and a better understanding of light and shadow.

  • A still life with up to three fruit.
  • A pair of shoes.
  • A glass cup.
  • An animal (dog, cat, cow, etc.).
  • Simple landscapes.

Paul Cézanne, Sleeping Dog, 1876-78

Paul Cézanne, Sleeping Dog, 1876-78

Leonardo da Vinci, The Skull

Leonardo da Vinci, The Skull

Vincent van Gogh, A Bird's Nest. The Figure in the Letter, 1885

Vincent van Gogh, A Bird's Nest. The Figure in the Letter, 1885

Peter Paul Rubens, Lion, ca. 1612-1613

Peter Paul Rubens, Lion, ca. 1612-1613

Vincent van Gogh, Girl in the Woods. The Figure in the Letter, 1882

Vincent van Gogh, Girl in the Woods. The Figure in the Letter, 1882

Vincent van Gogh, Chair, 1890

Vincent van Gogh, Chair, 1890

Here are some advanced drawing ideas. These are challenging by nature and will require more time to complete. They tend to be dynamic, so you will need to be flexible in your approach.

  • The human figure (with a focus on the gesture).
  • The human figure (with a focus on individual parts).
  • An intricate tree.
  • Complex landscapes.
  • Complex interior scenes.
  • Complex still life setups.

Albrecht Durer, Christmas,1514

Albrecht Durer, Christmas,1514

Albrecht Durer, Praying hands, 1508

Albrecht Durer, Praying hands, 1508

Leonardo da Vinci, Sketch the Tuscan Landscape, 1473

Leonardo da Vinci, Sketch the Tuscan Landscape, 1473

Leonardo Da Vinci, Study of Arms and Hands, 1474

Leonardo Da Vinci, Study of Arms and Hands, 1474

Michelangelo, Écorché Drawing

Michelangelo, Écorché Drawing

Nicolai Fechin Drawing 3

Nicolai Fechin Drawing 3

Nicolai Fechin Drawing 5

Nicolai Fechin Drawing 5

Rembrandt, The Windmill, 1641

Rembrandt, The Windmill, 1641

van Gogh, Starry Night (Drawing), June 1889, Bremen Kunsthalle, Now in Moscow

van Gogh, Starry Night (Drawing), June 1889, Bremen Kunsthalle, Now in Moscow

You can increase or decrease the complexity of a drawing depending on how carefully you render it.

Drawing an egg is perfect for beginners. But drawing an egg with perfectly rendered lights and shadows is much more advanced. Just as a full-rendered figure drawing is usually reserved for advanced artists. But even a beginner can draw the basic shapes, forms, and gestures of a figure.

  • Don’t worry about the finished product when practicing. The practice is what’s important. If you’re always focused on drawing masterpieces, you’ll never relax and improve.
  • If in doubt, draw whatever is around you.
  • Always keep a pencil and drawing pad with you.
  • Turn drawing into a habit. Perhaps you can carve out 10 minutes of drawing time in the morning before everyone wakes up, or at night once they have all gone to bed.
  • A little bit of practice every day is better than a lot of practice every now and then.

Steve Huston’s Figure Drawing for Artists

Simple Drawing Exercises

Gesture Drawing Guide

Thanks for taking the time to read this post. I appreciate it! Feel free to share with friends. If you want more painting tips, check out my  Painting Academy  course.

Happy painting!

drawing exercise ideas

Dan Scott Draw Paint Academy

Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page .

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Mindful Zen

7 Mindful And Meditative Drawing Ideas For Relaxation and Calm

Wait, what?

Is drawing to relax and find inner peace really a thing?

It sure is!

Though relaxation drawing isn’t a new concept, it seems to be popping up all over the place lately, and for a good reason. 

The process is simple, the benefits are profound, and you can’t mess it up. 

Additionally, although the end result isn’t the point of the practice, you might even wind up with some spiffy art to decorate your space. 

What Is Meditative Drawing? 

What are the benefits of meditation drawing , supplies you may need for mindful drawing , 1. draw your feelings, 2. word doodles, 3. body scan drawing, 4. zentangles, 5. draw the breath, 6. draw music, 7. simple circles.

Surely you’ve drawn a picture at some point in your life. And you’ve at least heard of meditation , even if you’ve never actually tried it. 

But what is meditation artwork? Here are some thoughts:

  • Connecting. Anyone can pick up a pen and draw lines or a picture, but meditative drawing allows you to connect with yourself, the pen, the paper, and what you’re drawing. 
  • Mindfulness. Rather than pondering what to draw and which colors to use, this form of art therapy is about being present in the process and focusing your attention on things like how the pen feels in your hand, the sound it makes as you make marks, and noticing your breath and how you feel. 
  • Therapy. It’s an effective way to express and understand your emotions and how they affect you. 
  • No artistic ability required! You don’t need to be an artist or anywhere near good at drawing to benefit from meditative drawing. 

Maybe you’ve tried more traditional meditation but don’t enjoy it, can’t seem to stick with it, or you don’t experience the results you hope for.

Or perhaps you’re simply looking to add other forms of mindfulness to your practice. Mediation drawing is a fantastic alternative.

You don’t need Van Gogh-like talent to benefit from mindfulness drawing activities because it’s not about the result.

When you focus on the process of drawing and how you feel while doing so, you benefit in many ways.

  • Increased resilience. Don’t erase your drawing if you mess up and resist letting yourself get stressed or annoyed at mistakes. Life is full of unexpected and unwanted events, and meditation drawing allows you to accept things as they are.
  • Reduced stress and anxiety. Meditation allows you to connect with yourself and your feelings without judgment and find inner peace. 
  • Better focus. This practice isn’t about quieting your thoughts but instead noticing when they wander (which WILL happen) and returning your attention to your drawing. Doing this repeatedly strengthens your focus muscle. 
  • Improved creativity. Some of your realizations, reflections, and best ideas come when you think clearly and calmly. 

Beginning a mindful drawing practice doesn’t require many supplies.

All you need is:

  • Paper. A sketchbook, a journal, or even scrap paper works great.
  • Drawing utensils. There are technical pens for this purpose, but any fine-tip pen will do the trick. You can also use colored pencils or markers if you like. 
  • A relaxing atmosphere. Your couch, kitchen table, or desk are all fine, as long as you’re comfortable and able to focus on the activity at hand. 

7 Mindful and Meditative Drawing Ideas 

You don’t need to draw anything specific to reap the benefits of a mindful drawing exercise . You can draw anything you want, but the following ideas are a great place to start. 

drawing exercise ideas

Drawing your feelings allows you to empathize with yourself. It makes you feel heard and validated and allows you to express what’s happening inside you.

Begin by checking in with yourself. Identify an emotion and how it feels in your body. Don’t judge or resist it but simply become aware.

Keeping those feelings in mind, close your eyes and ask yourself what that emotion might look like. What shape, size, and color is it? 

Now, without overthinking, draw it on your paper. You don’t have to know what it looks like as long as you’re open to working with it. Let go of thinking and trust your gut. Let the pen move freely and depict your feelings using lines and shapes. Use colors if you wish. 

Reflect on your drawing afterward if you want to take it a step further. What does it look like? What can you learn from it? How do you feel now?

drawing exercise ideas

Drawing words is a fun way to express what you’re feeling or achieve what you want to feel.

Choose an intention word or short phrase that resonates with you. Some word ideas include: overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, love, patient, present, or calm. You might prefer to doodle an affirmation such as “I am focused” or “I am worthy.”

Create bubble letters or simply write your chosen word on your paper as big as you’d like. Make designs and patterns inside and around the letters, filling the page to your liking. Use lines and shapes and colors, whatever feels right. 

drawing exercise ideas

Body scan drawing is a great exercise for when you’re flooded with stress, anxiety, or overwhelming emotion. 

To start, get in a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down, and take a few deep breaths.

Close your eyes and bring your awareness to the contact points between your body and the surface beneath you. Feel the weight of your body being supported.

Next, move your awareness through your body, from the bottom to the top. Your feet, calves, thighs, bottom, stomach, chest, upper and lower back, arms, wrists, fingers, neck, face, and head. 

Notice any sensations, such as tension, tingling, pain, warmth, or coolness, and allow yourself to become aware of the colors, textures, or words that come to mind with these feelings. Bring your awareness back to your breath and then your surroundings. 

When you’re ready, allow your pen to fill your page with whatever marks, colors, and words come to mind. Consider journaling about your experience when you’re done. 

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drawing exercise ideas

This increasingly popular mindful art form uses repetitive patterns to create beautiful images. It’s easy to learn and quite relaxing. It’s often done with color but doesn’t have to be.

Begin by drawing wavy lines on your paper and move across the page using one color at a time. Next, fill in the wavy sections with wavy lines. 

Continuing up or across the page, draw more wavy lines using another color and fill those wavy sections in with more wavy lines. Repeat these steps with however many colors you want to use. 

Fill the whole page or leave white space at the top, whichever you prefer. You can fill in your wavy lines with matching chalk pastels to create a shadowy effect or leave it as is. 

drawing exercise ideas

A big part of meditation is focusing on the breath , noticing how long each breath is and what it feels like as you inhale and exhale.

However, staying focused on the breath can be difficult as distracting thoughts enter your mind. Drawing the breath helps you maintain your awareness of it. 

Set a timer for five minutes or for however long you want to do this practice. Begin on the edge of the page in the middle. 

Gently move your pen up and down the page, syncing it with your breath. As you breathe in, make a mark moving up the page.

When you get to the top of the breath, make a small curve before bringing your line down the page as you exhale. 

Make a small curve at the bottom of the breath before moving the pen back up your paper.

Don’t try to control your breath. Let it flow naturally, and simply be aware of it. When your mind wanders, notice it and bring your awareness back to the page.

You’ll likely notice the lines extending a bit longer as you become more present and calmer. You may also notice different patterns each time you do it depending on how you’re feeling at that moment. 

drawing exercise ideas

Like drawing and meditation, music is soothing for the soul. You can combine all three for one unique mindful activity to elevate your mood and feel inspired.

Do this with lyrics or to the beat of a song without lyrics. There’s no right or wrong way to do it. 

Begin by choosing a song you like, or that makes you feel good. Close your eyes and notice what colors you feel in the song. There may be one color or several. They may be dark or light, bold or gentle. 

Notice what you see in the song. 

  • Do you see objects or people? 
  • Are the images happy? Sad? Enlightening? 

Draw lines, patterns, lyrics, and shapes while listening to the rhythm of the music according to how it moves you. Change the lines or patterns as the rhythm changes. 

drawing exercise ideas

Who knew drawing tiny versions of one of the most basic shapes could be so beneficial?

Start by slowly drawing a small circle on your paper. It can be as large or small as you want it to be. The point is to pay attention to the process. 

Watch the marks as the pen makes them, feel your hand moving across the page, listen to the sound of each stroke, and notice how your body feels. 

Play around with your circles. Vary the sizes and space between them, and create spirals within them. Don’t concern yourself with making perfect circles. Some lines may be wobbly or more oval-shaped. That’s fine. 

But be sure to fully connect the beginning and end points rather than leaving them unclosed or with ends overlapping. If you notice this happening, simply become aware of it and move forward with more intention to close each circle fully.

As you notice thoughts arise, let them pass without judgment and bring your attention back to your drawing. 

Meditation drawing is an easy, inexpensive way to feel happier, less stressed, and more focused. If you want to feel better, do better, and be better, try this practice. It just may be what you need!

Do drawings help in easing our mind? Find out some meditative drawing ideas in this post and see how drawing can help you.

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  1. 5 easy Drawing Exercises for Beginners and Pros

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  6. 5 easy Drawing Exercises for Beginners and Pros

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COMMENTS

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    Value Scales Summary Want to Learn More? Thanks for Reading! Single Light Still Life This is a classic drawing exercise that involves a simple still life setup illuminated by a single light source (usually a lamp as you can control the direction). Many of the exercises mentioned in this post are variations of the single light still life.

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    Set a timer for 15 minutes and create a drawing based purely on your imagination. This exercise enhances your creative thinking, expands your visual repertoire, and allows you to explore new concepts and ideas. Focus on Details: Choose an everyday object and zoom in on a small section. Draw the intricate details of that section, paying close ...

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    Looking for Art Exercises to boost your creativity and loosen up a bit even though you can't draw? I got you covered! This blog post will address 5 fun Art Exercises to Boost Your Creativity and Improve Your Drawing Skills even if you're non-artistic.

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    5. Draw the Breath. A big part of meditation is focusing on the breath, noticing how long each breath is and what it feels like as you inhale and exhale. However, staying focused on the breath can be difficult as distracting thoughts enter your mind. Drawing the breath helps you maintain your awareness of it.