How to start Drawing as a Hobby? (Starting Sketching & Doodling)

Choosing where to draw largely depends on your personal preferences, what inspires you, and what’s convenient. Here are some options, each with its own advantages:

1. Home Studio or Personal Space:
   • Benefits: Comfort, control over lighting, and access to all your supplies.
   • Ideal for: Detailed artworks, projects that require multiple sessions, or artists who prefer solitude.
2. Living Room or Bedroom:
   • Benefits: Casual and comfortable setting.
   • Ideal for: Quick sketches, journaling, or when you just want to relax and draw.
3. Outdoors – Parks, Gardens, or Nature Reserves:
   • Benefits: Natural lighting, inspiration from nature, fresh air, and a change of environment.
   • Ideal for: Plein air drawing, capturing landscapes, flora, fauna, or people-watching.
4. Cafés or Restaurants:
   • Benefits: Opportunity to capture everyday scenes, varied subjects, and human figures in different postures.
   • Ideal for: Urban sketching, studying human figures, or doodling over coffee.
5. Public Transit – Trains, Buses, or Airports:
   • Benefits: Diverse range of subjects, good for quick sketches of people in various poses.
   • Ideal for: Gesture drawing or capturing fleeting moments.
6. Museums or Galleries:
   • Benefits: Surrounded by art, inspiration from other artists, and an opportunity to study classical and contemporary works.
   • Ideal for: Art studies, detailed sketches, or getting inspired by masters.
7. Beaches or Lakesides:
   • Benefits: Vast landscapes, dynamic elements like water and clouds, and relaxed ambiance.
   • Ideal for: Landscape drawings, studying reflections, and cloud formations.
8. Travel or Vacation Spots:
   • Benefits: Unique subjects, new cultures, architecture, and landscapes.
   • Ideal for: Travel journals, architectural drawings, or capturing memories.
9. Workshops or Art Classes:
   • Benefits: Structured environment, access to professional guidance, and peer feedback.
   • Ideal for: Learning new techniques, working on specific projects, or socializing with fellow artists.
10. At Work or School:

• Benefits: Breaks up the monotony of the day, helps in relaxation.
• Ideal for: Doodles, conceptual sketches, or quick stress-relief drawings during breaks.

Regardless of where you choose to draw, the key is to have your basic drawing tools handy. A portable sketchbook and a pencil can go a long way. Over time, you might find certain spots that resonate with you more than others. Remember, the best place to draw is where you feel most inspired and comfortable.

You should start simple when sketching as a hobby

Starting simple when drawing as a hobby is a strategic and enjoyable approach to developing as an artist. It’s the journey of exploring, learning, and gradually evolving that makes sketching as a hobby truly fulfilling. Starting simple when beginning to sketch as a hobby offers multiple advantages:

1. Builds Confidence: For beginners, attempting complex drawings right away can be overwhelming and might lead to discouragement if they don’t turn out as expected. Starting with simpler subjects allows for more immediate success, which can boost confidence.
2. Fundamental Skill Development: Before delving into intricate pieces, it’s crucial to get a good grasp of the basics. Simple sketches allow you to practice and understand foundational skills like line quality, basic shapes, shading, and proportions.
3. Less Intimidation: A blank page can be intimidating. Beginning with uncomplicated sketches, like doodles or basic shapes, helps overcome the fear of the blank page and gets the creative juices flowing.
4. Enhances Observation Skills: By focusing on simple subjects, you can hone your observational skills. For instance, drawing a single apple allows you to observe its shape, texture, light, and shadow more closely than if you were trying to sketch an entire fruit bowl.
5. Allows for Repetition: Drawing simple subjects provides the opportunity for repetition, which is essential for mastery. For example, repeatedly sketching basic geometric shapes from different angles can significantly improve spatial understanding.
6. Promotes Creativity: Starting simple doesn’t mean being mundane. Even with basic shapes, there’s room for creativity. Over time, these basic forms can be combined or altered to create more complex and imaginative sketches.
7. Focus on Process over Outcome: Beginning with straightforward subjects allows you to enjoy the process of drawing without being overly concerned about the final product. This can be especially therapeutic and meditative.
8. Quick Results: Simple sketches often take less time, providing instant gratification. These quick wins can motivate you to draw more frequently.
9. Provides a Foundation: As you progress, you’ll find that many complex subjects are made up of simpler shapes. For instance, a human face starts with ovals and circles before details are added. A strong foundation in sketching basic forms will aid in tackling more advanced subjects later on.

Draw from life when starting sketching as a hobby

Drawing from life, often referred to as observational drawing, is an invaluable practice for those starting a sketching hobby. While photographs and other references have their place and are incredibly valuable, there’s no substitute for drawing from life, especially for those just starting their sketching journey. It offers a holistic learning experience, blending observation, emotion, technique, and presence into a single enriching practice. Here’s why drawing from life essential and beneficial:

1. Realism and Accuracy: Drawing from life allows you to capture subjects as they truly appear, with all their nuances and details. This helps in developing a keen sense of proportion, perspective, and spatial relationships.
2. Enhances Observational Skills: Observational drawing forces you to really look at the subject, taking note of its colors, textures, shadows, and intricate details. Over time, this cultivates a deep sense of awareness and attention to detail.
3. Immediate Feedback: With the subject in front of you, it’s easier to spot inaccuracies in your drawing and make necessary adjustments. This constant self-correction and comparison boost your drawing skills rapidly.
4. Varied Subjects: Life is diverse. Whether you’re sketching a bowl of fruit, a bustling street scene, or a resting pet, life offers an endless array of subjects. This variety keeps the practice fresh and challenging.
5. Understanding Light and Shadow: Real-life subjects provide a direct insight into how light falls on objects and how shadows form. This understanding is crucial for adding depth and three-dimensionality to drawings.
6. Develops Patience: Drawing from life requires patience. Subjects might move or lighting conditions might change, teaching the artist to adapt and cultivate patience.
7. Emotional Connection: There’s something profoundly intimate about observing and drawing a live subject. This connection can add depth and emotion to the artwork that’s hard to achieve from a photograph.
8. Encourages Presence: In today’s fast-paced world, taking the time to sit and draw from life encourages mindfulness and presence. It becomes not just an exercise in art but also in meditation.
9. Less Dependency: While photos are handy, they can sometimes become a crutch. Drawing from life ensures that you’re not overly reliant on photographs, which may not always be available or might lack the desired angle or emotion.
10. Texture and Depth: Real-life subjects often offer a richer array of textures and depth than flat photographs. This allows artists to experiment with different techniques to capture these nuances.
11. Improves Speed: Given that some live subjects (like people or animals) might move, artists often need to capture the essence quickly. This practice can improve the speed and decisiveness of your drawing strokes.

Use references when starting to draw as a hobby

Utilizing references when beginning to draw is an incredibly effective way to develop your skills. Here are the benefits and reasons for using references in your drawing journey:

1. Guidance for Details: As a beginner, you might not have all the details of particular subjects memorized. A reference photo can provide the specifics of an object’s texture, structure, and shading, guiding you in your depiction.
2. Improves Accuracy: References can aid in getting proportions and perspectives right, especially for complicated subjects like the human anatomy, intricate architecture, or unfamiliar animals.
3. Boosts Confidence: Using references can help achieve more accurate results, boosting confidence in early stages. As the saying goes, “success breeds success”; achieving accurate drawings can motivate continued practice.
4. Study of Light and Shadow: Photos can capture the subtle play of light and shadow. By studying these elements in a reference, you can learn how to replicate them, adding depth and realism to your drawings.
5. Inspiration: Browsing through art books, magazines, or online galleries can inspire new ideas and themes. You might come across compositions, color schemes, or subjects that you hadn’t thought of exploring.
6. Practice for Observation: Even when using a reference, you’re honing your observational skills. The act of constantly comparing your drawing with the reference sharpens your ability to notice details and differences.
7. Developing Personal Style: By studying a variety of references, including works of different artists, you can explore various styles and techniques. Over time, this exploration helps in developing your unique artistic voice.
8. Filling Knowledge Gaps: References can be especially helpful when drawing something unfamiliar. For instance, if you’re drawing a scene from a story set in a desert but have never been to one, references become indispensable.
9. Breaking Down Complexity: Complex subjects can be overwhelming. A reference can be studied in parts, allowing you to break down and understand the subject piece by piece.
10. Avoids Reliance on Memory Alone: While imagination is powerful, our memory of details can sometimes be fuzzy. References ensure that the details you incorporate into your drawing are authentic.
11. Evolution Over Time: Keeping a collection of references you’ve drawn over time allows you to compare and see your progress. Revisiting the same reference after some months can showcase how much you’ve improved.

References are invaluable tools for beginners and even seasoned artists. They provide guidance, inspiration, and a means to verify the authenticity of your work. As you grow in your drawing journey, you’ll find a balance between drawing from references, memory, and imagination.

Learn basic techniques when starting to draw

Learning basic techniques is foundational when starting to draw as a hobby. Grasping these techniques not only equips beginners with essential skills but also lays the groundwork for more advanced work in the future. Here are some key techniques and why they’re important:

1. Line Drawing:
   • Description: This is the most basic form of drawing and involves creating images using just lines.
   • Importance: It helps develop hand-eye coordination and is the foundation for almost all other drawing techniques.
2. Shading:
   • Description: This technique uses different gradients of light and dark to give depth and dimension to drawings.
   • Importance: Shading is crucial for rendering depth, volume, and the play of light on objects. It brings flat drawings to life.
3. Hatching and Cross-Hatching:
   • Description: Hatching involves drawing parallel lines to suggest shade and tone. Cross-hatching uses intersecting lines.
   • Importance: These are quick techniques to suggest shade and texture and are often used in pen and ink drawings.
4. Blending:
   • Description: Smoothly transitioning between shades, usually done with tools like blending stumps or fingers.
   • Importance: It’s essential for achieving smooth textures and gradients, especially in portrait work.
5. Stippling:
   • Description: Creating shading, tone, or texture using small dots.
   • Importance: Stippling can convey textures and gradients with a unique aesthetic, especially in pen work.
6. Basic Perspective (One, Two, and Three-Point):
   • Description: Techniques to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface.
   • Importance: Perspective is foundational for creating depth and spatial relationships in drawings.
7. Contour Drawing:
   • Description: Drawing the outline of a subject without any shading, focusing on the edges and boundaries.
   • Importance: It’s a practice that sharpens observational skills and ensures accuracy in form.
8. Gesture Drawing:
   • Description: Quick, loose drawings that capture the form and movement of a subject, often done in short time intervals.
   • Importance: This technique is key for understanding and capturing the essence and motion of subjects, especially living ones.
9. Highlighting:
   • Description: Using lighter shades or leaving areas blank to indicate direct light.
   • Importance: Highlights bring vibrancy and realism to a piece by showing where light is most intense.
10. Negative Drawing:

• Description: Focusing on the space around the subject rather than the subject itself.
• Importance: This technique trains the mind to see and understand the spaces between objects, crucial for compositions.

11. Proportional Measurement:

• Description: Using a pencil or thumb to measure and compare proportions when drawing from life.
• Importance: It ensures that the different elements in your drawing are in correct proportion to one another, essential for realistic rendering.

Starting with these basic techniques will provide a sturdy foundation for any aspiring artist. With consistent practice, these skills will become second nature, allowing the artist to tackle more complex subjects and styles with confidence. Remember, every master artist began with the basics. It’s the refinement and application of these foundational skills that lead to true artistry.

How often should I draw?

When you’re starting to draw as a hobby, the frequency of your practice largely depends on your personal goals, available time, and enthusiasm. However, some general guidelines can help you establish a beneficial routine:

1. Daily Drawing:
   • Benefits: Drawing daily, even for just 10-15 minutes, can be immensely beneficial. This routine helps embed the skills you’re learning, maintain momentum, and build a habit. As the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.”
   • Drawbacks: Depending on your schedule, drawing daily might be challenging. Also, if forced, it might turn into a chore rather than a pleasurable hobby.
2. Every Other Day:
   • Benefits: Drawing every other day offers a balance. It still provides frequent practice without feeling overly demanding. It also offers breaks which can help prevent burnout and offer periods of rest and reflection.
   • Drawbacks: There’s slightly less repetition, so skill acquisition might be a tad slower than daily practice.
3. Weekly Drawing:
   • Benefits: If you’re extremely busy or are juggling multiple hobbies, drawing once a week can still help you progress, especially if you dedicate a more extended period to it, like an hour or two.
   • Drawbacks: Skills may develop more slowly, and there’s a risk of losing momentum. It’s also easier to forget what you’ve learned or practiced in the previous session.
4. As Inspiration Strikes:
   • Benefits: Drawing when you feel inspired can lead to more passionate and creative sessions. You’ll be drawing because you genuinely want to.
   • Drawbacks: This can be irregular and might not be conducive to consistent skill development. There’s also the risk of long gaps between drawing sessions.

General Tips:

• Start with Manageable Sessions: It’s better to have shorter, more frequent drawing sessions than rare marathon sessions, especially at the start. This reduces the risk of burnout and allows for more consistent practice.
• Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve. Are you drawing for relaxation, to improve, or perhaps to eventually turn it into a profession? Your goals will guide your practice frequency.
• Join a Community: Engaging with a community, whether online or offline, can motivate you to draw more frequently. Sharing your progress, receiving feedback, and seeing others’ work can be inspiring.
• Log Your Progress: Maintain a sketchbook or digital log. Reviewing your progress can be a motivating factor to keep you drawing regularly.
• Enjoy the Process: Remember, drawing is a hobby, and hobbies are meant to be enjoyable. While consistency aids in skill acquisition, it’s also essential to enjoy the process. Don’t force yourself to a point where it stops being fun.

While drawing daily or as frequently as possible can accelerate skill development, the most important factor is your enjoyment. Find a balance that aligns with your goals and keeps the joy of drawing alive.

If you want to get really good at drawing, consistency is very importent

Consistency is a key factor in achieving success in virtually any endeavor, including drawing. Here’s why staying consistent is vital and how it can benefit your journey in sketching or any other pursuit:

Skill Development:

• Reason: Just like muscles grow stronger with regular exercise, your drawing skills improve with consistent practice.
• Benefit: Over time, techniques that once seemed challenging become second nature, and the quality of your work improves.

Building Habits:

• Reason: When you draw consistently, it becomes a habit. Habits, once formed, can be maintained with less effort than sporadic bursts of activity.
• Benefit: The regular act of drawing becomes a natural part of your routine, making it easier to find motivation and reduce procrastination.

Tracking Progress:

• Reason: Drawing regularly allows you to see your progress over time.
• Benefit: By comparing your latest drawings to earlier ones, you’ll be able to identify areas of improvement, which can be a significant morale booster.

Overcoming Plateaus:

• Reason: In every learning curve, there are plateaus. Consistency helps push through these stagnation points.
• Benefit: Even if it feels like you’re not making progress in the short term, consistent effort often leads to breakthroughs.

Developing Personal Style:

• Reason: The more you draw, the more you experiment and discover what resonates with you.
• Benefit: Over time, you’ll develop a unique artistic voice, something that’s achieved through regular practice and exploration.

Maintaining Momentum:

• Reason: Starting can often be the hardest part. When you’re consistent, you maintain momentum and reduce the inertia of starting from a standstill.
• Benefit: It becomes easier to pick up where you left off, making the process feel fluid and natural.

Deepening Understanding:

• Reason: Consistent practice allows for a deeper understanding of concepts. Repetition can lead to insights that aren’t immediately apparent.
• Benefit: The nuances of shading, perspective, or any technique become clearer as you repeatedly engage with them.

Reinforcing Memory:

• Reason: The brain solidifies and reinforces learned skills during periods of rest after consistent practice.
• Benefit: Regular drawing ensures that the techniques and skills you learn are stored in long-term memory.

Fostering Discipline:

• Reason: Discipline is like a muscle; the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets.
• Benefit: The discipline gained from drawing consistently can be applied to other areas of your life, leading to broader personal and professional growth.

Creating a Portfolio:

• Reason: If you’re considering a career in art or just want to showcase your progress, consistent drawing helps build a portfolio.
• Benefit: You’ll have a collection of work to demonstrate your abilities and evolution as an artist.

Consistency in drawing—or in any pursuit—can be likened to the compounding interest in finance. The benefits accrue exponentially over time. Each drawing, no matter how small or simple, adds to your experience, expertise, and progress. The key is to keep going, even when it feels challenging or when progress seems slow.

How to stay inspired when drawing as a hobby