Basic Drawing Practice for Beginners (9 Simple Drawing Exercises)

Drawing is a universal form of expression that allows you to capture your thoughts, feelings, and observations on paper. It’s a skill that anyone can learn and improve upon with practice. Whether you aspire to create realistic portraits, imaginative landscapes, or even just sketches for fun, mastering the basics of drawing is essential.

Throughout this article, we will explore the fundamental concepts of drawing step by step. We’ll cover essential techniques such as lines, shapes, shading, and perspective, breaking them down into easy-to-follow instructions. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon and the confidence to continue honing your skills.

9 Simple Drawing Exercises for Beginners

Basic drawing practice is essential to building foundational skills. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid foundation to build upon and the confidence to continue honing your skills. Here’s a structured approach for beginners to start their journey in drawing:

1. Warm-up
2. Shapes and Forms
3. Shading
4. Perspective
5. Observational Drawing
6. Gesture Drawing
7. Anatomy
8. Composition
9. Developing Your Style

1. Basic Warm-up Drawing Exercises for Beginners

Loose Scribbles:

• Description: Here, you fill a blank page with random scribbles, lines, and shapes, letting your hand move freely without any intention or direction.
• Purpose: The main objective is to shake off rigidity, prepare your brain for drawing, relax the muscles, and get the blood flowing to your hand.
• Benefits: It’s akin to stretching before a workout. By loosening up, you help prevent strain, free your mind from constraints, and facilitate a smoother drawing session.

1. Choose a blank sheet of paper.
2. Hold the pencil loosely and let your hand wander around the paper.
3. Allow your wrist and arm to move freely, making swirls, zigzags, and random shapes.
4. Continue for about 5 minutes.

Circles & Ellipses:

• Description: In this exercise, you aim to draw circles and ellipses of various sizes and orientations, attempting to keep their curves smooth and symmetrical.
• Purpose: The goal is to develop the motor skills needed to draw consistent and even curved lines.
• Benefits: Perfecting circles and ellipses is fundamental because they form the basis of many objects and living forms in drawing.

1. Start by drawing small circles.
2. Gradually increase the size, trying to keep them as round as possible.
3. Repeat with ellipses (elongated circles), adjusting the degree of elongation.

Lines:

• Description: This is about practicing straight lines in multiple directions, attempting to make them uniform and without the aid of guiding instruments.
• Purpose: The exercise builds confidence in drawing straight lines, which are foundational in most sketches.
• Benefits: Improves hand steadiness, accuracy, and hand-eye coordination.

1. Begin by drawing vertical lines from the top of the paper to the bottom.
2. Draw horizontal lines from one side to the other.
3. Attempt diagonal lines in various angles.
4. Repeat until you’re comfortable drawing straight lines.

2. Drawing Basic Shapes and Forms as a Beginner

Basic Shapes:

• Description: You’ll be focusing on drawing basic geometric structures like squares, rectangles, triangles, and circles repeatedly.
• Purpose: To familiarize oneself with the primary shapes that serve as the foundational building blocks for more intricate designs.
• Benefits: Enhances understanding of geometry in objects and scenes, making it easier to break complex objects into simple, drawable components.

1. Draw several squares, adjusting size and orientation.
2. Practice rectangles, both vertical and horizontal.
3. Draw different types of triangles – equilateral, isosceles, and scalene.
4. Fill a page with various sizes of circles.

3D Forms:

• Description: This involves converting the flat, 2D shapes you’ve drawn into three-dimensional forms by adding depth and perspective.
• Purpose: To grasp the concept of three-dimensionality on a two-dimensional surface.
• Benefits: Vital for making drawings look realistic and tangible. It improves spatial understanding and the ability to visualize objects from different angles.

1. Turn a square into a cube by drawing three lines from its three corners and connecting them.
2. Transform a circle into a sphere by shading it to give it depth.

3. Basic Shading Practice for Beginners

Basic Shading:

• Description: Here, you’ll immerse yourself in various shading techniques, ranging from hatching (parallel lines) to cross-hatching (intersecting lines), stippling (dots), and smooth shading (creating a gradient without discernible lines).
• Purpose: To portray depth, texture, and tonal variations in drawn objects.
• Benefits: Shading breathes life into drawings, allowing for the depiction of light sources, material textures, and depth, making objects and scenes appear three-dimensional.

1. Practice shading techniques: hatching (parallel lines), cross-hatching (intersecting lines), stippling (dots), and smooth shading (continuous gradient).

Value Scale:

• Description: This involves drawing a gradient from the lightest value of a medium (e.g., a soft graphite pencil) to its darkest value.
• Purpose: The goal is to understand and have better control over the range of tones and shades one can produce.
• Benefits: It aids in assessing and replicating accurate light and shadow in drawings, which is pivotal for realism.

1. Draw a horizontal line and divide it into 10 boxes.
2. Leave the first box white, and fill the last box with your darkest shade.
3. Gradually shade the boxes from lightest to darkest.

Shading Forms:

• Description: Applying the shading techniques learned to the 3D forms you’ve drawn earlier, considering light sources and how they cast shadows.
• Purpose: To combine the understanding of shape and shading, portraying how light interacts with different forms.
• Benefits: This elevates the realism of drawings, allowing objects to pop off the page, and provides a deeper understanding of how light affects perceived shape and depth.

1. Place a light source (like a lamp) near your 3D forms.
2. Identify where the light hits the object directly (highlights) and where it doesn’t (shadows).
3. Shade the forms accordingly, with the darkest shade opposite the light source.

4. Basic Drawing With Perspective

One-point Perspective:

• Description: Using a single vanishing point on the horizon to draw objects in perspective, making them appear three-dimensional.
• Purpose: To understand how objects recede into the distance along a singular point.
• Benefits: Vital for capturing urban landscapes, interiors, or any scene where objects are oriented towards a single point in the distance.

1. Draw a horizontal line (horizon) and place a dot in the center (vanishing point).
2. Draw a rectangle anywhere above or below the horizon.
3. Connect all four corners of the rectangle to the vanishing point using straight lines.
4. Draw another line, parallel to the top and bottom of the rectangle, to define the back of your shape.

Two-point Perspective:

• Description: A method involving two vanishing points on the horizon to draw objects from a corner viewpoint.
• Purpose: To depict objects and scenes as they appear from an angular perspective.
• Benefits: Offers a dynamic view of buildings, rooms, and objects, providing depth and dimension from a unique vantage point.

1. Draw a horizon line and place two dots at its ends.
2. Sketch a vertical line. This will be the closest corner of your object.
3. Connect the top and bottom of this line to both vanishing points.
4. Complete the shape using parallel lines to the original vertical line.

5. Basic Sketching Practice With Observational Drawing

Still Life:

• Description: Drawing objects that are in front of you, typically stationary items arranged in a specific way.
• Purpose: To hone observation skills, capture details, and understand light and shadow.
• Benefits: This practice enhances the ability to see and depict detail, texture, and tonal variation in real-world objects, which can be transferred to imaginative works.

1. Arrange some objects on a table.
2. Observe the objects closely, noticing their shapes, shadows, and relation to each other.
3. Start by sketching their outlines lightly.
4. Fill in details and shade.

Landscapes:

• Description: Drawing outdoor scenes, encompassing natural and man-made features.
• Purpose: To capture the vastness, beauty, and intricacy of the outside world.
• Benefits: Develops understanding of depth, atmospheric perspective, and the play of natural light on various forms.

1. Choose a simple scene or photo.
2. Begin with the horizon line.
3. Sketch main elements such as trees, mountains, or buildings.
4. Add details and shading.

Portraiture:

• Description: Drawing faces, either from life, photographs, or memory.
• Purpose: To understand and capture the nuances and details of human features.
• Benefits: Faces are complex, filled with emotion and intricate details. Mastering portraiture enhances observational skills and understanding of human anatomy.

1. Begin by drawing individual features.
2. Use guidelines to maintain proportions: Eyes are usually halfway down the head, the nose halfway between eyes and chin, and the mouth halfway between the nose and chin.

6. Easy Gesture Drawing for Beginners

• Description: Quick sketches that capture the essence or motion of a subject rather than detailed accuracy.
• Purpose: To understand and depict the fundamental movement and posture of subjects, especially useful for living beings.
• Benefits: Allows artists to quickly draft ideas, capture fleeting moments, and understand the dynamics of movement. It’s particularly beneficial for animators and comic artists.

1. Observe people or animals in motion.
2. Try to capture their action in less than two minutes.
3. Focus on the essence, not details.

7. Basic Anatomy Drawing for Beginners

• Description: Studying and drawing the human body, focusing on bones, muscles, and how they interact.
• Purpose: To gain a deep understanding of the human form and its structures.
• Benefits: Vital for creating realistic figures, whether in static poses or dynamic action. It provides a foundational knowledge required for character design and illustration.

1. Begin with skeletal structures.
2. Layer muscles on top, understanding how they connect.
3. Overlay with skin, noting how it drapes over the musculature.

8. Basic Composition Sketching Practice for Beginners

Thumbnail Sketches:

• Description: Small, rapid sketches to layout and test different compositions before committing to a final piece.
• Purpose: To experiment with various layouts and visual arrangements.
• Benefits: Enables artists to test multiple ideas quickly, refining concepts and ensuring a balanced and compelling final composition.

1. Draw small, quick sketches to capture the basic layout of a scene.
2. Adjust elements to achieve balance and interest.

Rule of Thirds:

• Description: A compositional rule where an image is divided into nine equal sections by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. Important elements are placed on these lines or their intersections.
• Purpose: To create balanced, engaging, and aesthetically pleasing artwork.
• Benefits: Guided by this principle, artworks are more likely to engage viewers and draw their attention to focal points.

1. Divide your paper into nine equal sections using two horizontal and two vertical lines.
2. Place the main elements of your scene at the intersections of these lines.

9. Drawing & Developing Your Style

• Description: Exploring different techniques, mediums, and influences to discover and refine your unique artistic voice.
• Purpose: Every artist, over time, develops a distinct style, a signature that distinguishes their work from others.
• Benefits: Finding and refining your style can lead to more consistent, recognizable, and personally satisfying artworks. It also can make your work more appealing to specific audiences or industries.

1. Experiment with different mediums.
2. Copy works of artists you admire to understand their techniques.
3. Over time, identify what techniques and aesthetics you naturally gravitate towards and refine them.

When practicing these exercises, it’s crucial to remain patient and persistent. Progress in drawing is often incremental, and regular practice, combined with a keen observation of the world around, will bring about improvement over time.

Lastly, always remember that every artist has their journey. Comparing yourself to others can sometimes be disheartening, but it’s essential to understand that every artist was once a beginner. Keep practicing, stay curious, and most importantly, enjoy the process!