Do you look with envy at those who can draw? Do you often look at a beautiful object and sigh that you cannot portray it?

Then our today’s article is just for you, because we will tell you how to learn to draw, explain where to start and what to do to get closer to your artistic dream.

The first thing you need to start with is realizing that drawing is not a talent. This is, first of all, hard work. Even if a person from birth has a penchant for drawing, music or poetry, this does not mean that he absolutely does not need to do anything. Hard work and a lot of desire are the real keys to success, and once you realize this, you will master the most important drawing lesson.

1. Draw anytime, anywhere

As you begin your journey to develop your artistic skills, the first thing you need to do is get your hands on it. To do this, we advise you to purchase an a5 notebook, which you should always have with you. Spend at least 20 minutes painting every day. Draw silhouettes, lines, aliens, doodles, cats, sketch everything that is enough for your imagination. Draw the environment around you while you wait in line, remember – the main thing is to do this every day. Drawing daily should become a habit like a cup of morning coffee.

2. Draw from life and photographs

For some reason, there is a belief that drawing from a photograph is harmful and that it does not contribute to your development and formation as an artist. It is a myth. By sketching from a photograph, you get a great opportunity to explore every detail. The only thing we do not advise you to get carried away with sketching from photographs, most of the time try to use images in your head or make sketches from nature. Moving from photo to drawing from life, first select stationary objects, gradually moving on to more complex ones – moving ones. This will help develop your spatial thinking and eye.

It is useful to do small sketches of architecture, as well as devote your attention to drawing body parts (arms, legs, etc.). Check out this mouth drawing guide by BioWars where you can learn how to draw these really important parts of the face.

3. Be varied

Try to paint with different styles, so you can quickly develop your own style. Use all materials available to you – pencils, crayons, gouache, watercolors, pens, markers. Try to copy the styles of famous artists, don’t get hung up on one thing until you find your own painting style.

4. Learn

Buy good educational books for artists, such as Natalie Ratkowski’s excellent book Draw Every Day. This book became a kind of experiment, during which the artist promised herself to paint every day for a year. This book will inspire you to repeat such a feat, and will also provide answers to many questions of novice artists. You should start with learning something easy like how to draw eyes step by step or something similar. Just pay attention to every step and try to replicate what you see or hear in detail.

Watch training videos on Youtube, find a group for artists on social networks and join it, so you will be charged with motivation from other people and you will not want to abandon everything at the very beginning of the journey.

5. Track your progress

Choose one picture, photograph, landscape, or person that you will draw from time to time. For example, devote time to just this story every month. Track changes. Also save all the drawings you have made. Believe me, soon you will feel a tremendous sense of pride in what results you have been able to achieve.

The most important thing is to believe in yourself and stay with us, remember, you just have to start, and then inspiration will find you by itself.

Author: Yulia Ivanova

Cover photo: ShutterStock