drawing exercise line

10 Exercises for Confident Lines and Accurate Hatching

But before it becomes possible to create mind-blowing artworks, we have to spend some time with the basics. We simply cannot expect to communicate our ideas through a drawing without basic technical skills in place.

That’s why so many beginners unfortunately quit drawing only after a dozen or so unsuccessful attempts to capture a subject they like , but are too complex for their level. However, there are a few things that are important enough no matter how simple or complicated the subject is.

With any skill, we have to practice and build up our abilities. Drawing is no different. Practice plays an important role in developing ourselves as artists and should be a regular part of our activities – no matter what our current skill level.

This article is dedicated to short, yet effective drawing exercises that you can perform in just a few minutes every day. Musicians regularly practice their scales. A basketball player practices layups. We can think of these exercises in the same way. If you practice them regularly, your drawing skill will improve greatly.

Even if you are confident in your lines and hatching and pleased with the results, these exercises are still a fun exercise to practice. They provide a chance to focus your mind on a simple concrete action, which makes it easy to enter a state of “flow” (or a meditative submergence into the process).

The results of a five or ten minute warm-up, before even touching the big project you’re working on, may be surprising. Vocalists do various warm-ups before the ‘actual’ performance. We can use these exercises in the same – warming up the technical side of our artistic brains.

The tool for practice is up to you. It may be a graphite pencil, an ink liner, a nib pen, or any other mark-making tool. (I used ink liners just because they are my favorites; they provide clear, contrasting, and controlled marks on the paper.)

The paper can be any you like – ordinary printer paper is great because it’s so affordable and you can use as many sheets as you like.

Distinguishing Regular Lines From Hatching

On the surface, there isn’t a significant difference between a regular line used as contour and a hatch. Both are lines after all but each serve a different purpose.

Let’s expand the musical theme and make some comparisons. I see a contour line as a solo singer and a hatch – as a member of a chorus. Again, they are both lines, but they play different roles.

The role of a line is to convey the character and mood and in some cases – help the viewer differentiate the foreground from the background. They may communicate the light source in the scene. Lines become the contours in the drawing; they are a means of expression on their own.

A hatch is a part of a bigger system that acts as a whole. We may call this hatching (or cross-hatching, or contour hatching, depending on the character and the interaction of hatches).

To work together, hatches should be uniform. If some hatches break the visual pattern, attracting too much of the viewer’s attention, the final impression may be not as pleasant as we desired. Also, hatches are indispensable when it comes to working with values and creating an illusion of volume.

See also: Hatching and Cross Hatching

Working Your “Linear” Muscles

Drawing a line seems easy, but your mind and body work in a union to perform this task successfully. There is a difference in how we create shorter and longer marks and using the right muscles is crucial.

Take a sheet of paper and any tool you like. Draw a short line (something about 1 cm is enough) and observe how your fingers work together, moving slightly while holding your tool.

Then draw a longer line (4-5 cm). You’ll notice that your wrist becomes active to extend the line.

Now create an even longer mark (like 9-10 cm or more). This becomes possible thanks to your elbow muscles.

Below you’ll find an image with my lines ( a – an “elbow” line, b – a “wrist” line, c – a “fingers” line): 

I’m sure that you’ve grasped the general idea of this exercise. Different lengths of line require slightly different movements. Keep that in mind and pay attention to the body’s behavior, especially if you feel like something goes wrong.

Using the right group of muscles provides the greatest control over your lines.

I’d say that the “wrist” or “elbow” lines are most commonly used for creating contours while the lines drawn by moving your fingers are better suited for adding hatching and refined details.

Another tip is to find out which direction of hand movement is most convenient for you: ‘away from yourself’ or ‘towards yourself’ . This will vary from person to person, so I’d say that trying both ways and forming your own conclusion is important.

It’s great if you can make the marks appear the same, without any regard to the direction of the hand movement.

And the last tip for this section: check the surface that supports your paper. Any dents, bumps or a subtle texture may make consistent lines difficult, if not impossible.

“Hairy” Lines

It’s completely normal to be cautious when you’re trying to draw a line that reproduces a contour of the object you’re observing. Especially, if you’re a beginner in art. When you’re overly cautious, you may draw a short line, then add another indecisive line, and so on. The contour becomes somewhat “hairy” and messy. There are many marks, but they look confusing or heavy.

This is different from drawing lots of lines quickly to “find” the proportions of the subject. We are specifically addressing “finished” lines when we are calling them “hairy”. It is still perfectly acceptable to begin with looser, fluid lines in the beginning stages of a drawing and refine the contours as you go.

If you’d like to develop more control over your “finished” lines, I’d recommend trying to use as few lines as possible, making them as long and “streamy” as possible. Free yourself from the fear of failure, relax your mind and hands. Trusting yourself is also a skill that can be developed!

Maybe you won’t draw the contours correctly on your first attempt, but you’ll get better at this skill over time. The more you practice, the better you’ll become.

Below you’ll find an illustration of what I’m describing in this section. Now we’re ready to start practicing!

Exercise 1 – Drawing Straight Lines

Let’s focus on drawing straight lines freehand, without a ruler. Please note that the goal is to explore our abilities , and nothing more! We’re not trying to create “perfect” lines.

If you feel unsure about drawing a straight line, I’d recommend outlining a line in pencil with a ruler. This line should be barely visible as it will serve as a reference.

When you’re drawing a line, pay attention to the pressure on the tool and the speed of movement. Don’t push too hard. You’ll notice that the starting and ending points of your lines depend on how lightly you touch the paper and how quickly your tool moves.

In the image below, you’ll find several lines:

a – a line with cut (thick) starting and ending points. I call them “full stop” lines because you should slow down a bit to make the ends look like this. b – a line with sharp starting and ending points. This character of the ends is achieved by a lighter, swifter movement. c – a line with a dense start and a light, pointed end. d – a line with a sharp start and a “full stop” at the end. 

To be fluent with your lines, I recommend repeating all four examples. Some will be more natural to you and some will require additional practice.

Please keep in mind that slowing your hand movements too much may cause unwanted effects, especially on thin paper. For example, if you leave an ink liner in one spot for several seconds, you can get a dark blob. So finding a balance is important! 

To make the exercise more interesting, you can try any tool that provides a variety of line width, depending on the pressure (like a nib pen or a brush pen). Play with your tool and see how it behaves. Some drawing tools allow you to create a dramatic change in the line width.

In the image below, you’ll find my lines made with a brush pen. I’ve created some continuous lines and also lines with gaps.

If you don’t have a brush pen or a nib pen, you could use various forms of the same tool. For example, you could use several ink liners or varying widths. Chances are, you’ll get to know your tools better and find out which one is the most comfortable to you. Here are my lines created with the 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4 liners respectively…

Exercise 2 – Drawing Lines with Gaps

Now let’s draw some dashed lines. The intervals may have the same lengths or have a touch of spontaneity.

Exercise 3 – Control and Accuracy Practice

The next exercise is more advanced. First, draw a line with a vertical direction – it can be straight or whimsically curved.

Then, add hatches – they should be located at the side of this line, or adjacent to it.

If you want to add a bit more of a challenge to this task, you can keep your hatches at a small interval, equal distant from the contour line. Or, you can draw another contour line and make sure all your hatches are ending on it.

This exercise is good practice for developing greater control.

Exercise 4 – Drawing a Dotted Line

Now we’ll create a dotted line – it may seem a bit weird, but a line may consist of dots, too! And the ability to create nice dotted lines may be very helpful in your creative process.

The goal of this exercise is to find a comfortable rhythm. Observe how your hand moves, don’t rush, and make sure you pull your hand away swiftly enough after you’ve created each dot. Each dot should have a clear shape, without any smeared ‘tails’. The Pen and Ink Experience “The Pen and Ink Experience” is a comprehensive drawing course designed to guide absolute beginners to a level of producing professional quality pen and ink drawings.

Your dotted line can be continuous (the intervals between the dots are approximately equal) or have some irregularity.

Exercise 5 – Drawing Wavy and Zigzag Lines

Let’s have some fun with some patterned lines, such as wavy and zigzag lines (but feel free to draw any other lines you like).

You can outline a couple of horizontal lines to create the borders, and add your lines within them. In the image below, you’ll notice how my lines are touching the borders.

Don’t strive for absolute perfection – the goal is the same as in the previous exercise; find a comfortable rhythm and a balance in the movements.

Exercise 6 – Scribbling

Drawing with precise control is important, but drawing looser and less precise lines is also an important skill to develop. So we’ll next take a break from drawing straight lines and loosen up with some scribbles.

There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Let your hand move and cast aside any expectations.

Exercise 7 – Developing The Skill of Accuracy

The next exercises are dedicated to hatching and cross-hatching.

It’s useful to train your eyes and hand to place the new hatches into the gaps between the existing ones , not on top of them. To practice this skill, we’ll create a swatch like in the image below: 

This image may seem confusing – so where should we start?

First, we need a rectangular shape divided into three parts (like three elongated rectangles adjacent to each other). I’ve drawn the three-part rectangular template with a graphite pencil and the hatching will be made with an ink liner.

The borders will help us differentiate the groups of hatches: the longest, medium length, and short. We start with the longest vertical hatches, filling the swatch with them. There should be some intervals between the hatches – don’t draw them too close to each other.

Then add the shorter hatches (the hatches of medium length).

Lastly, add the shortest hatches – they should occupy only one-third of the whole template.

Below you’ll find the step-by-step process of completing this exercise. 

To make the task slightly more complex, repeat this exercise with inclined lines. The order of adding hatches is the same (the longest marks are added first).

Exercise 8 – Basic Hatching Practice

To practice hatching, you can use small squares/circles/rectangles that become the borders for the hatches, or just go at it without any borders at all.

Each one of your hatching swatches should have a uniform look and all of the hatches should flow in the same direction.

The hatches can be horizontal, vertical, or inclined at any degree. You can start drawing slowly, then create a new series of lines, moving faster and faster. However, the speed of drawing isn’t the focus of this exercise.

Exercise 9 – Cross Hatching Practice

This exercise is an extension of the previous one. This time, we’ll create one layer of hatching and then cover it with another one with a different direction of marks. The hatches are crossing, and we get  cross hatching .

If you like this exercise, I’d recommend inventing as many examples and combinations as you can. Moreover, you can try different tools (several liners that provide different line widths) and analyze the effects that you get.

Exercise 10 – Create a Value Scale With Cross Hatching

Value is the darkness or lightness of a color. Value is incredibly important in creating the illusion of light, volume, and texture in a drawing. It’s important to practice creating a full range of value with cross hatching. Fo our tenth exercise, we’ll create a value scale using cross hatching.

Having a rectangular shape as a temple is useful. There’s no need to make it too long (the length of 9-12 cm is enough). You can also think beforehand how much space you need to create each value. A small amount of space is sufficient.

My process of completing this exercise will be the following:

• Fill the whole shape with vertical hatches.
• Add a layer of inclined hatching.
• Add a layer of inclined hatching (this time, of a different direction).
• Add horizontal hatching.
• The vertical hatches again, trying to fill the gaps.
• Inclined hatching again.

You can see the repeating pattern.

The goal is to create a nice, smooth transition from a lighter value to a darker one.

However, if some of your hatches look slightly uneven, don’t be discouraged. We want the marks to look as though a human made them – not a machine.

Your cross hatching value scale may look like this: 

The Worksheet

I’ve compiled a worksheet to help you with your practice. You can download it and print it out so you can practice these exercises whenever you like.

A Creative Approach to the Line Practice

I hope you enjoyed the practice. These exercises are more powerful than they may seem. But don’t limit your practice to just these exercises. Let your imagination go wild and invent your own warm-ups and challenges.

Even just a small bit of practice will push your art skills much further! Many people like doodling when they’re talking on the phone or waiting. Take advantage of every spare moment.

Doodling counts! Here’s a couple of mine…

Deliberate Practice

Before wrapping this lesson up, I’d like to add one more point about the way you approach your daily drawing practice. It’s completely OK to love doing the things you’re good at. But sometimes we avoid activities that seem challenging or mundane.

We often become attached to our strengths, avoiding anything that makes us feel awkward or uncomfortable. On one hand, developing skills that we’re already skilled in may make us even stronger. But anything worthwhile in life sometimes requires being attentive to some weaknesses that prevent us from moving forward with our skills (and all the amazing projects we have in mind). Art is no exception.

Let me give you an example. If an artist feels that their drawings aren’t as strong as they could be because of indecisive lines and inaccurate hatching, avoiding this weak point won’t improve their skills. They should devote some time to deliberate practice – that’s really the only way to improve.

If you know what to improve and how to practice, your success is a matter of time and effort. All the magic happens while you’re working and enjoying the process, even if there are some challenges.

Don’t be afraid to leave your comfort zone.

Lesson Discussion

Matt, Excellent advice on practicing drawing lines. Good refresher. We all start by drawing and practicing lines, but tend to forget to “exercise” doing that later as we progress into more difficult drawing, or even before making a new sketch. Like a runner stretches his leg muscles or a pianist “works” his fingers…..

Aside from that… I find the “text” in your “textbooks” very hard to read because the font is so “faint.” Or so it appears on my monitor. A bolder font would make for much easier reading… esp. for us older folks with weak eyes. Faint font makes for a classy look, but doesn’t help the readers a bit. Unfortunately we can’t “turn up the volume” like we can do with your spoken lessons. (^O^) (Altho I’ve been known to highlight faint text to make it easier to read.)

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15 Best Line Exercises to Practice Drawing

By: Author Jae Johns

Posted on Last updated: March 25, 2024

Categories Drawing

Home » Drawing » 15 Best Line Exercises to Practice Drawing

When you first begin line drawing, it can be tough to practice.

Many people get discouraged when their line art drawings don’t look how they want them to. Few people realize that it is a matter of both mind and physical ability.

Sometimes you just need to refine your fine motor skills to get good at it. That is why I have brought together a list of fun line drawing exercises to get you into shape.

Begin with Dashes

Drawing the perfect line in a single swoop is something that we all long for when creating our line art drawing.

However, it is better to have a good line than it is to have one that you did in a fancy way.

Though you might want to look suave, the reality is that there is some merit to being patient and learning how lines work in a step-by-step way.

The most beneficial way to go about this is to first learn how to structure your lines.

Instead of drawing a single line in one quick slip of the pen, try drawing dashes.

Dashes are much easier to keep straight because they are short in length.

Additionally, they are known for making it easier to dictate where your line will go.

When you have dashed out the line, you can easily fill in the spaces and enjoy your complete line!

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Practice with A Ruler

As line artists, we can be obsessed with drawing a straight line.

If you are looking to drawing the perfect straight line, you need a standard for perfection.

First, you will begin this approach by taking a ruler and drawing a perfectly straight line .

It actually helps to draw a few of them with plenty of space between each one.

Once your perfect lines are complete, you can jump straight to making your very own.

Next to one of the perfect lines, practice drawing your own straight line.

Having the true straight line for reference will help you to see more easily how you should construct your own.

This will also give you a good reference point for how your straight-line drawing is going.

Practicing this repeatedly is a great way to perfect your lines.

Practice Using Guiding Points to Create Flowing Continuous Line Art

Another excellent way to get better at drawing certain kinds of lines is to mark points on the page to follow.

This can be used for straight or curved lines as needed with really great results.

Mark the spot on the page where you would like to guide the line.

Focus on carrying your stroke forward in a way that matches the appropriate angle based on the next spot.

It can be helpful for drawing short straight lines, but it is great for curved lines.

This will make it easy for you to practice the shape of your curves as you draw.

The best way to approach this is to imagine that you are drawing eyelets on shoes.

The eyelets will be where you place the marks.

Then, you can use any variation of lines to connect various eyelets.

Using these guide points is an excellent way to create steady continuous line art.

Practice Drawing Shapes

An excellent way to get used to drawing all kinds of lines is to begin by drawing shapes .

Drawing various kinds of shapes will help you to work on getting more consistent with your lines, and go a long way to helping you make simple line art drawings.

It makes it easier for you to get practice in without simply drawing a line over and over.

Squares, rectangles, and triangles are good for straight-line drawing.

Circles and ovals are helpful for giving you more control when you draw curved lines.

These shapes are important when it comes to getting the most out of the hand motions.

It is an excellent way to start building muscle memory and get more control.

Draw 3D Shapes

3D shapes are a ton of fun to draw and help with controlling your lines, which results in making an amazing linear art design.

They look incredibly cool when you finish them.

It is a kind of art that really pops, and many people find it pretty impressive.

You can have fun showing off these shapes that look hard to make but are actually pretty cool.

More than picking up a cool skill, these shapes are a great way to practice controlling your lines.

You can always tell when your lines are off because it will throw off the proportions and overall feel of the 3D shape.

This makes it ideal for striving towards perfection.

Since it is a fun task with cool end results, it seldom feels like you are doing the same thing over and over.

Popular options include using cubes and pyramids for practice.

Practice Tracing with A Pen

An excellent way to get better at drawing lines and controlling your hand while line drawing is tracing.

Tracing makes it possible for you to practice your hand at line drawing without forcing you to start from nothing.

Using this option is great because it teaches you the motions for drawing without necessarily forcing you to make it up.

Plenty of people find a disconnect between their mind and their hand when learning line drawing.

This approach helps you to bridge that gap by helping you to get the muscle memory down first.

Since you will only need to focus on teaching your hand how to draw, you can dedicate more time to perfecting this process.

This makes it much easier for you to learn the steps.

Once you have the muscle memory down, you can focus on learning to do it completely freehand.

Another tip with tracing is to other artist’s work that you admire, but only for the purpose of learning.

When you do this, you’ll begin to absorb insights from the process that will help you make incredible drawings that look like line paintings.

Try Different Writing Utensils

An excellent way to learn about making better lines is to use a variety of tools.

When you are line drawing, you have to move your hand in really specific ways.

This is all a part of learning how to create the kinds of lines that you want to see.

However, some tools make it easier for you to practice.

For example, using a square-edged marker or highlighter is an excellent way to guarantee that you are focusing on creating a straight line.

The square edge will make it easier for you to feel confident in the gesture.

You can then work your way through a variety of other tools to learn how your hand motions vary.

This process of focusing on drawing lines with different tools can help you to think more critically about what actually matters.

It is an excellent way to build more comprehensive knowledge.

Mirror A Shape

An excellent exercise to improve your understanding of line drawing is the act of mirroring shapes.

You will love seeing how mirroring shapes can help to improve your mental understanding of drawing.

Begin by drawing a shape of some sort. You don’t have to draw a traditional shape.

In fact, the more obscure and odd the shape is, the better.

Don’t make it too convoluted or it will be too difficult to copy.

However, you want the form to be something that you will have to think about.

After you have drawn your odd new shape, on one side of it, begin to draw the mirror image of the shape.

This can feel a little difficult at first, but once you get it down, you will see the benefit.

It is a great way to get the most out of your mental and physical processes for line drawing.

Vary Your Grip

Line drawing can require a lot of different holds on a device.

Depending on what kind of line you want to draw or what it looks like, you might just find that some grips work better.

A firm grip might work well for drawing a straight line, sure.

On the other hand, a looser grip might help you to guide a pen more effectively through the curves of a line.

Different styles of drawing and different lines require different approaches.

You might change the way that you are holding your pen or change the angle that it is being held.

You might grip it might tightly or let it hang more loosely in your hand.

No matter what, you will want to focus on seeing how your grip can change the process.

Try Out Calligraphy

If you want to learn the ins and outs of line control quickly, practicing calligraphy can help.

This process is wholly focused on manipulating lines and the impact that they have.

Training in this capacity is an excellent way to boost your overall approach to a line drawing.

Not only will it help you to gain control, but it will also help you to get more fluid with it.

Calligraphy is a smooth and fluid process that requires sweeping gestures.

In many ways, it can feel like dancing with your hand.

This process might be just what you need to boost your line drawing talents.

Draw the Rainbow

This might seem childish, but it is remarkably effective for line drawing.

You will use rainbows to help you draw more exact lines. In order to make a well-constructed rainbow, you must avoid allowing the colors to overlap.

Practicing drawing in rainbows or repeating color patterns can help you to focus on making more exact lines that will be perfect for your work.

You will love seeing how this approach can allow you to learn and have fun at the same time.

In fact, you might just realize that you can make some seriously cool works of art by doing this alone.

Draw Your Own Patterns

A really fun way to get better at line drawing is to make exciting patterns.

You can have a lot of fun with this exercise, and it is methodical enough to be deeply calming.

This is one approach that is great for having a good time and learning at the same time.

You can make any kind of pattern that you want. Many people choose shapes or line patterns.

Others start with a shape in the middle and work out from it like a kaleidoscope.

Make sure you focus on having fun with it and enjoying this effortless way to build skills!

Try Out Cross-Hatching

Cross-hatching is a really cool approach to drawing that is dependent on good lines.

Since you will rely on drawing lines for the entire process, you can build up your muscles very quickly.

In fact, many people find that this is an easy and mindless way to get some good line drawing practice.

You can just turn on a podcast and have fun doing this repetitive pattern.

Get Your Scribble On

Yes, you read this correctly. An excellent way to go about practicing your line drawing is to let yourself scribble.

Scribbling is a delightful freeform way to get used to maneuvering a pen in your hand.

This is a great way to not only loosen up the correct muscles but practice random intervals of control at the same time. You will love doing it too, especially with different colored markers.

Fill in Coloring Book Pages With Lines

You will be amazed to see just how cool this turns out. Instead of coloring in the pages of a coloring book, draw lines within the spaces instead.

Be sure to vary the colors and textures, and you will have a great time with it.

The end result with this is seriously cool and it is a great way to practice drawing lines at different angles.

Finding the right approach to line drawing is something that can look different for everyone.

The simple truth is that the more you practice any kind of line drawing, the better you will get at it.

Try not to get discouraged when you first start. Instead, focus on letting yourself practice and get better.

You will be glad that you did as you see yourself improve.

Are you having struggles drawing? Which line drawing exercise would you try?

Tuesday 29th of June 2021

Would love if there were example pictures to go with this post.

Wednesday 30th of June 2021

Thanks for your suggestion.

The Best Drawing Exercises to Improve Your Skills

One of the best ways to improve your sketching skills quickly is by practising a variety of drawing exercises.

In this guide, we will discuss some of the best drawing exercises that you can do to improve your skills. We will also provide some tips on how to get started. So whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, there is something for everyone here.

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.

Drawing Exercises

One of the most important things to remember when doing any of these drawing exercises is to focus on the process, not the end result. The aim is to get better at drawing , and that can only be done by practising regularly and putting in the hard work. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best drawing exercises to improve your skills. Here are 10 drawing exercises to get you stretching those sketching muscles.

Contour drawing

Contour drawing is where the artist draws only the outline of the subject or scene, without shading any values. The focus is on the visible edges of the subject’s shape. A contour drawing exercise can improve skills in drawing accurate proportions, form and structure in artworks, freehand without aids.

Grab a pencil, or pen and observe and outline the main elements in your reference. Try and be accurate with your portrayal of the subject, if you make a mistake, erase it or start a fresh.

Creating contour drawings can provide a foundation for larger pieces, more detailed works and paintings. Many artists rely on transferring a drawing onto the canvas of their final artwork, or using a grid to achieve accurate proportions . However, by practising drawing the outlines of different subjects, you can naturally improve the most fundamental and arguably difficult drawing skill, which is rendering realistic proportions.

Blind contour drawing

A blind contour drawing is a contour drawing that is completed without looking at the paper. This exercise forces the artist to study their reference and improves hand eye coordination. To do a blind contour drawing , look at your reference and outline the visible shapes. Make sure not to look at the paper, or take your eyes away from the reference.

This exercise can feel hard and the finished results may be completely unexpected if you’ve never tried this drawing method before. However, it’s a fun exercise that can make you pay attention to skills that you may be struggling with, or that may be holding you back in other areas of your art practice.

Cross contour drawing

A cross contour drawing is a contour, or outline drawing that conveys the volume of the surface with curved or straight lines spanning across the form. Lines are drawn within the outline and can be drawn closer together or further apart to represent light and shadow.

Depending on the form of the subject, the lines will appear differently, for example, use straight lines to represent a flat surface like a table, and meandering lines to show the curvature of a plane.

This is an enjoyable drawing exercise that highlights the volume and mass of a subject and how this affects the way light and shadows appear.

Continuous line drawing

A continuous line drawing is a drawing completed in one sitting without taking the pen or pencil off of the paper. The lead of the pencil should remain in contact with the paper until the outline is completed. Try to draw the full form of the subject, without breaking the line.

Start by drawing a simple object like a cup or vase. As you draw, focus on the outline of the object and try not to take your pencil off the paper. Try to look at your reference for the majority of the time spent drawing, only look down at your paper to check that the proportions you are drawing are as accurate as possible.

This is an excellent drawing exercise to not only improve hand eye coordination, but also to show how details and forms join and relate to one another. It will also force you to foreplan how elements will fit together, rather than spontaneously starting a drawing.

This drawing exercise can take some practice to get good at, but the results are always fun to look at! To complete a successful continuous line drawing , try to keep your pencil in constant motion, rather than holding the pencil still for any length of time, to maintain the flow of the drawing.

Gesture drawing

Gesture drawing is a drawing method that focuses on capturing the movement, or gesture, of the subject. This type of drawing is often used by portrait artists to warm up before starting a more detailed drawing, or painting.

To do a gesture drawing, start by looking at your reference and try to identify the main shapes and forms. Once you have an understanding of the subject, start drawing with quick, fluid strokes. The aim is to capture the essence of the subject, rather than drawing every detail. First, draw in lines for the angle of the shoulders, the waist and the line of action, which acts as a spine for the drawing and shows how the figure is balanced.

This drawing exercise is great for improving your drawing skills as it will make you think about the forms and shapes of the subject, without getting bogged down in details. Gesture drawings are an exercise in creating more dynamic, lively looking drawings; these skills will transfer to future portrait pieces. Gesture drawing is also a fantastic way to loosen up before starting a more detailed drawing.

Negative space

A negative space drawing involves drawing the silhouette contours of a subject and filling in the values of the background around it. Start with outlining the basic shape, that contains no details and fill around the edges with the background tones.

Negative space drawing is a great exercise as it encourages the artist to think about the balance between different forms and spaces in a drawing. Focus on the areas between objects, the layout and how you can achieve balance with the composition of the drawing.

Create a value study

A value study is a drawing that uses a set variety of tones, to create the illusion of light and shadow. This drawing exercise is perfect for beginners as it will help you to understand how light affects the form of different objects.

This exercise is all about experimenting with values. First create a value scale , or buy one . Then decide on your range of values for your artwork. For example, you could create a drawing with just black and white, a drawing with high contrast , a high-key value study or a low-key value study. Draw the same reference with various different values and decide which suits your style best.

Speed drawing

Speed drawing is a timed drawing exercise where the artist has a set amount of time, usually one minute, to draw a subject.

This drawing exercise is great for warming up before starting a longer drawing, as it gets you into the habit of drawing quickly. It is also useful for improving your drawing skills as it forces you to work on your observation skills, without agonising over details. See how much you can get done in your time frame!

Varied line drawing

This drawing exercise is all about experimenting with different types of line. Draw a subject, using a continuous line, and then go over the drawing again with a different type of line.

Use different sketching techniques like cross hatching or stippling to fill in different areas and details. For example, you could use a wavy line, or a dotted line. This exercise is great for exploring how different lines can change the look and feel of a drawing.

By varying the line type, you can create different effects and add interest to your drawing. Try it with different subjects and see what results you get!

Smudge drawing

A smudge drawing is completed to create a soft appearance. Instead of drawing lines and hard edges, blend the pencil with a tortillion or brush so that elements appear to softly transition into one another.

One drawing medium that works excellently for this exercise is powdered charcoal . Brush powdered charcoal onto the paper to create gradients, blends and smooth transitions. Another great tool for drawing with perfect smudges and soft edges is tortillions , that pair well with charcoal.

Drawing with soft edges will sharpen your skills in creating blends and it will also help you to avoid relying on perfectly rendered outlines to create structure and form in a drawing.

Try drawing from different types of references

Of course, a photo reference can help with accuracy and drawing the perfect details. There are lots of benefits to drawing from photo references, however finding other references, such as plein air scenes can attune your observational prowess and in turn improve your drawing skills.

Draw from life

Drawing from life could mean creating your own still life setup, with flowers, fruit, crockery or whatever objects you find inspiring around your house. This is a great segue into drawing from a scene in front of you, as opposed to drawing from a photo reference, as you can control elements such as lighting, and your subjects won’t move!

Another option, if you enjoy landscape drawing is to take your sketchbook and draw en plein air. This is an excellent exercise in drawing fast before the light of the scene, or the weather changes. You will be able to capture the atmosphere of a landscape in a way that most photos won’t do justice.

If you prefer portrait drawing, consider going to a life drawing class. This will fine tune your gesture drawing, speed drawing, and anatomy drawing abilities. We have a guide on the best anatomy books for artists , if understanding how to accurately depict anatomy in a figure drawing is a sticking point, then find a book from the list to work from.

Sketch from memory

A tricky but rewarding exercise is to draw from memory. It can be a struggle to remember the light of a scene, or particular details, so your drawing may come out looking more abstract or expressive. However, it’s worth it, because the kinds of artworks that you produce will be based on your interpretation of a subject or event, which can add interest to an artwork. Start by drawing simple objects like fruit, then move on to more complex subjects like people or scenery.

If you make a mistake, don’t worry! Just keep going and try to get it as close as you can. The more you practise, the better you will become at drawing from memory.

Sketch from imagination

You don’t always need a photo reference or a scene in front of you to draw. If you enjoy fantasy or surreal style art, sketching from imagination is a great way to get creative and explore drawing without any boundaries.

Start by drawing simple shapes and forms, then add in details to create a more complex drawing. You could even try drawing patterns or stylised illustrations. Remember to have fun with it! The aim is to let your imagination run wild and see what you can come up with.

Observational drawing exercises

Observation, spatial recognition and hand eye coordination are the main skills that underpin a great observational drawing.

Sighting and measuring

Sighting is the practice of using your pencil as a tool to measure the proportions in your reference in relation to the proportions in your drawing.

An example of how to use the sighting technique in drawing is to measure the width to height ratio of an object. Hold up your pencil at arm’s length with eye open so that it covers the width, mark the width of the object you measured on your pencil with your thumb. Then, without moving your thumb from the pencil, measure the height of the object. Now you will have a estimate for the width to height ratio. For example, if you covered your pencil halfway for the width for the height you covered 1/4 of the pencil, your object has a 2:1 ratio. You can use the sighting technique to find the location of specific details, angles and more!

This is a great way to get the proportions of your drawing just right, and it’s also a useful skill to have when drawing from life.

Perspective drawing exercises

Practice drawing simple three dimensional shapes using one point perspective . Draw the horizon line, the vanishing point and parallel lines that lead from the paper’s edge to the vanishing point. Then, using these lines and points as a reference, draw several cube shapes.

The next exercise you can try, is drawing the same shapes, but with two point perspective. Draw two vanishing points on the horizon line.

Then, once you feel more confident drawing one point and two point perspective, try to shade the values on the cubes you have drawn. This is a great exercise in practising shading the lightsource on simple shapes.

When you feel ready, try to approach a one point or two point perspective drawing but draw more complex shapes, such as spheres.

Now you may feel prepared to approach drawing a scene, like a cityscape or a room! Give it a go and you can always come back to these exercises if you want to practice some more.

Drawing exercises for beginners

If you’re just starting out, drawing basic shapes is a great way to get familiar with the process of drawing.

The most basic skill you can learn when first starting out is contour drawing, then slowly try more complex drawing exercises, like cross contour drawing or gesture drawing. When trying a drawing exercise you are unfamiliar with, start with simple geometric shapes like squares, spheres, cylinders, circles and triangles, then move on to more elaborate shapes and forms, like apples, oranges or other simple fruits. All forms are made up of basic shapes.

Once you feel comfortable drawing basic shapes, you can start adding details like texture , shading and perspective. Remember to take your time, and don’t worry if your drawing doesn’t look perfect. The more you practise, the better you will become!

Subtractive charcoal drawing method: Try a new approach to drawing

The subtractive drawing method is when you start with a midtone surface and slowly remove charcoal to reveal highlights in the drawing. Shade with charcoal to deepen dark midtones and shadows.

Establish a mid tone and some of the tonal masses by by brushing powdered charcoal onto the paper. This will lift easily with a kneaded eraser. Then gradually deepen tones with a charcoal stick or with charcoal pencil. For highlight details, get a Tombow Mono Zero eraser to remove fine lines.

Drawing by lifting highlights is different to a standard approach of drawing outlines and filling in shadow tones, section by section, leaving the white of the paper for highlights.

The effect of drawing in this manner is expressive and almost painterly. Trying a new approach to drawing can help you to hone a signature style , to make your work stand out.

Experiment with different drawing mediums

There are so many drawing mediums to choose from, each with their own unique properties. Because each drawing medium has its own individual properties, they each require different approaches and techniques to create particular effects. Using different mediums is a great exercise in varying your approach and drawing techniques.

Graphite pencils are the most versatile drawing tool and can be used for a variety of effects, from soft and subtle to sharp and precise.

Charcoal sticks or pencils are great for creating rich, dark tones and shadows. They can be used for both subtractive and additive drawing techniques.

Oil pencils are perfect for creating smooth, blended effects and can be used on a variety of surfaces.

Pastels are ideal for creating bright, vibrant colors and can be used dry or wet.

Markers are perfect for drawing bold, graphic lines and can be used on a variety of surfaces.

There are endless possibilities when it comes to drawing mediums, so experiment with different ones to see what effects you can create

The best drawing exercises for portrait artists

When drawing portraits, it is important to capture the likeness of the subject. Practice gesture drawing so that you can better achieve accurate proportions quickly. Another great skill that a lot of portrait artists learn in art school is sighting, as this allows you to draw from life with incredible accuracy. The values in a portrait are often delicate and muted; it’s rare to see extremes in shadows and highlight tone. Create some value studies and practice shading, make sure to observe the subtleties in the transitions in values in your reference.

Create a daily drawing practice of drawing exercises

One of the best ways to improve your drawing skills is to create a daily drawing practice. Set aside some time each day, even if it’s just for 15-20 minutes, to sit down and draw. Draw whatever you like, from life or from imagination. The important thing is that you are consistently practicing drawing so that you can see an improvement in your skills over time.

If you want some drawing prompts for your sketchbook, check out our list of 70+ drawing ideas . For digital artists, Jae Johns has a great tutorial on digital drawing exercises .

Take your time and enjoy the process

When drawing, it is important to take your time and not rush through the process. This is especially true if you are a beginner.

Rushing will only lead to frustration and your drawing will likely not turn out the way you want it to. So take a deep breath, relax, and take your time.

As with any hobby, improving can feel hard. If you’re working on a piece that you are spending a lot of time on, or that is pushing you to your technical limits, the drawing process can feel like a struggle. It’s important to occasionally do some drawing exercises to remind yourself of why you started making art in the first place! Get creative, doodle, let go and make art for the sake of making art.

When it comes to drawing exercises, there are a few that stand out as being particularly helpful in improving your skills. These exercises focus on different aspects of drawing, from capturing movement to studying volume. By practicing these exercises on a regular basis, you’ll see a marked improvement in your drawing skills.

I hope you found these drawing exercises helpful! If you have any other tips or exercises that have helped you improve your drawing skills, please share them in the comments below. Happy drawing!

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1 thought on “The Best Drawing Exercises to Improve Your Skills”

This tutorial is amazing–comprehensive and helpful. THANK YOU.

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Line Drawing: A Guide for Art Students

Last Updated on September 1, 2023

When we first picked up a pen or pencil and started making marks on paper, we began with line. Whether self-taught, through trial and error, or guided by others, we learned how line defines form, creates structure, divides a frame, traces contour, creates tonal variation (cross-hatching, for example) and leads the eye from one part of a work to another. Initially a mechanism for getting outlines onto paper – identifying edges – we begin to applaud lines for their own merit: celebrate their presence…whether a quiet flick of charcoal on paper or a streak of graphite.

This article contains exercises for Art students who wish to produce contour line drawings, cross contour drawings, blind drawings and other types of line drawings. It is a teaching aid for high school Art students and includes classroom activities, a free downloadable PDF worksheet and inspirational artist drawings.

Blind Contour Drawing

Definition : A blind contour drawing contains lines that are drawn without ever looking at the piece of paper. This forces you to study a scene closely, observing every shape and edge with your eyes, as your hand mimics these on paper. The aim is not to produce a realistic artwork, but rather to strengthen the connection between eyes, hand and brain: a reminder that, when drawing, you must first learn to see.

Blind Drawing Exercises : Blind drawing is an excellent way to start a high school Fine Art programme. Drawing wobbly lines that bear little resemblance to the chosen object is relaxing and stress-free. Often, a classroom bubbles with laughter at the unexpected results. Blind drawing stretches the arms and soul; eases you into observational drawing without fear.

READ NEXT: How to make an artist website (and why you need one)

Gesture Drawing / Timed Drawing / Movement Drawing

Definition : A gesture drawing is completed quickly – often in short timed durations, such as 20, 30, 60 or 90 seconds – using fast, expressive lines. Gesture drawings capture basic forms and proportions – the emotion and essence of a subject – without focusing on detail. Due to their rapid completion, they are a great way to record movement and action, as well as increase your drawing speed, confidence and intuitive mark-making skill. Gesture drawings are best completed with smooth, easily applied mediums (chunky graphite pencils, charcoal sticks, pastels, soft brushes dipped in Indian ink, for example), without the use of an eraser. They are often completed on large, inexpensive sheets of paper, where you can move your arm fluidly, be bold with mark-making, and not worry about mistakes. As with blind drawings, gesture drawing is an ideal warm-up activity.

Gesture Drawing Exercises : When you begin investigating your subject matter in the initial phase of a high school Art programme, it can be helpful to make several first-hand gestural drawings. The best of these can be selected for your final portfolio (taking advantage of a photocopier or digital camera to reduce in size, if necessary). A small still life scene can be depicted just as easily as a large moving form.

A gesture drawing by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn :

A gestural figure drawing by Chelsea Stebar :

Continuous Line Drawing

Definition : A continuous line drawing is produced without ever lifting the drawing instrument from the page. This means that, in addition to outlines and internal shapes, the pencil must move back and forth across the surface of the paper, with lines doubling back on each other, so that the drawing is one free-flowing, unbroken line. To avoid the temptation to erase lines, it can be helpful to complete a continuous line drawing with an ink pen, varying the line weight, as needed, to indicate perspective and areas of light and shadow. Like the drawing methods described above, this drawing method develops confidence and drawing speed, and encourages your eyes and hand and brain to work together. Continuous line drawings work best with in-depth observation of your subject, without interference from your thinking mind. According to Smithsonian Studio Arts :

…continuous line drawing is actually a very powerful way to create a piece that is both hard edged and fluid, representational and abstract, rational and emotional all in one.

Continuous Line Drawing Exercises : This drawing method is great for sketchbooks and drawing from life. It can be an excellent starter activity, with drawings completed on large, inexpensive paper that can be scanned / edited / cropped and used in other ways within your projects.

An A Level Art sketchbook page by  Lucy Feng  from Hereford Sixth Form College, Herefordshire, UK:

Contour drawing

Definition: A contour drawing shows the outlines, shapes and edges of a scene, but omits fine detail, surface texture, colour and tone (‘contour’ is French for ‘outline’). According to Wikipedia :

The purpose of contour drawing is to emphasize the mass and volume of the subject rather than the detail; the focus is on the outlined shape of the subject and not the minor details.

The illusion of three-dimensional form, space and distance can be conveyed in a contour drawing through the use of varied line-weight (darker lines in the foreground / paler lines in the distance) and perspective.

Contour Drawing Exercises : Using line alone eliminates the challenge of applying tone, colour and mediums; and instead focuses attention solely upon shape and proportion. After completing warm-up activities such as blind and gesture drawings, slower, more formal contour drawings can be an excellent way to begin more realistic representations of your subject matter. Used intermittently throughout projects, contour drawings can also be helpful for the student who needs to work faster .

A contour drawing by  Ultima Thule :

Cross contour drawing

Definition : A cross contour drawing contains parallel lines that run across the surface of an object (or radiate from a central point), such as those that appear on a topographical map or a digital wireframe. The lines can run at any appropriate angle (sometimes at multiple angles) and may continue across objects and into the background. Cross contour drawings typically follow the rules of perspective, with lines drawn closer together in the distance and further apart in the foreground. In this type of drawing, the illusion of three-dimensional volume is created entirely with line.

Cross Contour Drawing Exercises : This is an excellent way to gain familiarity with the volumes and three-dimensional forms in your project, producing analytical cross contour drawings that are suitable for sketchbooks or early preparatory sheets.

Cross contour drawing of a shell by Matt Louscher :

Cross contour hand drawings by (from left) Mathew Young, Ryan Acks and Lea Dallaglio while studying at the  San Jose State University , Department of Art and Art History:

Cross contour drawings by Daniel Servin (left) and Alfred Manzano, completed while studying AP Studio Art at Mt Eden High School in Hayward, California, USA:

A wireframe contour drawing exercise by Year 9 student Seonmin Lee from ACG Parnell College , Auckland, New Zealand:

Planar analysis drawing

Definition : A planar analysis drawing simplifies complex curved surfaces into flat planes, using straight lines. This process helps students to think about the underlying structure of objects and results in an analytical drawing, that is rather mechanical in appearance.

Planar Analysis Drawing Activity : This can be a great introductory drawing exercise, especially if you are moving towards Cubism or abstracting scenes into geometric form.

A planar analysis portrait completed by a student of Cat Normoyle :

Wire sculpture drawings

Definition : Wire can be cut and bent into shapes with pliers to create three-dimensional ‘drawings’, often resulting in a work filled with flowing, curved lines. These wire sculptures can be attached to a two-dimensional frame or a flat surface, hung in the air, or be left free-standing, changing in appearance as a viewer moves around the room. Due to their flexible nature, wire sculptures often move slightly in the wind, adding an extra interactive element to the work.

Wire Sculpture Line Drawing Exercise : This is an excellent activity for middle school students and for high school students, if it relates specifically to your project (and does not interfere with postage requirements, for those who need to post work away for assessment). Small wire experiments, using light-weight wire, can also be mounted to sketchbook pages.

Wire sculptures completed by the students of Amy Bonner Oliveri from Allendale Columbia School, Rochester, New York, USA:

Hatching, cross hatching, and other line techniques

As well as representing contours, line can also be used to apply tone (light and shadow) to a drawing. This can be done by altering the:

• Gap between the lines
• Lightness / darkness of the line
• Thickness of the line

There are many line techniques can be used to create tone, as illustrated in the worksheet below. Common techniques include:

• Small dashes
• Hatching (long, parallel lines on an angle)
• Cross-hatching (parallel lines at right angles)
• Stippling (dots)
• Small crosses
• Small circles

The angle that these techniques are applied may remain constant within a drawing, or it may change in response to the angle and direction of the forms. For example, cross-hatching may flow around the surface of an object in a similar direction as cross contour lines. These techniques are also a great way to create the illusion of texture (see our article about observational drawings ).

Line Techniques Worksheet : The worksheet below has been provided by the Student Art Guide for classroom use only and may be issued freely to students (credited to studentartguide.com), as well as shared via the social media buttons at the bottom of this page. It may not be published online or shared or distributed in any other way, as per our terms and conditions . The full size printable worksheet is available by clicking the PDF link below. This worksheet is suitable for middle school students, or senior students who have not had prior experience with line techniques.

Click here to open the full size worksheet as a printable PDF .

An Indian Ink still life drawing by Kirana Intraroon, completed while in Year 10 at ACG Strathallan College , Auckland, New Zealand:  

An A* GCSE Art sketchbook page by Samantha Li :

A final GCSE Art piece by Hannah Armstrong :  

Artist line drawings

Here is a collection of line drawings from famous and less well known artists, to inspire high school Art students and teachers. This section is continually updated. Enjoy!

Pablo Picasso :

Andy Warhol :

David Hockney :

Vincent van Gogh :

Leonardo da Vinci :

Aaron Earley :

Peter Root :

Maurizio Anzeri

Karolina Cummings :

Daniel Mathers

Roz McQuillan :

Wang Tzu-Ting :

Nina Smart :

Andy Mercer :

Vital Photography :

Matthew Dunn :

Rod McLaren :

Andreas Fischer :

Nicholas Weltyk :

Liliana Porter :

Hong Chun Zhang :

Bruce Pollock :

David Eskenazi

Matt Niebuhr :

Albrecht Durer :

Victoria Haven :

Carne Griffiths :

William Anastasi :

Charles Avery

Did you enjoy this article? You may wish to read 11 Tips for Producing an Excellent Observational Drawing .

Amiria has been an Art & Design teacher and a Curriculum Co-ordinator for seven years, responsible for the course design and assessment of student work in two high-achieving Auckland schools. She has a Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Bachelor of Architecture (First Class Honours) and a Graduate Diploma of Teaching. Amiria is a CIE Accredited Art & Design Coursework Assessor.

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EasyDrawingTips

Easy Drawing Tips for Beginners

Absolute Beginner Drawing Exercises Tutorial

If you are an absolute beginner artist looking to learn to draw this tutorial provides some beginner drawing exercises that can help you improve more quickly. Similar exercises are often used by art and design students and those who want to become professionals in art related fields.

The exercises listed below can be done for a few minutes each day or every other day. You can mix things up and do different types of exercises on different days. Be sure not to overdo these and to still draw the things you like drawing. If you only focus on drawing exercises you may get bored and lose interest in drawing all together.

At the same time it’s also very important to take these exercises seriously and to try and accomplish what each exercise suggest to the best of your ability. If you simply try and get through them as fast as you can without any effort you will have little to no results.

For an overall introduction to drawing you can also check out:

Beginner Guide to Learning to Draw

Exercise 1 – Drawing Straight Lines

As a total beginner line drawing is where you should start. Drawing long straight lines is a great exercise for building a steady hand and a must have ability for any good artist.

One line exercise that you can do is to simply draw straight lines in different directions using pencil and paper. You can overlap the lines but don’t turn your paper into a total mess where you can’t tell the lines apart. If there are too many get a fresh sheet.

You can also draw entire sets of lines going in on direction horizontally, vertically, and at different angles. You can further up the difficulty by trying to draw all of the lines roughly the same distance from one another.

Be sure not to press on the pencil/pen too hard when drawing these and to keep your hand reasonably relaxed.

Exercise 2 – Drawing Curved Lines

Similar to the straight lines exercise you can draw long and steady curved lines or “wave like lines.

You can again do this using overlapping lines and sets of duplicate lines drawn in different directions or tracing the shape of the previous line.

Once again you can try and keep roughly the same amount of spacing when drawing sets of curves.

Exercise 3 – Drawing Transitioning Lines

For this exercise draw two different lines (for example two curved lines in different directions) and between these two draw a set of lines where with each line you make a small change towards matching the bend of the second line.

The goal is to eventually have a smooth transition of lines going from one curve into the other.

This exercise will both train your eye and your hand.

Exercise 4 – Drawing Basic Geometric Shapes

A slightly more complex exercise is to draw basic shapes such as circles, squares, triangle, etc…

These will both help steady your hand and train you to catch your own mistakes.

For example it’s a lot easier to tell if a circle is round or not then it is to see a mistake in a more complex drawing with multiple shapes. At the same time it can be quite challenging to draw a good circle.

Another benefit of drawing these shapes is that more complex objects can often be broken down into simpler shapes. If you can draw these shapes well you can use them to help you construct a more complex drawing.

When doing this exercise you can practice shapes of different sizes and random placement and you can also draw neatly arranged shapes of the same size (to the best of your ability).

Exercise 5 – Drawing Lines Through Shapes & Shapes in Shapes

Based on the previous shape drawing exercise you can can then draw some lines through the geometric shapes such as squares or rectangles.

These exercises will help train your eye as you sort of have to “aim” to hit the corners as well as help steady you hand as you have to make a fairly straight line for this to work.

In addition to doing this you can also draw one shape inside another. For example you can draw a circle inside a square that is divided into four parts by drawing a curve in each one of these.

An additional benefit of doing this is that it can also make it easier to see if any part of the circle is off as the surrounding square (if properly drawn) will give you a good way to judge the positioning of the four curves.

Exercise 6 – Shading Using Different Stroke Types

You can practice shading any of the basic shapes above using different types of strokes. The goal is to have the same level of shading through the entire shape where no one part of the object stands out.

For actual pencil drawing examples of different stroke types you can see:

Shading Techniques and Stroke Types Drawing Tutorial

Please note that later on when drawing 3d objects you can also make strokes that will follow the shape of the object but as a beginner simple being able to make steady one direction or cross hatch strokes is a good start.

You can see an example of this in:

Egg Step by Step Basic Shading Tutorial

This tutorial covers some of the most basic drawing exercises you can do to improves your artistic skills. If you would like something a little more advanced or are just wondering where you can go from here check out the following:

• Perspective Drawing Tutorial for Beginners
• How to Shade Basic 3D Shapes Tutorial

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sketchfu.com

Easy line drawing techniques and exercises, line drawing techniques and exercises.

Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, line drawing is a great way to improve your skills. In this article, we’ll cover some basic Line drawing techniques and exercises that you can do to improve your line drawing skills.

Small Dashes

One of the most important things when learning how to draw with line is understanding how to make small dashes. This may seem like a simple task, but it’s actually quite difficult to do! Here are some tips on how to make small dashes: – Use a light touch when drawing your lines. The lighter the touch, the smaller the dash will be. – Practice makes perfect! The more you practice making small dashes, the better you’ll become at it. – Use a variety of line thicknesses. This will help you create interesting effects and add depth to your drawings. – Experiment with different types of lines. Wavy lines, zigzag lines, and dotted lines are all fun to experiment with!

When it comes to learning how to line draw, hatching is one of the most essential skills to master. Hatching is a technique that involves using closely spaced parallel lines to create shading and depth in a drawing. This technique can be used to add value to any subject matter, from portraits to landscapes. There are a few things to keep in mind when hatching: first, the closer together your lines are, the darker the value will be. Second, the angle of your lines also affect the value- horizontal lines will create a lighter value than diagonal or vertical lines. Finally, the type of pen or pencil you use will also play a role in creating different values- thicker lines will create darker values than thinner lines. Now that you know the basics of hatching, try out the following exercises to practice this technique: 1. Draw a simple object, like a sphere or cube, using only hatching lines. Try different line spacing and angles to see how it affects the value of your drawing. 2. Find a photo or picture in a magazine that has a lot of different values (light and dark areas). Using only hatching lines, try to recreate the image as accurately as possible.

Cross-Hatching

Cross-hatching is a great way to add detail and interest to your line drawings. It’s also a great way to practice your drawing skills. To do cross-hatching, simply draw a series of parallel lines that criss-cross each other. Vary the spacing of the lines and the thickness of the lines to create different effects. You can also use different pen or pencil strokes to create different effects. Experiment and have fun!

One line drawing technique that can be used to create interesting effects is stippling. This involves using small dots to build up an image, and can be used to create a range of different textures and tones. If you’re interested in trying out stippling, there are a few exercises you can do to get started. First, try making a simple image using just black dots on white paper. Then, experiment with different dot sizes and spacing to see how this changes the overall effect. Once you’ve got the hang of stippling, try using it to create more complex images with shading and different levels of detail. You could also experiment with adding color to your dots, or using different papers and surfaces to see how this affects the final image.

One of the quickest and easiest ways to get better at line drawing is through what’s called “scribbling.” This technique involves rapidly moving your pencil or pen across the paper while varying the pressure you apply. The goal is to produce a continuous line without lifting your drawing tool off the paper. Not only is scribbling a great way to improve your line drawing skills, but it’s also a lot of fun! So grab a pencil and some paper and give it a try!

Lines are everywhere in the world around us, and they can be used to create some truly stunning artwork. If you’re interested in learning how to draw better lines, or simply want to explore different line drawing techniques, then check out these blog posts. You’ll find tutorials on everything from basic line drawing exercises to more advanced techniques like hatching and stippling. And once you’ve mastered the basics, you’ll be able to move on to creating beautiful illustrations, detailed sketches, and even animations. So whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, there’s something here for you. So grab a pencil and some paper, and let’s get started!

Small Circles

One of the best ways to improve your line drawing skills is to practice drawing small circles. This may seem like a simple exercise, but it’s actually quite challenging! To start, try drawing a small circle in the center of your paper. Then, working your way outwards, draw another circle around the first one. Continue adding circles until you fill the entire page. This exercise may seem easy at first, but it’s actually quite difficult to keep all of the circles evenly spaced and sized. As you practice, pay attention to your grip on the pencil and the pressure you’re applying. The more control you have, the better your results will be. After you’ve completed this exercise, take a look at your work. How well did you do? If you’re not happy with your results, don’t worry! Just keep practicing and you’ll eventually get the hang of it.

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Fun line drawing exercises – to loosen up!

I LOVE the following line drawing exercises. Not only they help me to loosen up but they also remind me to observe attentively! Don’t we all search to have expressive lines in our drawings and improve our observation skills! These are the perfect exercises to work in that direction.

How much time you spend looking at your subject?

If you had to give a percentage on how much time you look at your subject and how much at what you draw, what would the result be? 50/50? or are you looking 90% down on your paper?

Danny Gregory writes in his book ‘ Art before breakfast ‘ that 80% looking at the subject and 20% on your page would be a good ratio. I agree! The blind drawing exercise will convince you.

The blind drawing exercise will open your eyes!

In this line drawing exercise you will look the entire time at the subject without looking AT ALL at your paper! There are so many benefits to this! So DON’T CHEAT!

• You will observe attentively your object
• You will realize that there is no need to constantly look at your hands to draw
• You are working on your eye-hand connection
• You will have to let go and can’t control everything
• Your lines will be creative and free
• You have a great excuse not to be so perfect

No matter if you have done this drawing exercise or not, give it a try and have fun!

Continuous line drawing exercise

In this drawing exercise, you will NEVER LIFT YOUR PEN! Draw slowly and observe well. You probably wonder how to get across an object.. Yes, you will simply cross over, no matter if you end up with a line across the middle of a face!

Point of this exercise:

• You will link lines and observe how they relate
• These additional lines make your drawings original and spontaneous
• you will have to draw confidently, there is no erasing

Line drawing exercise with your NON dominant hand

I am completely hopeless with my left hand.. Draw with your non-dominant hand and see how it comes out. I felt so out of control the whole time and was very tempted to stop. When I was finally done, I had to admit that I liked the drawing far more than my regular drawings. This is a also a great way to start a drawing and finish it off with your dominant hand. Let me know how YOU felt!

A simple line is not just a simple line…

Experiment different lines with your favorite art supplies. For example a regular pencil can be used with a very sharp point, held all the way in the back, used on the side. A simple line can also tell a story!

Left to right: Pencil 7B – Farber Castel color pencil – Sailer fountain pen – Pilot parallel pen

Practice suggestion :

Do at least 10 drawings for each exercise. It takes a bit of time to get used to it and the more you experiment to richer will be your drawings.

Additional reference pictures: click here

Feel free to share your drawings in my closed FB group or share your experiences below in the comments!

Closed FB group: YvonneMorells Art Community

This post is part of a series DRAWING FOUNDATION. If you missed the previous posts find them here

Yvonne Morell

Posts by Yvonne Morell

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The Beginning Artist

How To Draw Straight Lines [With 4 Exercises!]

Do you want to learn how to draw straight lines by hand? Then you came to the right place.

Being able to draw straight lines by hand is very important.

You use straight lines in pretty much any drawing so you better practice it.

By looking at the quality of someone lines you can easily tell how much experience that person has as an artist.

So in today’s post, I’ll go over different way that you can learn how to draw straight lines as well.

3 crucial tips

Ok, listen up because this is going to be the most important part of the entire post.

Drawing a line might sound easy. But there is actually more technique to it then you might expect if you want really straight lines.

There are three things that helped me a ton when practising my lines. These are:

• Draw from your shoulder, not your wrist
• Look at your destination, not your pencil
• Work fast and confident

So what does this all mean?

Drawing from your shoulder is important because it lets you make bigger strokes. If you keep your wrist locked and only move from the shoulder you can easily reach side to side on the paper.

Secondly you want to look where you want your line to go. Don’t look at the tip of your pen or pencil. This sounds super counterintuitive.

But once you give it a try, you will quickly realize that you don’t need to know the precise location of your. Knowing where you started and where you want the line to go is enough.

Finally, you want to draw your lines fast and with confidence, even if you don’t feel confident at all! Normally you want to slow down if you wan to make sure everything is perfect. But when you are drawing lines, it’s the exact opposite.

As soon as you slow down or stop halfway your line, you inevitable will start to wobble. So try to draw your straight line as fast as possible. You can always erase it if it really went terrible, right?

Practising straight lines

If you look at some old book on learning how to draw, you might come across the advice of just filling a few pages with nothing but lines. Horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, all the lines.

This might be great practice, but it’s also super boring. So here are a few exercises you can use to practice your lines.

Just try one until you are bored and then switch to the next. If you tried all of them several times, your line will improve significantly.

So after some drawing warm up , try some of these exercises:

1 Parallel lines

For this exercise you want to start by drawing a few lines parallel to each other with plenty of space between them.

Then you want to draw more parallel lines right between the ones you already drew.

Then keep repeating that until the lines are so close to each other that you can’t possibly fit any new lines in.

Here is one of my tries:

2 Connecting the dots

No super amazing secret techniques here, this exercise is indeed just connecting the dots.

However, this is a great way to practice tip number 2. So place your pen at one of the dots, then keep your eyes fixed at another dot, and draw the line. Don’t cheat and look at the pen instead!

Here is one of my attempts:

3 Draw objects & letters

Who said that parallel lines need to be boring? With a little bit of creativity you can actually “draw” a lot of things only using straight lines.

Why don’t you try writing with parallel lines? You can roughly sketch where you want your lines to go and then fill in your letters with straight lines.

I also tried drawing a heart with only straight lines. First I drew horizontal lines to get the basic shape down. And then I added parallel lines at different angles as decoration.

With this exercise you can get pretty creative. Try drawing your own name, some cute animals, or your favorite food.

4 Cubes with textures

When I think of straight lines, I think of squares, rectangles and cubes. So it only made sense to me to try drawing a few to practice my straight lines.

I then tried to decorate them with different patterns consisting of straight lines. Here was my first try:

Also read my article on how to draw 3D cubes from different angles .

Time for action!

If you reached this far, it’s time to stop reading and start drawing!

Pick one of the exercises and start practising your lines. Practising for just a few minutes each day for several weeks will make a huge difference.

Learning how to draw straight lines is maybe not the most exciting thing, but a good grip of the basics is what differentiates the professional from the amateur.

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6 Beginner Drawing Exercises For Quick Progress

By: Author Ammar

Posted on Last updated: December 1, 2023

Categories Basics

Hello there, fellow aspiring artist! 20 months ago, I embarked on a quest to master drawing, again, after several unsuccessful attempts in the past. The journey has been quite the rollercoaster, and there is still a very long road ahead of me, but I’m proud of the progress I’ve made thus far.

So in this post, I’ve put together a list of six drawing exercises that I wholeheartedly recommend for beginners. These exercises have been instrumental to my growth as a beginner artist and are inspired by different art books, courses, and some YouTube videos that I stumbled upon along the way . So, without further ado, let’s dive into my 6 favorite drawing exercises.

6. Copy an upside-down line drawing by Picasso.

I remember taking an introductory drawing workshop at a local art school a long time ago that was based on the book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain by Betty Edwards. During the workshop, the art instructor made us do several exercises and one of the most interesting ones was to copy a line drawing by Picasso first the usual way followed by another copy of the same drawing but this time flipping it upside down.

To my surprise, as well as many other workshop participants, we were able to recreate the upside-down drawing way better than our attempts at copying it the right way!

The reason for this, as explained by the art instructor, was that as beginners we tend to allow our perceptions about how something looks like affect our drawing and we lack the ability to see the shapes of things objectively. However, when we copy the inverted portrait, it is harder for our brains to figure out exactly what we are drawing, like the nose and the lips, and are forced to observe it in terms of simple lines and curves which helps us to draw better.

Doing this exercise helped me realize the importance of seeing your drawing reference objectively without allowing our perceptions about familiar things to override our observations. I highly recommend aspiring artists attempt this exercise at least once to fully absorb this lesson.

Here’s how you can try this exercise:

• Recreate the following drawing by Picasso to the best of your ability in no more than 30 minutes :

• Now go on to make a copy of the following drawing but remember to consider some additional things listed below the reference while you’re at it:

• Don’t overthink what you’re drawing – just focus on those lines and shapes.
• Listen to some music if you find this exercise a tad boring. And it might help you figure out the shapes better.
• Plan to leave some space on your paper – I had to squeeze my drawing towards the end because it was exceeding the dimensions of my sketchbook!
• Start from any one side – doesn’t matter which one – and try to draw sequentially from one side to the other instead of starting from the middle and going back and forth.
• You’re not allowed to turn your drawing right side up until you’re finished .
• Try to finish your drawing in no more than 30 minutes .
• Once finished, flip the drawing and compare it to your first attempt .

5. Draw sculptures.

Drawing sculptures is great for understanding the human form, conveying the value range (shadows, midtones, and highlights), and practicing different shading techniques . What I like about studying sculptures as a beginner is that it allows you to focus on the shapes, values, and techniques without getting distracted by color variations and texture .

When doing sculpture studies, here are a few things you should explore:

• Study the different types of shadows and try to identify those in your sculpture reference.
• Don’t be afraid to press down hard on your pencil (or use a softer / darker pencil) where it’s necessary to draw with better contrast . As a beginner, I was too afraid to go darker with my values , and studying sculptures has helped to expand the value range in my drawings.
• Experiment with different hatching techniques to add some depth and convey the overlapping forms in your drawings.

Here’s a link to a Pinterest board with some of my favorite sculpture references if you’re looking for inspiration.

4. Practice drawing the Loomis heads from different angles.

For anyone interested in learning how to draw faces, the Loomis Method is your new best friend. It’s a game changer, taking you from contour drawing (the usual starting point) to a more constructive system for organizing a portrait into a series of steps that start from a simple sphere.

If you’re new to portrait drawing, you may check out this post about the 7 key face proportions and this guide in which I explain the Loomis Method in 13 easy steps.

To practice drawing the Loomis Heads, here’s what you need to do :

• Grab some portrait references from Pinterest in a variety of poses like side profile, front view, and three-quarters. Here’s a reference board you may like.
• Try to draw each reference using the Loomis Method spending no more than 5 minutes for each pose .
• Don’t plan to render your drawings to perfection – focus on getting those proportions and construction just right .

3. Copy other artists.

Drawing from life and photo references of real people, objects, and scenes is great but there is something enchanting about recreating artworks by the masters.

Doing master studies helps you to unlock the secrets behind their magic, and teaches you the finer aspects of their art process such as composition and abstraction. Personally, I like to study a good mix of artworks of old masters and contemporary artists as I feel it helps me to explore different art styles more comprehensively.

Here are a couple of things you need to do to rock this exercise:

• Pick at least 5 artists who appeal to your visual aesthetic, and recreate their masterpieces.
• Don’t stress over copying just for copying sake – focus on understanding their style, techniques, and creative process .

2. Draw a chair from observation.

Alright, this may sound a bit boring or too easy if you haven’t tried drawing a chair before. Let me assure you, chairs are deceptively tricky to draw for beginners !

Here’s what you need to do to complete this exercise:

• Find a chair to draw from life, preferably one that isn’t entirely draped in upholstering and has sections of negative space within its frame.
• Notice how the angles of the different parts of the chair change based on where you’re positioned relative to it because of perspective.
• Explore the negative spaces – outlining it first makes the chair’s shape easier to draw.

1. Practice gesture sketching.

Gesture sketching is a fundamental drawing skill that is essential not only to loosen up when starting a complicated drawing but also for quickly figuring out the big shapes, relationships, movement, balance, and angles that are critical for dynamic drawing.

No matter how precise and intricate the finished drawing or painting is, it is almost always backed up by a loose gesture sketch that captures the bare essence of the composed scene. So, in a way, you can think of gesture drawing as the backbone of drawing.

• Grab some references from Pinterest of people in different motions (e.g., walking, playing a sport, dancing, etc.). Or even better, sketch people spontaneously in a cafe, park, or train .
• Give yourself a maximum of 2 minutes to sketch a gesture for each reference.
• Don’t sweat the small stuff . Instead of fussing over the eyes, lips, or fingers, try to get the overall feel of the pose down on paper focusing on the big shapes, balance, and movement .

There you have it, fellow art adventurer! Six nifty exercises to improve your drawing skills . Whether you’re copying the greats or defying gravity with Picasso, remember, it’s all part of the journey. Embrace the process, keep your spirits high, and you’ll be amazed at how far you can progress. Happy sketching! 🎨🚀

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

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.

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:

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

RELATED DRAWING ARTICLES

How to Draw Easy And Cool Patterns in Your Art Journal

38 Cute and Easy Doodles to Draw in Your Art Journal

28 Easy Things to Draw in Your Art Journal (Even If You Have No Skills)

If you like these drawing exercises, share them with other beginners on Pinterest!

Practice tools

How to use these tools.

These tools are ideally suited for gesture drawing practice, but can be used with many styles of drawing practice.

Gesture drawings are works of art created in an extremely short amount of time, traditionally 30 seconds — and certainly no more than two minutes.

Why bother with drawing something in a time period so frustratingly short?

• One of the most common mistakes that artists make is getting too detailed too soon. This often leads to heavily rendered individual body parts that don’t work as a whole – tiny hands, giant heads, disjointed hips, and so forth. But if you know you only have 30 seconds or less to try and capture the entire “essence” of a pose, your attention will naturally be drawn to the whole.
• By starting with short drawings and then slowly increasing the time available to you for each pose (as is the case in “class mode” with these tools), you can train yourself to start by working up a general picture before starting in on details. You will naturally stop focusing on any one place to the awkward exclusion of others.
• By starting each gesture drawing with a single stroke called the “ line of action, ” gesture drawings help artists to place emphasis on movement, action, and direction, which can be overlooked during a long drawing.
• Remember: the point is NOT to have a beautiful finished drawing in 30 seconds. In fact, it may not look like anything but a few arcing lines. The point is simply to train your brain to look at the entirety of a pose and understand the direction, energy or twists that make it interesting and alive.

Regular gesture drawing can be a fantastic way to increase your artistic skill. We recommend you start every day with at least five minutes of 30 second gesture drawings. Or, use it as a warm up to a longer work session. You will be amazed at the difference it makes.

Detailed Instructions

• Gesture basics #1: Line of action
• Gesture basics #2: Head, ribcage and pelvis
• Gesture basics #3: Joints

Beyond gesture drawing

Gesture drawing is a great foundation skill, but of course there is so much more to becoming a capable artist. That’s why we have an ever-growing wealth of practice suggestions in the Lessons & Tips session. You can also visit the forums to see what other self-taught artists are doing to hone their craft.

Vector Conversions

• Raster to Vector Conversion
• Image to Vector Conversion
• JPG to Vector Conversion
• Vector Logo Conversion
• Vector Line Drawing
• Vector Map Drawing
• Vector Floor Plan Drawing
• Architectural Vector Drawing
• Machine Vector Drawing
• Badge vector conversion
• Pets vector conversion
• Vehicles Vector Conversion
• Buildings vector conversion

Art & Illustration

• Vector Artwork Design
• Digital Illustration
• Children Book Illustration
• Book Cover Design
• Mascot Design
• Character Design
• Tattoo Design
• Portraits Conversion
• Caricatures Design
• Cartoon/Comics Design

Logo & Brand Identity

• Logo Design
• Business Card Design
• Stationery Design
• Letterhead Design

Photo Editing & Retouching

• Clipping Path
• Remove Photo Background
• Photo Retouching
• Color Correction
• Photo Restoration
• Ghost Mannequin
• Shadow Creation/Effect
• Photo Masking
• Product Photo Editing
• Jewelry Photo Editing
• Shoe Photo Editing
• Food Photo Editing
• Photography Post Production
• Furniture Photo Editing
• Wedding Photo Editing
• Fashion Photo Editing
• Real Estate Photo Editing
• Automobile Photo Editing
• Apparel Photo Editing

Photography & Editing

• Product Photography
• Ecommerce Photography
• Stock Photography
• Lightroom Photo Editing
• Photography Video Editing

Packaging & Labels

• Packaging Design
• Label Design
• Flip Cover Design

Product & Merchandize

• T Shirt Design
• Embroidery to Vector
• Bag/Hat/Cup/Mug Design

Print Design

• Sticker Design
• Flyer Design
• Brochure Design
• Poster Design
• Catalog Design
• Postcard Design
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Line Drawing for Beginners: Getting Started with Essential Techniques

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Line drawing is a testament to the beauty that can be found in simplicity. It’s a practice where the elegance of minimalism meets the creativity of imagination. Exploring line drawing techniques reveals their fundamental significance in artistic expression and beyond.

These skills go beyond wielding a pen or pencil; they are the language through which ideas, emotions and observations are communicated with precision. Whether you’re an artist or designer , mastering these techniques sharpens your perception and interpretation abilities.

Definition of Line Drawing

A line drawing is a type of artwork created primarily using lines, whether drawn with a pencil, pen or other tools. These lines can be simple or intricate, continuous or fragmented. They are used to outline, define and detail subjects, conveying organic shapes , forms and textures with precision.

Line drawings often focus on contour and structure, employing various techniques to capture both realism and abstraction. They are the versatile and expressive mode of artistic representation.

Line Drawing Techniques for Beginners

Mastering various drawing techniques opens up a world of creative possibilities for the beginners. Through these essential line drawing tips artists will be able to express their unique visions on paper.

Contour Drawing

Contour drawing is a fundamental line drawing technique where professional artists create outlines of subjects using continuous, unbroken lines. Whether capturing graceful curves of a human figure or the intricate details of a flower , contour drawing emphasizes precise observation and hand-eye coordination.

This versatile technique can produce both realistic representations and expressive. Whether as a warm-up exercise or a standalone artwork, contour drawing offers a profound understanding of shapes, forms and the art of seeing.

Cross-Hatching

Cross-hatching is a classic line drawing technique that involves the use of intersecting lines to create shading, depth and texture in an artwork. This method is particularly useful for adding dimension and tonal values to a drawing.

It’s commonly employed in pen and ink illustrations, comics and fine art . By varying the spacing, angle and density of the lines, artists can achieve a wide range of shading effects.

Hatching is a fundamental line drawing technique where artists use parallel lines to create shading and value in their artwork. By adjusting the density, spacing and angle of these lines, artists can achieve various levels of darkness and texture. Hatching is widely employed in pencil and pen drawings.

It offers a versatile method for capturing depth and form in a wide range of subjects, from still life to portraiture drawing . It’s a skill that enhances an artist’s ability to convey light, shadow and dimension in their creations.

Scribble Drawing

Scribble drawing is a unique and expressive drawing technique for novices where artists create images using a series of spontaneous, chaotic and overlapping scribbles. This method often results in abstract or semi-abstract artworks characterized by a sense of energy, movement and unpredictability.

While it might appear haphazard, scribble drawing requires a degree of control and intentionality to guide the scribbles into forming recognizable shapes or subjects. It’s a creative and playful technique, offering artists the freedom to experiment with line and form in unconventional ways.

Blind Contour Drawing

Blind contour drawing is a simple line drawing exercise that challenges artists to closely observe their subject without looking at the paper while drawing. This results in drawings that often appear abstract or distorted but are rich in details and nuances. Blind contour drawing is an exercise in hand-eye coordination and careful observation.

It helps artists to develop their understanding of shapes, proportions, and the subtleties of lines. It encourages a deeper connection between the artist and the subject, fostering both technical skill and artistic expression.

Single-Line Drawing

Single-line drawing is an easy drawing technique where the entire artwork is created using a continuous, unbroken line. Artists challenge themselves to capture the essence of the subject or scene without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper. This technique encourages a simplified and minimalist approach.

Besides, single-line drawing places a premium on precision, as every stroke contributes to the final composition. It’s an intriguing exercise in artistic restraint and can produce striking, minimalist artwork with a unique visual appeal.

Technical Line Drawing

Technical line drawing is a precise and detail-oriented approach commonly used in engineering, architecture and technical illustration. This technique emphasizes accuracy, clarity and attention to scale and proportion. Artists use straight lines, geometric shapes and precise measurements to create highly detailed and technical drawings, often depicting machinery, buildings or intricate diagrams.

And, this drawing plays a crucial role in conveying complex information visually. This essential line drawing tip is valued for its precision and communicative power in various technical fields.

Calligraphic Drawing

Calligraphic drawing is an expressive line drawing process that draws inspiration from the art of calligraphy. Lines are created with fluidity and a sense of rhythm in this method. Artists use varying line weights, curves and gestures to create dynamic and visually engaging drawings.

This technique is often associated with energy and movement, allowing artists to convey emotions and capture the essence of their subject with a unique calligraphic flair. Calligraphic drawing is employed in a range of artistic styles, from traditional ink drawings to contemporary.

Suggested Article – Best Free Calligraphy Fonts .

Linear Perspective Drawing

Linear perspective drawing is a fundamental technique in art and architecture that allows artists to create the illusion of depth and three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface. This technique relies on the use of converging lines and a vanishing point to accurately depict objects in space. Linear perspective drawing is especially useful for architectural renderings and realistic scenes.

It provides a systematic approach to portraying spatial relationships, scale and perspective. By mastering this technique, artists can achieve realistic and convincing depictions of environments and objects in their drawings.

Emotive Line Drawing

Emotive line drawing is an essential technique for beginner artist. This style prioritizes capturing and conveying emotions, moods or feelings through the use of lines. Artists use various line qualities, such as thickness, curvature and intensity, to evoke specific emotional responses in their viewers.

This technique often involves gestural and spontaneous mark-making. Artists can infuse their drawings with energy and sentiment by learning this line art. Emotive line drawing is a powerful tool for artists seeking to communicate their inner thoughts and feelings.

Suggested Article – Homies Drawing Ideas .

Manga and Comic Art

Manga and comic art represent an exclusive line drawing technique widely used in the creation of comic books, graphic novels and manga. This style employs a combination of expressive lines and various line weights to depict characters, action and narrative sequences. Besides, this technique allows for a wide range of stylistic choices. It is a versatile and dynamic form of line drawing with a strong narrative focus.

Zen Drawing

Zen drawing, also known as Zen art or Zen doodling, is a meditative and mindful line drawing technique that aims to promote relaxation, focus and inner calm. Artists create repetitive, flowing and often intricate patterns and designs using simple lines and shapes. Zen drawing is not focused on representing realistic subjects but rather on the process of drawing itself as a form of meditation and self-expression.

It encourages artists to let go of perfectionism and embrace the present moment. This practice can be both soothing and therapeutic, offering a peaceful and creative way to unwind and connect with one’s inner self.

Continuous Line Drawing

Continuous line drawing is a captivating line drawing technique. Here artists create an entire artwork without lifting their pen or pencil from the paper. This system results in a single, unbroken line that forms the entire composition. Continuous line drawing is celebrated for its simplicity, minimalism and ability to capture the essence of a subject with a single, flowing stroke.

It often produces abstract or semi-abstract representations that leave room for interpretation. Viewers can engage with the artwork on a more emotional and imaginative level. This technique can be both challenging and liberating, which offers a unique approach to line drawing.

Stippling is a meticulous and labor-intensive line drawing process. It involves creating images using small, individual dots or stippled marks. These dots can vary in density, size and spacing to convey values, tones and textures. Stippling demands patience and precision, as artists gradually build up areas of light and shadow with countless tiny dots.

It’s a technique often used for detailed illustrations , pointillism and scientific illustrations. You will be able to capture intricate details and achieve a range of tones and textures in a drawing through this distinct practice.

How to Create Line Drawing: Step-By-Step Guide

Creating a line drawing is a rewarding and accessible art form for beginners. Here’s our step-by-step guideline:

Step 1: Choose Your Subject: Begin by selecting a subject for your drawing. It could be an object, a person, a scene or anything that inspires you.

Step 2: Observe and Analyze: Take a moment to observe your subject closely. Pay attention to its contours, shapes and important details.

Step 3: Start with an Outline: Begin drawing by lightly sketching the basic outline of your subject. Use simple lines to capture its main shapes and proportions.

Step 4: Define Contours: Now, Pay close attention to the curves and edges of your subject. Take your time to get these lines as accurate as possible.

Step 5: Add Details: Once you have the main contours, start adding important details like facial features, textures or any intricate elements. Use a steady hand and light strokes.

Step 6: Experiment with Line Weight: Experiment with varying line weight to add depth and dimension to your drawing. Use thicker lines for areas in shadow and lighter lines for highlights.

Step 7: Erase Guidelines: If you have any initial guidelines or construction lines, gently erase them to clean up your drawing.

Step 8: Finalize Your Drawing: Review your drawing and make any necessary adjustments. Ensure that all lines are clean and accurate.

Step 9: Share Your Art: Don’t be afraid to share your line drawings with others, whether through social media, art communities or with friends and family.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Some common pitfalls can hinder progress and creative expression. In this guide, we’ll explore the most frequent missteps encountered in line drawing and provide invaluable insights on how to steer clear of them.

Over-complicating Details:

Mistake : Trying to include every detail can overwhelm your drawing and make it cluttered.

Solution: Simplify your subject by focusing on the essential details. Choose what’s most important to convey.

Inconsistent Line Weight:

Mistake: Using the same line thickness for everything can make your drawing appear flat.

Solution: Vary your line weight to emphasize depth and highlights. Thicker lines for shadows, thinner lines for contours.

Ignoring Proportions:

Mistake: Neglecting accurate proportions can result in distorted drawings.

Solution: Pay close attention to proportions and use measuring techniques like comparative measuring to ensure accuracy.

Rushing the Drawing:

Mistake : Hastily completing a drawing can lead to mistakes and imprecise lines.

Solution: Take your time, work patiently, and plan your drawing before diving into details.

Not Using References:

Mistake: Drawing from memory can result in inaccuracies.

Solution: Always use references when drawing objects, scenes or figures. They provide valuable guidance and accuracy.

The essential line drawing techniques we’ve explored here provide a versatile toolkit for artists. These techniques open doors to diverse artistic possibilities. Remember that the path of art is a rewarding and evolving one. Line drawing is not just about lines on paper.

It’s about self-discovery, observation and the joy of creation. Learn from every stroke, every mistake and every breakthrough. The more you practice, the more your skills will flourish. Your artistic journey is uniquely yours, and every line you draw is a step towards unlocking your creative potential.

What is line drawing?

Line drawing is a form of art where images are created using lines as the primary medium.

Why is it a good starting point for beginners?

It’s an excellent starting point for beginners because it teaches fundamental artistic concepts like form, shape, and contour without the complexity of shading and color.

Do I need prior art experience to start learning line drawing?

There is no need of prior art experience. Line drawing is accessible to everyone, making it an ideal choice for beginners.

What materials do I need to start line drawing?

You’ll need some basic supplies, including paper, pencils, erasers, and a steady surface to draw on.

Can I use digital tools for line drawing as a beginner?

Absolutely! You can use digital tools like graphic tablets and drawing software for line drawing.

Are there specific exercises or practice routines recommended for beginners?

Yes, we provide exercises and practice routines tailored for beginners. These exercises will help you build confidence and hone your line drawing skills progressively.

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Abstract Line Drawing Exercise for Creativity

Creativity exercise using an abstract line drawing.

Being more creative is about letting go of perfectionism and enjoying the process of your creative journey.

Many of us put way too much pressure on the outcome of our art. I guess this would be somewhat necessary if you’re trying to make a living off of your artwork.

However, if you’re making art for pure enjoyment, then you need to let yourself enjoy it without fear or judgement.

This is a good exercise for beginners of all ages. Or for more advanced artists who simply want to practice being more creative.

Let the act of creating art be fun. Allow yourself to enjoy the creative process itself without being overly concerned about the outcome. You’ll be much happier and more content with your artistic journey.

Let’s go ahead and get started by looking at the supplies we need for the lesson. Then we’ll move onto the step by step art tutorial.

* Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.

Art Supplies

• Thin black marker
• Paper or cardstock
• Markers or colored pencils
• White Gelly Roll pen

FREE Creativity Workbook for Artists

Abstract line drawing.

The first step is to create some abstract line drawings . These should be completely random without any thought for the outcome.

Your lines can be curved or pointed. And you can have as many or as few areas as you want. Experiment with both so you can have some variety.

You should also experiment with different markers and line thickness. The more variation you have, the more opportunity there is to push your creativity.

You’ll probably want to make several different line drawings to work with. This isn’t an exercise you want to do only once. The more you do, the more creative you will become. And the process will start to get a little easier.

I like doing mine on artist trading cards . They are quick to do since they are small. And I love trading my artwork for other’s art.

So far nothing very creative. But that part’s coming next.

Creativity Exercise for Artists

Now comes the fun part. Look at your abstract line drawings and see what pops out at you.

When finding your image to draw, rotate your line drawing and look at it from all different angles. If nothing comes to you, put that one aside and choose a different abstract line drawing.

This is one of the biggest reasons for doing several different drawings. Sometimes the image will jump out at you right away. And sometimes you have to work harder for it.

When you start to see an image to work with use a pencil or pen to start drawing things out. I like using a pencil first but you can use a pen if you’re brave enough.

Add however many details you want for your drawing. You don’t have to limit yourself to the original line drawing. Feel free to add more lines wherever you need them.

The purpose of the original drawing is to simply give you something to work from. And to force yourself to create a drawing from and uncontrolled starting point.

If you used a pencil, go back over your lines with a pen and darken them up.

Use your choice of medium to add color to your drawing. I prefer using Bic markers . But you can use whatever you like.

Since I did mine on artist trading cards they are ready to have the back filled out and traded to other artists.

Working with Drawing Themes

When making your abstract line drawings you could choose to follow a theme. Possible drawing themes could be birds, faces, monsters, animals, or anything else you can think of.

Although it may seem like sticking to a theme would make this exercise more challenging, it can actually make it a little easier because you’ll have a basic idea of what you’re looking for.

Either way, theme or no theme, this is a fun exercise and your creativity will thank you for it.

Abstract Line Drawing Dot to Dot

This is a slight variation on this art exercise for creativity. The concept is the same except you start out making small dots randomly on your paper.

Then you connect the dots to create your random abstract line drawing. You can connect the dots however you want to do it. Your lines can be straight, curved, or loopy. You can cross over existing lines, or not.

It really doesn’t matter. Let your marker go wherever it wants to go.

I should mention, there’s no do-overs with the random line exercise. Don’t use a pencil or try to erase or correct your lines.

From there you look for an image in your line drawing and add in whatever details you need to finish your drawing.

And again, add some color to finish your drawing off.

Although using the dots is very similar to just drawing the line on it’s own, doing it this way can help you draw something that’s a little different.

You should try doing a few of each and see what you can come up with.

Being more creative isn’t as difficult as people think. Try doing some creativity exercises that force you to think outside the box. As you can see from the examples in this tutorial, the results aren’t anything fabulous.

However, you could take those drawings and refine them into something a little more polished. Or use them to inspire something that is completely your own and unique to anything already out there.

It’s easy to see how this exercise could result in some amazing creations to use to inspire new characters you can call your own. Let your creativity flow and reap the rewards.

But more importantly, let go of perfectionism and fear and let your drawing be what is it.

If you try the exercise out, let us know in the comments what you came up with.

Don’t forget to grab your FREE Creativity Workbook

More Lesson On Creativity and Art

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Roshanda is an art education blogger who is on a mission to coach and encourage as many aspiring artists as possible through the use of her blog. Learn more about her on the About Me page and connect with her on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

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5 Drawing Exercises with Curving Lines

In a previous post, I shared a few line control exercises for straight lines . This time around, I’m focusing on drawing exercises with curving lines.

The following exercises will help you improve line control with curving lines, spirals, circles, and arcs. Improving these skills helps you layer color with directional strokes, as well as make more accurate line drawings.

You might expect curving lines to be more difficult to draw than straight lines. That hasn’t been my experience, and may not be yours.

But drawing a curving line, and drawing a curving line that accurately represents your subject are two different things. That’s why these curving line drawing exercises are just as important as straight line drawing exercises .

Rather than throw a bunch of exercises at you, let’s take a look at two main types of curving lines: Spiral curves and concentric curves.

Drawing Exercises with Spiral Lines

Outward spiral.

This is a simple, straight forward exercise. Put your pencil on the paper and begin drawing a line that curves around itself. Keep going as long as you can, making the circle ever larger.

This exercise is good for a number of things, including improving your ability to draw parallel curves, long lines with consistent pressure, and long lines with consistent weight.

In the sample below, pressure and line weight control were good, but those parallel lines…. I need a lot of work in that area and am not afraid to admit it!

Fixed Point Oval

This exercise is similar to the previous exercise except in one important area.

Rather than drawing a curving line that enlarges on a central point in the center of the circle, the fixed point is at one side. It doesn’t matter which side you choose. Make every loop larger than the previous loop, but make every loop overlap at one point.

Gradated Spiral

With this exercise, still do the entire exercise without lifting the pencil.

But start with heavy pressure, reduce pressure to the lightest you can manage, then darken it again to the darkest.

This exercise puts a little spin on the previous exercise and on the first exercise in this post.

Drawing Exercises with Concentric Lines

Broken concentric circle.

Begin with a small circle drawn in the center of your paper.

Instead of drawing a parallel circle outside the first circle, draw arcs as shown below. You can vary the length of each arc, but make them as parallel to the inside line as possible.

You can also work on line weight and pressure control with this exercise.

Of course, drawing complete circles parallel to the center circle is also a good idea.

Gradated Concentrics

Start with a dot or very small circle either very light in value or very dark.

Draw the next line outside the first line and continue. Make each successive line lighter or darker than the one before. Also work on keeping them parallel. The goal is to create a full value range light to dark or dark to light, then work back in the opposite direction.

I was walking the cat when I did this exercise and standing with the pad of paper in one hand, the pencil in the other, and my end of the leash looped over my wrist. The line started out fairly circular, but it didn’t take long to become misshapen.

However, I rather like the topographical look. It fires the imagination, doesn’t it? What sort of topographical formation would look like this on a topographical map?

These are just a few of the many drawing and line control exercises available. Whether you use these specific exercises or something else, the important thing is that you find something that’s helpful to you.

You can even make up your own or customize these exercises to fit your particular drawing style or the area you need to work on.

Whatever you do, remember the main rule. Above all, have fun!

Share this:

Would love to purchase DVD’s. Price and category, please or if I purchase these on line classes, would it be possible to copy them? I do my painting in my garage and I need the DVD’s to play in my studio and that’s in my garage. If this cannot happen do you know of and one that does have good DVD’s of horses?

Thank you for visiting my website and for your comment.

DVDs are not currently available, but I’m hoping to begin introducing classes by DVD and/or full demonstration DVDs sometime in 2016. I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks again for reading.

“I was walking the cat . . .” You’ve won me over! (And, thank you for the instructions!)

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