How To Start Drawing For Beginners | Full Step-by-Step Guide

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Drawing is usually confused with natural talent. You can actually learn how to start drawing. Although some believe that drawing is based only on talent, the truth is: it is a wonderful combination of talent and skill.

Fortunately, you can learn to draw from scratch with zero talent. Like any other skill, you can learn to draw on your own with enough practice.

Online drawing lessons will make the practice much easier than you think. This article will show you how to start drawing in 2023.

Whether you make sketches from time to time or have never drawn before and are a beginner, these 3 steps will help you get to the place where you make more and better drawings.

And I hope you will be more confident in the sketch because this uncertainty restrained me.

Drawing is something that can be an emotional way out for you, and you can only succeed in practice, so let’s learn how to start drawing a bunch of interesting new things.

After all, any creative activity, be it drawing, painting, skill, writing, etc., requires practice. Without practice, you do not learn from mistakes; you cannot improve.

So, even if you think you’re drawing badly, we’re here to encourage you on how to start drawing again. So you can pick up this pencil and give it a try. At least try.

3 Basic Tools Needed To Start Drawing

#1. Sketch sheet

It would be best if you had a sketchbook that is easy to work with and has a favorite paper. By “convenient to work,” I mean it is easy to rely on. Some sketchbooks do not open or are so thick that they are inconvenient to use. I have been using my favorite notebook for almost 15 years.

#2. Pencils

You can draw with one pencil. I often see a long list of the right pencils that aren’t needed. Graphite pencils come in different “hardness” and “softness”, from 6V (very soft) to 6H (very hard). Remember the pencils we all used in elementary school? They were 2B, right in the middle. Not too hard, not too soft.

Indeed, any marking made will work; graphite pencils are ideal for sketches. You can start with 2V and then eventually buy a kit for experiments. These are the pencils of graphite artists that I have been using for years.

H pencils are commonly used for clearer lines and details because they are solid. Softer B pencils are used for thicker lines and shading and even smearing to get shading. These are all personal preferences.

#3. Eraser and sharpener

You need an inexpensive hand sharpener, preferably metal. There are a lot of them around, but I use this sharpener.

I use a kneading eraser, and the one I use picks up graphite, similar to MAGIC. And that’s all. These are one of the handiest tools needed to learn how to start drawing for beginners!

Is it Easy To Draw?

Yes and No. You may think that drawing is like touching your nose with your tongue: some people can do it, and others can’t.

But this is not really true. Drawing is more like driving: the more you train, the better you become. The main thing is to draw things that interest you.

You will most likely stick to this (even if your first attempts are a hot mess), and before you know it, these skills will emerge. Even cooler, you will start to develop your signature style.

Why is it difficult for me to draw?

Artists believe that drawing is just a mark on paper, but it is much more. Poor observation skills are the main reason why drawing is difficult for most artists.

When you start drawing, it’s natural to draw what you know, not what you see, even when you look directly at the link.

Our brain interprets everything as a whole, choosing minor image landmarks to give it meaning quickly. We recognize faces especially well because we are familiar with them and see them in the strangest places.

The third most common reason people find drawing difficult is their motor skills. Drawing is not only a theory but also a technique and practice.

Some novice artists have excellent observation skills and know where the lines should go.

However, they cannot do it properly when they try to draw a straight line or circle. Fortunately, you can easily fix this by practicing.

Can You Learn To Draw, or is Drawing a Talent?

Drawing is a skill, but talent can make it easier to improve. Someone called “natural talent” in drawing usually has better visual/spatial intelligence than others.

This means that he or she is inherently good at visually perceiving things, measuring distances, observing colors, etc.

This inherent ability is useful, but no one is born when they can draw perfect pictures with the right proportions, perspective, and beautiful colors.

Drawing is still a skill that can be learned and improved. Talent makes it easy to hone this skill, but anyone can do it with enough time and dedication.

Gaining good drawing and painting skills takes a lot of time and repetition.

What is The Easiest Way To Learn How To Start Drawing?

LEARN TO COPY. You can and should take this a step further and copy some of the works you like for your education. This is a great way to REALLY feel how an artist shades or how he uses lines.

It is one thing to look and even look at the work, but for a while, but quite another – to copy every line and detail.

How To Start Drawing in 2023

Drawing a straight line by hand is not real. It exists only in the vector as the shortest path between two points. You can cheat and use a ruler, but most likely, your hand will never learn to draw a perfectly straight, long line.

Even if it starts as something perfect, the longer you draw it, the more mistakes there can be.

If it is almost impossible to draw a long line, we can use short lines for which our hand is more adapted. So it doesn’t matter what tool you use to draw straight lines; they usually turn out pretty good.

Just look at the picture below. The shorter the lines, the closer to the original image.

Suppose you want to draw a flower similar to the one below. It is built of a straight line, a perfect circle, and several curves with exact angles.

I think you can draw it very slowly, very carefully, drawing lines from point to point, with your tongue out and then on your face.

Technical drawing (straight lines, perfect circles) requires concentration. It’s about drawing things exactly as they are.

There is no room for creativity or personal style because the style comes from diversity. Is this really what you want to do? Draw the same things the same all the time?

If you do, there is no textbook for you. Because drawing – creation – is a relaxation of the hand, focusing on the final effect, not creating a series of perfect lines.

It would be best to learn how to stay relaxed and make sketches quickly and carelessly.

The Easiest Way To Draw Proportions

The wrong proportion is a huge problem for a novice artist. Fortunately, this can be overcome if you do not ignore it.

First, what are the proportions really? Proportions are not a distance measured in a unit. They determine the location of the element relative to others.

This means that if you want to draw the whole picture (set of elements) twice as large, then all the distances also need to be doubled.

Let’s teach the eyes to see and redraw the proportions. First, try to redraw this image, but twice as small: Now, take a ruler and make sure you understand correctly: the distance should be twice less than on the screen. And how is your result?

This is probably not a good thing if you are reading this tutorial on drawing proportions. Note that the circles should also be twice as small, and this seems almost impossible: how can you draw a circle that is twice as large if you don’t even know the original size?

The answer is that we need at least two elements to talk about relativity. No matter what size the first element is, it cannot be disproportionate if there is only one! So let’s try again. Draw only the first circle.

Now imagine two lines going from the center of the circle. There is a third imaginary line connecting the two circles. Do you see what angle it creates? Draw this line in your drawing until you add a second circle.

If you have trouble seeing the angle, try dividing the right corner into thirds and every third again into thirds. Each of them has 10 degrees.

We now need to establish the distance. How many circles can be placed between the two centers in the original? Apply this attitude to your image.

For the first time, it is best to print the original and draw other circles physically. Later, you can only try to pretend to draw them (holding a pencil directly over the paper/screen and seeing the circles in your mind).

Almost ready! Now we need to check the size of the second circle relative to the large one.

A good method for this is to imagine a second circle inside the first to see the proportions clearly. Done! You can use the ruler again to see how accurate it is.

This method is excellent when your eyes are not yet trained to see the proportions, and you will no longer have to draw the guide elements over time.

Learn to see proportions everywhere. Look around and ask yourself: How long are my fingers compared to my palm? How many heads can be put in a row on my dog’s back? What element of the face can fit perfectly between the eyes?

This training can be done in your free time, and it increases your concentration. Also, your eyes will learn to do this without your awareness over time!

If you have problems reproducing the dimensions (for example, you draw two identical circles, and they are always different), do not avoid this.

Draw these two circles until you can draw them the same, then try the same with triangles, squares, etc.

This problem must be solved before performing any other textbooks, as this is the basis of other skills.

The Internet is full of simple step-by-step tutorials that do not teach real drawing skills, but they are great for practicing proportions.

Start with the simplest drawings for children and move on when you feel more confident. Again, don’t go any further before mastering these basic skills.

Nothing strong can be built on a weak foundation.

Conclusion

When discussing drawing, you ask if it is hard or even difficult. Then I said yes, and no reason is that to a novice, it is hard, but to an expert, it is not.

However, I believe that with the steps we have given above, you could know where to begin so as not to see drawing as a hard task. Meanwhile, others use it to catch fun.

Fortunately, you can learn to draw from scratch with zero talent. Yes!

Like any other skill, you can learn to draw on your own with enough practice. As the popular saying goes, practice makes perfect.

So, can I get areas of your challenge in drawing or a piece of encouragement for newbies?

Frequently Asked Questions

What basic materials do I need to start drawing?

To begin drawing, you’ll need a few basic materials. These typically include:

Paper: Start with a sketchbook or drawing pad. Choose one with a heavier-weight paper (around 70-80 lb) to avoid excessive bleeding or tearing.
Pencils: Invest in a range of graphite pencils, such as 2B, 4B, and 6B, which offer different levels of darkness and shading.
Eraser: Use a kneaded or vinyl eraser for precision erasing without damaging the paper.
Sharpener: Get a pencil sharpener to keep your pencils sharp for fine details.
Drawing pens: Consider using pens with different line weights, such as fine lines or technical pens, for inking or outlining.
Optional: Colored pencils, markers, or pastels can be added later if you wish to experiment with color.

How can I improve my drawing skills?

Draw regularly: Consistency is key. Make drawing a habit by dedicating regular time to practice, even if it’s just a few minutes each day.
Study basic techniques: Learn and practice fundamental techniques like shading, hatching, cross-hatching, and blending to add depth and dimension to your drawings.
Observe and analyze: Develop your observational skills by studying real-life objects or reference photos. Pay attention to details, proportions, and relationships between different elements.
Seek feedback: Share your work with others, whether through online communities, art classes, or friends and family. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement.
Experiment and explore: Don’t be afraid to try new subjects, styles, or mediums. Step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to expand your artistic range.
Learn from tutorials and resources: Take advantage of the wealth of tutorials, books, videos, and online resources available. They can provide guidance on various techniques, styles, and concepts.

How do I overcome the fear of a blank page?

Overcoming the fear of a blank page in drawing requires embracing a mindset of exploration and self-expression. Start by engaging in warm-up exercises that loosen your hand and encourage creativity. Set small goals for each drawing session, focusing on specific elements or techniques to practice. Use guidelines as a framework to alleviate the initial intimidation. Embrace imperfection as an opportunity for growth and unexpected results. Approach the blank page as a playground for experimentation, trying new techniques and styles without the pressure of achieving perfection.

How can I find inspiration for my drawings?

Finding inspiration for your drawings can come from a variety of sources. Start by exploring your surroundings and paying attention to the beauty and uniqueness of everyday life. Visit art galleries and museums to immerse yourself in the work of other artists, gaining new perspectives and ideas. Follow and engage with artists online to see their creations and learn about their creative process. Join art communities to connect with fellow artists, share ideas, and receive feedback. Keep a sketchbook with you at all times to capture spontaneous moments of inspiration.