How to Improve Your Drawing Skills

In this article, we will show you how to improve your drawing skills. In our previous article we already shared a step by step guide about character drawing and character design, but in this article we want to show you how you can improve your drawing skills in general. In this piece of content, you will find a summary of exciting drawing techniques and drawing exercises. Don’t worry if you are not familiar with all of these techniques, we are here to help you to improve your already existing skills or develop new ones.

This article is written for all of the artists who like to draw and who are at the beginning or at the intermediate level. Despite this, we highly recommend this blog post for everyone (even those who are at the advanced level) who want to be informed about great drawing techniques or drawing exercises.

In this article, we will cover three main topics and these are the followings:

1. How to improve your drawing skills when you want to improve the basics of your drawing technique - in this part, you can read about basic, but important drawing exercises that help you improve the basis of your drawing techniques.
2. Exciting drawing exercises that help you to develop your drawing techniques - in this part, we will move on to a bit more difficult but funny and great drawing exercises that can help you become a great artist.
3. Great books you need to check when you are in love with drawing - in this part, we will show you amazing books that can inspire you on your journey to become an artist. What is more, you will be able to find further drawing exercises in them.

So let’s get started with the first part and see how you can improve your drawing skills.

How to improve your drawing skills when you want to improve the basics of your drawing technique

As we mentioned above, in this part you will find drawing techniques that can help you to improve the basis of your drawing skills. Before we start we need to tell you that these techniques have to be practiced continuously in order to improve your skills significantly. What is more, we highly recommend you going through all of these drawing exercises and going through them in that order we set up because they can be the most effective this way.

Exercise 1: Buy different drawing materials and use them.

Skills you will improve with this drawing exercise:

• Your knowledge about drawing materials
• Your drawing technique on different papers
• You will be able to choose which paper you have to use with which pen or pencil in order to create beautiful drawings

First of all, we highly recommend you buying different types of papers, sketchbooks, pencils, pens, felt pens, etc.. After you have collected all of these materials, you have to start trying out them. Combinate all of the different types of papers with all of the different types of pens, pencils and felt pens and see and feel how they react to each other.

At the end of this exercise, you will be able to choose the best paper and pen matches for your specific purpose. It is worth doing this exercise from time to time in order to explore new drawing materials.

Exercise 2: Draw simple figures and simple geometric shapes.

Skills you will improve with this drawing exercise:

• You will be able to create very punctual illustrations
• You will be able to measure the distances on paper
• You will be able to draw long lines or big circles self-confidently and this is crucial to the exercise after this one

After you have chosen your favorite pen or pencil, start drawing simple lines and geometric shapes such as circles, triangles, squares, and polygons. These shapes are very important because later on when you will draw difficult figures they will be handy. Why? If you take a closer look at figures and almost everything in nature you will discover that all of the animals, creatures, and people were build up from these shapes. If you practice drawing them you can be sure that later you will be able to build up difficult figures as well. What is more, you will gain a huge amount of self-confidence while you are practicing this drawing exercise.

Exercise 3: Create drawings about balls and vases.

Skills you will improve with this drawing exercise:

• You will be able to perceive and draw objects not only in 2D but in 3D as well
• Your measuring skills will be improved
• You will be able to draw shadows

If you have practiced drawing lines and simple geometric shapes it’s time to take the next step and start drawing 3D objects as well. Start with simple ones like balls and simple vases and if you feel yourself ready, change these objects for more difficult ones. What is very important in this drawing exercise that you should draw real objects. If you just check photos of objects and you try to copy them sour skill won’t be improved.

Exercise 4: There are so many amazing buildings out there, go and create great drawings about them.

Skills you will improve with this drawing exercise:

• You will be able to draw complex things
• Your shadow drawing skills will be improved
• You will find creative inspiration

By this time, you will be able to choose which paper is perfect for which pen and pencil, you will be able to draw simple figures and shapes and you will be able to create drawings about balls and vases.

It’s time to show your skills to the world and start drawing a bit more difficult objects, but for this, you have to go out of your studio and go to your favorite city. If you like buildings that’s good, but even if you are not interested in buildings on an artistic level we still recommend you drawing two or three images about them. Why is it useful for you? Drawing such big things like buildings will help you to improve your measurement skills, what is more, you will be a master in drawing shadows too.

If you need more inspiration about architecture drawing, check our previous post where we mention a great artist who creates aquarelles about buildings.

Exciting drawing exercises that help you to develop your drawing techniques

In this section, we created you a list fo fun but a bit more challenging drawing exercises. These techniques require a lot of practice so don’t worry if you won’t create a Mona Lisa at first, everybody is here to learn new things and practice. So let’s check that so-called list:

1. Drawings about statues. This is the perfect exercise if you want to improve your character drawing skills. Statues, obviously, don’t move so you can take your time and you can lost in their details.
2. Creating images about Disney figures. If you love Disney, it’s time to create amazing drawings of Disney characters. This is very helpful if you want to gain experience in different drawing styles.
3. Creating images about anime characters. Same as it was by the Disney figures. If you want to be creative and experience different drawing styles this exercise is very useful.
4. Drawings about flowers. Flowers have an amazing geometry so you have to be very punctual and careful when you are creating drawings about them. Buy your favorite rose or pick a sunflower and start creating beautiful artworks.
5. Drawings about animals. If you love animals this will be an enjoyable exercise for you. It is also very hard because you cannot ask an animal to stay in one place, actually, if they are not sleeping they are constantly moving. We recommend you to start drawing them when they are laying on the ground or sleeping. After you can do this very confidently you can move on and start sketching them when they are moving.
6. Drawings about famous people. If you have a favorite actress or actor, choose a photo of her or him and try to copy it as punctually as possible. This will help you gain experience in drawing different face shapes and gestures. By knowing these shapes and gestures you will be able to create imaginary characters easily.

Great books you need to check when you are in love with drawing

In this part, we will show you amazing books that can inspire you on your journey to become an artist. What is more, you will be able to find further drawing exercises in them.

1. You Will Be Able To Draw By The End Of This Book by Jake Spicer
   An experienced artist, Jake Spicer will bring drawing lesions to you in his book. He uses his innovative and easy-to-follow methods which are perfect for beginners. You can follow easy lessons on each page and practice the straight away in the book.
2. Inspired Artist: Draw Every Little Thing by Flora Waycott
3. How To Draw by Scott Robertson and Thomas Bertling