How do I learn to draw?

User57713 · 2025-04-11T15:09:58+00:00

I'd like to learn to draw. Like sketching with pens or pencils rather than painting. How do I start? Can anyone recommend an online course or something I could follow? I like the idea of drawing something every day and getting better; I also like a bit of a system or guide to follow. Does anyone have any suggestions? The Internet is full of suggestions but it's hard to know where to start. Thank you

NautilusLionfish · 11/04/2025 16:23

I want to learn to learn too so will hang on this thread

Gliblet · 11/04/2025 16:37

Pick something you like as a starting point - could be flowers, birds, anime style faces, dragons - and look online or somewhere like The Works for a 'learn to draw...' book. They usually start you off with the basic geometric shapes that underpin what you're going to draw (e.g. two circles and a couple of triangles for a bird in flight) then teach you how to sculpt the shape, add detail, and use things like shading techniques to further define the shape and position of what you're drawing.

The Works and the Range are both pretty good for basic sketching sets and sketch pads too. They also sell fine liner pens so you can try out pen and ink drawing too - I'm left handed so find that if I want to do anything with a lot of shading, working in ink gives me a better finished result with less smudging because my hand isn't constantly brushing across pencil which doesn't set or dry.

After that? Practice, practice, practice. You'll soon start to see progress if you stick at it and aren't afraid to experiment.

You can also look for people on Instagram like
mariannepaillouxarts and the_draw_guy2019 who post videos of their works in progress so you can see the techniques they're using and how they build up their drawings from basic shapes and lines to beautiful finished pieces.

NautilusLionfish · 11/04/2025 20:52

Gliblet · 11/04/2025 16:37

Pick something you like as a starting point - could be flowers, birds, anime style faces, dragons - and look online or somewhere like The Works for a 'learn to draw...' book. They usually start you off with the basic geometric shapes that underpin what you're going to draw (e.g. two circles and a couple of triangles for a bird in flight) then teach you how to sculpt the shape, add detail, and use things like shading techniques to further define the shape and position of what you're drawing.

The Works and the Range are both pretty good for basic sketching sets and sketch pads too. They also sell fine liner pens so you can try out pen and ink drawing too - I'm left handed so find that if I want to do anything with a lot of shading, working in ink gives me a better finished result with less smudging because my hand isn't constantly brushing across pencil which doesn't set or dry.

After that? Practice, practice, practice. You'll soon start to see progress if you stick at it and aren't afraid to experiment.

You can also look for people on Instagram like
mariannepaillouxarts and the_draw_guy2019 who post videos of their works in progress so you can see the techniques they're using and how they build up their drawings from basic shapes and lines to beautiful finished pieces.

Edited

Thanks. I have tons of highly rated books and bookmarked so many online resources. I used to be excellent as a kid. I guess now it's fear that am terrible at it, and not dedicating time and space. I need to get over these 2. The lack of time is likely just fear of failure because quite frankly I've hardly worked for 3 weeks and could have drawn, done calligraphy and languages (my three desires).

RainOnTins · 11/04/2025 20:57

I can recommend an online course called Draw Awesome. It’s really thorough and worked much better for me than learning from a book (I tried loads of those too…)

Geneticsbunny · 12/04/2025 23:20

There is a theory that 100,000 hours of practice at anything and you will become an expert. The main thing with drawing is practice. The more you practice the better you get. Google images of stuff and just try to copy them, then make up random things, there are websites which can generate ideas for you and draw them. like toothbrush swinging on a swing or snail Barbra striesland etc. those aren't great but might give you ideas.

Toootss · 27/05/2025 17:41

I work in a charity shop that sells only books -we get dozens of drawing, painting, crafts books through the store.

girlwhowearsglasses · 27/05/2025 17:53

I can’t recommend life drawing enough!
it’s like going to the gym - you train your hands and eyes and you learn to LOOK. You’ll also find your own style and process.

following a book of how to draw a particular thing will only teach you that one skill, it won’t show you how to get your eyes working and understand the way to express a form on the paper.

it’s very sociable and I promise it’s not embarrassing ;-)