5 Essential Tips for Improving Your Hand Drawing Skills

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 5 min read

Hand drawing is an incredible skill that allows you to translate your imagination onto paper. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, there's always room for improvement. In this blog, we'll share five essential tips to help you elevate your hand drawing skills and create captivating artwork. Let's get started!

1. Practice Daily

Improving your hand drawing skills takes consistent effort and dedication. Practicing regularly is the key to developing and refining your technique. Here's how:

Establish a Routine

Setting a routine allows you to incorporate drawing into your everyday life, making it a natural part of your schedule. Consider the following tips to create a consistent routine:

Set aside a specific time every day for drawing, even if it's just 15 minutes.
Designate a comfortable, well-lit workspace to keep your drawing materials organized and accessible.
Keep a sketchbook or notebook handy for spontaneous drawing sessions throughout the day.

Dedicate Time to Drawing

While it's important to practice regularly, it's also crucial to make the most of the time you spend drawing. Here are a few ways to maximize your drawing sessions:

Focus on a specific aspect of hand drawing, such as shading, perspective, or anatomy, during each session.
Set achievable goals, like completing a particular sketch or mastering a new technique.
Take breaks when needed, but ensure you remain disciplined and committed to your practice.

By practicing daily and dedicating time to your hand drawing skills, you'll see improvements in your technique and become more confident in your abilities.

2. Observe and Analyze

Developing a keen eye for observation is an essential aspect of improving your hand drawing skills. By analyzing the world around you, you can translate what you see onto paper with accuracy and precision. Let's explore some ways to hone your observational skills:

Study Shapes and Textures

Breaking complex objects and scenes down into simpler shapes and forms can help you understand their structure and make your drawings more accurate. Here's what you can do:

Practice drawing basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles in various sizes and orientations.
Observe the textures of different objects, such as tree bark, fabric, or metal, and try to replicate them in your drawings.
Combine shapes and textures to create more complex forms and practice drawing them from different angles.

Analyze Light and Shadow

Understanding how light and shadow interact with objects is an important aspect of hand drawing, as it adds depth and realism to your artwork. Here are a few tips to help you study light and shadow:

Observe how light falls on different objects, paying attention to the direction, intensity, and color of the light.
Identify the highlights, midtones, and shadows on an object, and practice drawing them to create a three-dimensional effect.
Experiment with different lighting scenarios, such as natural light, artificial light, or a combination of both.

By observing and analyzing shapes, textures, and lighting, you'll develop a better understanding of the world around you, which will translate into more accurate and detailed hand drawings.

3. Use Quality Materials

Just like a chef needs the right ingredients to create a delicious meal, an artist needs quality materials to produce impressive hand drawings. Choosing the right paper and drawing tools can make a significant difference in your artwork. Let's discuss how to select the best materials for your hand drawing practice:

Choose the Right Paper

The type of paper you use can affect the outcome of your drawings. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing paper for hand drawing:

Texture: Paper comes in various textures, from smooth to rough. Smooth paper is great for detailed work, while rough paper can add interesting textures to your drawings.
Weight: Heavier paper can handle more layers of media, such as graphite or colored pencils, without tearing or buckling. Lighter paper is better suited for quick sketches and practice.
Color: While white paper is the most common choice, you can also experiment with toned paper to create unique effects in your hand drawings.

Selecting Drawing Tools

There is a wide variety of drawing tools available, and each one can produce different effects in your hand drawings. Here are some popular choices:

Graphite pencils: These are a staple for hand drawing, and they come in various levels of hardness, allowing you to create a range of values and textures.
Charcoal: This versatile medium can create bold, dark lines as well as soft, subtle shading, making it ideal for capturing dramatic light and shadow effects.
Colored pencils: With a wide array of colors to choose from, colored pencils allow you to create detailed and vibrant hand drawings.
Ink pens: These can produce clean, precise lines, perfect for intricate hand drawings or adding fine details to your work.

By investing in quality materials, you'll not only enjoy the process of hand drawing more, but you'll also see improvements in your artwork as you develop your skills.

4. Take Classes and Workshops

Learning from others can be a game-changer when it comes to improving your hand drawing skills. Classes and workshops offer valuable insights, tips, and techniques from experienced artists that can help take your hand drawings to the next level. Let's explore some options for expanding your hand drawing knowledge:

Local Art Classes

Many communities have art centers or schools that offer hand drawing classes for various skill levels. These in-person classes provide an opportunity to learn techniques directly from a skilled instructor, ask questions, and receive personalized feedback on your work. Some benefits of attending local art classes include:

Hands-on learning with expert guidance
Meeting and connecting with other artists in your area
Exploring different mediums and styles of hand drawing

Online Learning Platforms

If you prefer learning at your own pace or don't have access to local art classes, online learning platforms are a fantastic alternative. There are many websites and apps that offer video tutorials, courses, and workshops on hand drawing, taught by talented artists from around the world. Some popular online learning platforms for hand drawing include:

YouTube channels dedicated to art and hand drawing tutorials
Subscription-based platforms like Skillshare or Udemy
Art-specific websites, such as Proko or Ctrl+Paint

Whether you choose to attend local classes or learn online, exposing yourself to different teaching methods and perspectives will enrich your hand drawing practice and help you grow as an artist.

5. Seek Inspiration and Feedback

Art is an ever-evolving journey, and it's crucial to keep yourself inspired and open to constructive criticism. Seeking inspiration and feedback from others will not only help you improve your hand drawing skills but also keep you motivated and excited about your artistic growth. Let's take a look at some ways to find inspiration and receive helpful feedback:

Visit Art Galleries

Exploring art galleries is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the world of hand drawing and discover various styles, techniques, and ideas. Observing other artists' work can spark your creativity and help you develop new approaches to your hand drawings. Some tips for getting the most out of your gallery visits include:

Take notes on styles or techniques you find interesting
Study how artists use different materials and tools
Consider the emotions and stories behind the artwork

Join Art Communities

Connecting with other artists can be incredibly beneficial for improving your hand drawing skills. Art communities provide a space for sharing your work, discussing ideas, and receiving feedback from fellow artists. Some ways to become involved in art communities include:

Joining local art clubs or meetups
Participating in online forums or social media groups focused on hand drawing
Entering art competitions or attending art events in your area

By surrounding yourself with inspiration and engaging in open dialogue with other artists, you can refine your hand drawing abilities and continue to grow as a creative individual.

If you enjoyed our blog on the art of handmade illustrations, then you'll definitely want to explore the workshop 'Digitising Handmade Illustrations' by Jola Pictures. This workshop will provide you with the skills and techniques needed to successfully digitize your handmade illustrations and bring your art to the digital world.