The DIY Guide on Learning How to Draw as a Beginner

If there’s one hobby that truly celebrates life’s artistry, it’s drawing.

Drawing is the basis of countless art forms and industries. Every painting, blueprint, or created character started out as a sketch. This is why learning to draw can be so exciting.

Learning to draw allows you to capture life’s beauty on paper, or even bring your own creations from mind to matter. This guide shows you how to start drawing as a beginner, setting you up for creative success and a new hobby that will unleash your artistic potential.

Drawing 101: Finding the Right Materials, Muses, and Methods

The first step is to get the right supplies. Having the correct tools makes your work look better, and helps you preserve it for longer. Most artists use special drawing pencils.

Pencils are rated on the H and B scales. These cover the sharpness and shadow quality, respectively. The paper in many sketchbooks is refined to better show color variation and subtle touches like shading. The Virtual Instructor provides a great list here.

The next step is to find your inspiration. What do you like to look at? Is it beautiful creations of nature like trees by the lake, or the sun peeking over the mountains? How about marvels of humankind’s own hand, like intricate muscle cars or sprawling cityscapes?

Remember if you don’t have your ideal inspiration within direct sight, you can always look up pictures to go by. Or, you can even sketch creations from your mind’s eye, which leads us to our last point.

Consider broadening your creative horizons with new techniques. Improve Drawing lists some great ideas here, which include everything from creating abstract drawings with your opposite hand, to drawing along to music to see how it inspires your direction. Especially for beginners, this can put you in a creative mood fast, which allows the learning process to unfold naturally and enjoyably.

Before you break out your sketchbook, make sure you give us a follow for more DIY content designed for creatives, budding artists, and beginners looking to pick up fun new hobbies.