51 Ways To Get better at Drawing
It’s not about “trying harder” or hopping from one technique to the next. It’s about simple, practicable methods that help you ascend in skill, ability, and expression.
Below is a list of 51 ways that will endow you with greater skill. They will help you to break down the barriers and beliefs that hold you back from your artistic ambitions.
Since 51 is a rather large number, I’ve opted not to elaborate at this time on each of them, as they’re pretty self explanatory, or there’s a link in the title where you can find more information.
If you’re still confused about some of these, I have a series of 6 free lessons that are sent out to each growing artist on my list. You can sign up at the bottom of this post.
That said, Happy Drawing.
51 Ways to Get Better at Drawing
Draw without distraction
Draw from reference
Draw from life
Learn drawing fundamentals (line, shape, proportion, perspective, etc…)
Draw basic shapes
Draw basic shapes in perspective
Draw with more confidence
Draw something, then redraw that drawing
Draw what you’re interested in
Draw more in general
Draw on a singular theme (pirates, animals, etc…)
Draw from movie stills
Draw after masters
Draw without haste
Redraw your old drawings
Simplify your drawing process
Take better drawing breaks during the process
Draw outside your comfort zone
Draw focusing on shapes and values
Shade your drawings
Draw based on negative shapes
Draw experimentally
Draw when you have energy
Take advantage of drawing Technology (affiliate link for iPad & apple pencil)
Draw, don’t merely “doodle”
Get constructive feedback on your drawings
Draw with or around those better than you
Master each drawing technique before moving onto a new one
Learn new drawing processes
Master drawing in one medium
Take drawing classes
Do a drawing mentorship
Draw complex subjects
Draw with limits (one line, timed drawing,etc…)
Don’t draw with self-defeating thoughts in mind
Visualize your drawings before starting
Visualize yourself drawing well
Spend more time on your drawings
Restart bad drawings during the process (no turd-polishing.)
Mirror your drawings to check for errors
Rotate your drawings to check for errors
Step back or “Zoom out” from your drawings to check for errors
Develop a drawing checklist ( for the process, for error-checking, etc…)
Draw what got you into drawing (for me it was anime and games.)
Draw fan art
Draw original Art
Draw commissions
Don’t forget to enjoy the process.
Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
1. Grow & Sharpen Your Drawing Skills here. (1,800+ students)
2. Build better Paintings and get Commissions here. (500+ students)
