How to get good at drawing / how to get into drawing

Do you want to learn how to draw? Drawing is a great way to express your creativity and have fun. But it can also be intimidating if you don’t know where to start. That’s why I created this guide for beginners who want to start drawing and improve their skills. In this guide, you will find:

The best tools for drawing
How to practice drawing effectively
How to master the basics of perspective, proportion, and shading
How to experiment with different styles and subjects
How to enjoy drawing and avoid frustration

By following these tips, you will be able to draw anything you want with confidence and ease. Let’s get started!

The best tools for drawing

You don’t need to spend a lot of money or buy fancy equipment to draw well. All you need are some basic supplies that you can find in any art store or online. Here are the essentials:

A sketchbook: This is where you will do most of your drawing. Choose a sketchbook that is comfortable to hold and has good quality paper. You can also use loose sheets of paper if you prefer.
A pencil: This is the most versatile tool for drawing. You can use any kind of pencil, but I recommend getting a set of graphite pencils with different grades of hardness. The harder the pencil, the lighter the mark. The softer the pencil, the darker the mark. You can use different pencils for different effects and textures.
An eraser: This is your best friend when you make mistakes or want to erase unwanted lines. You can use any kind of eraser, but I recommend getting a kneaded eraser that you can shape and mold to erase small details or large areas.
A sharpener: This is essential to keep your pencils sharp and ready to use. You can use any kind of sharpener, but I recommend getting a metal one that has two holes for different sizes of pencils.

You can also use other mediums for drawing, such as pens, markers, colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, etc. These mediums have different characteristics and effects that you can experiment with. But for now, stick to the basics and master them first.

How to practice drawing effectively

The best way to improve your drawing skills is to practice as often as you can. Drawing is like any other skill that requires time and effort to develop. The more you draw, the more you will learn and grow as an artist. Here are some tips on how to practice drawing effectively:

Set a schedule: Decide how much time you want to dedicate to drawing every day or every week. It can be 10 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or more. The important thing is to be consistent and stick to your schedule. Make drawing a habit and a priority in your life.
Draw something every day: It doesn’t matter what you draw or how good it is. Just draw something every day. It can be anything that comes to your mind or catches your eye. It can be simple or complex, realistic or abstract, big or small. The point is to keep your hand and eye coordination sharp and your creativity flowing.
Follow tutorials: One of the best ways to learn how to draw is to follow tutorials from other artists. You can find tutorials online or in books on various topics and techniques. Tutorials will teach you step by step how to draw something specific, such as an animal, a person, a plant, a building, etc. Tutorials will also show you how to use different tools and mediums for drawing.
Copy from photos or other artists: Another way to learn how to draw is to copy from photos or other artists. Copying will help you improve your observation and accuracy skills. You will learn how to see shapes, colors, values, textures, etc., and how to translate them into your drawings. Copying will also expose you to different styles and influences that you can incorporate into your own work.
Join a drawing class or club: A great way to practice drawing is to join a drawing class or club where you can learn from a teacher or other students. You will get feedback, guidance, support, and inspiration from others who share your passion for drawing. You will also have fun and make friends along the way.

How to master the basics of perspective, proportion, and shading

These are some of the fundamental concepts that will help you create realistic and convincing drawings. Perspective is how you show depth and distance in your drawings, using techniques such as vanishing points, horizon lines, and foreshortening. Proportion is how you measure and compare the sizes and shapes of different objects in your drawings, using techniques such as grids, guidelines, and reference points. Shading is how you create light and shadow in your drawings, using techniques such as hatching,
cross-hatching, blending, and stippling.

These concepts may seem complicated at first, but they are easy to learn once you understand the principles and practice them. Here are some resources that will help you master the basics of perspective, proportion, and shading:

Perspective Made Easy by Ernest R. Norling: This is a classic book that teaches you everything you need to know about perspective in a simple and clear way. You will learn how to draw objects in one, two, and three point perspective, how to draw circles and ellipses in perspective, how to draw buildings and landscapes in perspective, and more.
The Complete Guide to Drawing Proportions by David Sanmiguel: This is a comprehensive book that teaches you how to draw proportions correctly and realistically. You will learn how to draw the human figure, the head and face, animals, plants, vehicles, furniture, and more. You will also learn how to use the golden ratio, the rule of thirds, and other methods to create harmonious and balanced compositions.
Drawing Light and Shade: Understanding Chiaroscuro by Giovanni Civardi: This is a practical book that teaches you how to draw light and shade effectively. You will learn how to use value, contrast, gradation, and edge quality to create realistic and expressive drawings. You will also learn how to use different mediums and tools for shading, such as pencils, charcoal, pastels, etc.

How to experiment with different styles and subjects

Drawing is a form of expression and creativity, so don’t limit yourself to one genre or theme. Try drawing different things that interest you, such as animals, people, plants, buildings, cartoons, fantasy, etc. You can also explore different styles of drawing, such as realistic, abstract, minimalist, comic, manga, etc. You can also mix and match different elements from different styles and subjects to create your own unique style.

Experimenting with different styles and subjects will help you discover your strengths and preferences as an artist. It will also challenge you to learn new skills and techniques that will enrich your drawings. Here are some tips on how to experiment with different styles and subjects:

Use references: References are images or objects that you use as a source of inspiration or information for your drawings. You can use references from photos, books, magazines, websites, etc., or from real life. References will help you see the details and characteristics of different styles and subjects that you want to draw.
Use variations: Variations are changes or modifications that you make to your drawings to make them more interesting or original. You can use variations in shape, size, color,
value, texture, angle, position, etc. Variations will help you explore the possibilities and potential of your drawings.
Use imagination: Imagination is the ability to create images or ideas in your mind that are not present in reality. Imagination will help you express your personality and emotions in your drawings. It will also help you create new and original styles and subjects that no one has seen before.

How to enjoy drawing and avoid frustration

Drawing should not be a chore or a stressor, but a source of joy and satisfaction. Don’t worry too much about making mistakes or being perfect. Instead, focus on the positive aspects of drawing, such as expressing yourself, learning new things, improving your skills, and having fun.

Remember that drawing is a journey,
not a destination.
Enjoy every step of the way
and celebrate your progress.

Here are some tips on how to enjoy drawing and avoid frustration:

Set realistic goals: Goals are what you want to achieve or accomplish with your drawings. Goals can be short-term or long-term, specific or general, personal or professional.
Goals will help you stay motivated and focused on your drawing practice.
But make sure that your goals are realistic and attainable, not too easy or too hard.
Otherwise, you may feel discouraged or overwhelmed by your goals.
Keep a positive attitude: Attitude is how you think or feel about yourself and your drawings.
Attitude can be positive or negative, optimistic or pessimistic, confident or insecure.
Attitude will affect your mood and performance when you draw.
So keep a positive attitude and be kind to yourself and your drawings.
Don’t compare yourself or your drawings to others.
Don’t judge yourself or your drawings too harshly.
Don’t give up or quit when you face difficulties or challenges.
Instead, be proud of yourself and your drawings.
Be curious and open-minded when you draw.
Be patient and persistent when you practice.
Have fun: Fun is the feeling of enjoyment or pleasure that you get from doing something that you like. Fun is the ultimate reason why you should draw. Fun will make you happy
and relaxed when you draw.
Fun will also make your drawings more lively and attractive.
So have fun when you draw.
Draw what you love and love what you draw.
Draw with passion and enthusiasm.
Draw with humor and playfulness.
Draw with friends or family.
Draw for yourself or for others.

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