How to Draw

Draw what you see. Start with simple objects (such as a bowl of fruit) or everyday items, then gradually move on to more complex subjects – like a table with intricate shapes or drawing a human face. The better you get at drawing real objects, the better you will be at translating your ideas onto paper.

• For instance, if you want to draw a cartoon character, you can imagine every detail – the expressions on the face, the emotions in the eyes, and the distinctive features of the character – but if you haven't practiced drawing faces, eyes, and human figures, you’ll face difficulty when trying to capture that character on paper as you envision it.
• Instead of attempting a large or detailed drawing from the start, focus on small and simple objects. Pick something like a bowl of fruit, a house, or a mountain range, and sketch these objects in pencil. Draw several versions of the same object. For example, when sketching a mountain range, evaluate your first drawing. Identify the accurate and inaccurate lines, or ask a friend to point out parts of the mountains that look unnatural or need improvement. Once you know what needs fixing, redo the drawing, focusing on improving the areas that weren't right in the first version. If you want your drawing skills to improve over a few weeks, keep redrawing the same scene. You'll notice progress!
• Think of yourself as a chef. When a chef learns a new recipe, they often spend days or even weeks just preparing that dish. Although this repetition may seem dull, it allows the chef to perfect the dish over time. Don't get discouraged if your artwork isn’t perfect right away. Everything takes time to master.

Draw whenever you can. The more you practice, the better your drawing skills will become. Even when you're focused on something else, if your hands are free, grab a piece of paper and start sketching basic lines (phone calls are a great opportunity to doodle).

• Begin by practicing simple shapes. These basic shapes form the foundation for more complex drawings later on. Once you master the basics, your journey to more advanced techniques will be smoother and more effective.
• Draw circles, squares, triangles, rectangles, etc. Challenge yourself to refine each shape over time. Then try drawing variations of these basic shapes: different sizes of circles and squares, various types of rectangles and triangles.
• After repeatedly sketching these shapes (and filling your trash bin with crumpled paper), you’ll eventually draw most shapes with ease. To take your basic skills further, try drawing curves and spirals. Experiment with drawing springs, spirals, and various decorative loops and wreaths, focusing on making the curves uniform.

Sketch the basic outline first. If you're drawing a tree, don’t start with the leaves right away; otherwise, you may end up focusing on just one part and forget the 'big picture,' leaving no room for the rest, or your drawing may end up looking unbalanced and unnatural.

• Use light pencil strokes, repeatedly. Be free and don’t worry about mistakes. You’re trying to capture the general idea, not create a perfect replica. Compare, adjust, and fix things as you go.
• If you’re drawing something from real life, compare your drawing on paper with the object itself. Make sure the proportions of the shapes are as accurate as possible.
• Imagine the final image of the tree you want to draw and sketch it lightly with a pencil. You can draw the main lines or outline its 'skeleton' (similar to how the body is sketched when drawing figures).
• A useful method is to think of basic shapes within your subject. In other words, break the subject down into smaller parts in your mind. For instance, a tree can be visualized as an oval or triangle shape sitting atop a cylinder. Draw both shapes in 3D to later add details while maintaining the desired proportions.

Add details to your sketch. Use bolder strokes to emphasize the parts of your drawing that you want to highlight, and erase unnecessary lines. Gradually add more details, but regularly step back and observe the overall composition to ensure it aligns with your vision. Learn and experiment with different techniques to improve how you express your ideas through drawing.

• Use shading techniques. Shading is a technique that creates variations in light and color. Imagine light shining on an object, creating areas of brightness and shadow. This adds depth, contrast, and dimension to your drawing.
• Imagine a ball in the foreground with the sun setting in the background. As the sun is very low on the horizon, its light will hit the ball at a low angle, unlike the high angle of light during midday or a sunny day. To depict this, you will need to shade the top of the ball to be brighter than the bottom, as the light won’t directly hit the bottom of the ball.
• Practice drawing shadows. To make your drawing realistic, study how light reflects off objects and their shadows. The shadow of an object usually mimics its shape, but can stretch, skew, or distort. Pay attention to the types of shadows cast by sunlight in real life and try to replicate them in your drawings.

Adding realism to your drawings. Whether you're aiming to create comic art or caricatures, understanding what makes an object appear realistic in a drawing is crucial. Mastering the following techniques will help bring more authenticity to your artwork:

• Study perspective laws. Perspective is based on the reality that objects farther away appear smaller than those closer to you. It's especially important to understand perspective when drawing large objects (like a building) or complex scenes (like a cityscape), unless you intend for your artwork to look cartoony. Practicing perspective with simple objects (like a cube or a stack of books) is a great way to start learning to draw.
• Learn about proportions. Proportion refers to the relationship in size between different parts of an object. This can significantly affect the realism of your drawing. You can use measuring techniques like grids or markings to ensure accurate proportions. Altering proportions (by exaggerating some features or minimizing others) can convey unique ideas or define a particular style. For instance, characters in caricatures or comics often have exaggerated eyes and faces compared to real-life proportions. It's important to get familiar with the proportions of objects and people before experimenting with adjustments.
• Play with colors. Colors make a big difference in the tone of a drawing. Contrast, blending, saturation, and color coordination can make a drawing more vibrant, realistic, or abstract, depending on how you use them. Feel free to experiment with watercolors and acrylics, mixing different shades to see how new colors emerge. Take snapshots of your drawings, try various colors, and observe how your results change based on the colors you choose.

Essential tools when starting to learn drawing. For beginners, sketching on smooth drawing paper is ideal; smoother paper helps you capture finer details, while rougher paper holds graphite better.

• Pencils come in various hardness levels, from hard ones like H to soft ones like 9B. Hard pencils create lighter lines, while soft pencils produce richer shades, meaning the pressure applied to the pencil impacts the darkness of the lines. Try sketching with a 6B or 8B pencil. These are quite soft, so stronger pressure will result in darker shades.
• When you're ready, you can try using charcoal. Charcoal comes in both compressed and pencil form. Hard charcoal creates light gray marks, while soft charcoal is perfect for creating subtle shading effects. You can use charcoal similarly to pencils. However, charcoal is usually more expensive than regular pencils. It’s an excellent tool for sketching dynamic movements or adding depth to your work. If you plan to paint on canvas, charcoal is a great material to sketch with before applying paint.

Preserving your artwork. Find a place to store all your drawings, or keep them in an art journal. This will allow you to track your progress as you practice drawing. The more you draw, the better you'll be at spotting flaws and knowing how to correct them. As you continue to sketch, you'll also develop your personal style. It will be exciting to look back and see how your ability to express yourself has evolved. Don’t let yourself get discouraged. Remember, with persistence, comes improvement!

Try quick sketching within a set time frame. If you're struggling with proportions, getting frustrated by the stiffness of your shapes, and worst of all, repeating mistakes you know you shouldn't be making, this method can help break the cycle. Get a kitchen timer and set it for 5 minutes. Choose a subject, like a fabric rose, something that presents a challenge but is interesting enough to sketch more than once. If you really like the subject, this exercise will be helpful. Use a soft pencil (such as B, 2B, 4B, or any B grade pencil), and sketch within the 5-minute or 2-minute time limit. Stop drawing when the timer goes off, even if the drawing is unfinished. Then, try drawing again in the empty space on the page.

• Every time you challenge yourself to draw something in 5 minutes, you'll notice areas for improvement and focus on those. You'll fix errors without going back to erase them.
• This method is especially useful for drawing people. Asking a friend to model for a quick sketch in 2 minutes is much easier than asking them to sit still for an entire hour.
• Once you’ve mastered quick sketches, giving yourself a longer time, such as 15 minutes, will feel like a luxury. You’ll probably finish before the timer goes off. This practice is also great for outdoor sketching when the light changes in less than half an hour.
• Try sketching your dog or cat while they are sleeping with a quick sketch approach. Two minutes should be enough to capture them before they shift or move in their sleep.
• Start with a simple object like a pencil or other easily drawable items. Practice drawing your chosen object a few times until the sketch looks good. Once you're satisfied, try something more challenging, like drawing a human face.

• The internet is full of drawing teachers and valuable resources. Mytour is a great source, but you can use any platform! There are thousands of YouTube channels teaching drawing, and countless websites offering highly beneficial tips, including free book reviews that provide in-depth insights on how to improve. If you're passionate about drawing, take advantage of all the free resources available to you, and you might find that you don’t need to spend money to reach a certain skill level.
• Find inspiration in everything around you. New stories, scenery, emotions, and anything that can be drawn in a realistic or abstract style.
• Avoid pressing too hard on the paper while drawing, as it will make it difficult to erase mistakes, leaving visible marks on your drawing.
• Switch up what you draw. For example, you can focus on still life for a while, then take a break and sketch people the next day. This keeps your mind fresh and prevents burnout.
• The beauty of art is being able to draw comfortably, so be kind to yourself, even if you feel you’re not progressing as quickly as you'd like.
• Explore other artists’ styles for inspiration.
• Remember the famous author James A. Owen once said, “Drawing is just two things, putting marks on paper, and deciding where they will go.”
• Consider joining a drawing class. You can learn many techniques and valuable tips from experts. Don’t hesitate because of your current skill level—drawing classes are not about showcasing talent but about learning and sharing new things with others.
• Don't just use your hand for drawing. You need to use your wrist and entire arm (though not always—wrist movements allow for greater detail focus, but generally, sketching and expressing the spirit of a drawing from your elbow or entire arm is easier, especially in the early stages).
• Use various shading techniques to add texture to your work.
• For realistic drawings, remember to draw simple circles to form the basic shapes first.
• Listen to music while drawing. Music can truly inspire you!

• Draw lightly at first, or you might find pencil marks showing up when you add color or shading. Pencil lines are often more visible than you think!
• If using a mechanical pencil, be aware that the lead can break easily, so DON’T apply too much pressure.
• Always be open to feedback if you plan to showcase your work.
• Only share your drawings with people who you know will encourage you. Ask them to be honest, and use their feedback to improve your skills.
• Learn to distinguish between helpful criticism and discouragement. Constructive feedback is specific and often provides suggestions on how to improve.
• High-quality mechanical pencils can be quite expensive.