Easy Drawing Ideas for Beginners: Tips and Techniques

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 7 min read

Are you looking for easy drawing ideas to kickstart your artistic journey? Don't worry, we've got you covered. In this blog, we'll discuss tips and techniques to help you get started and improve your drawing skills. Let's dive in!

Starting Off Right

To begin your adventure into the world of drawing, it's important to start with the right tools and environment. In this section, we'll discuss choosing materials and setting up your workspace.

Choosing Materials

As a beginner, it's best to start simple and work your way up to more advanced materials. Here are some basic supplies you'll need for your easy drawing ideas:

Pencils: A set of graphite pencils ranging from 2H to 6B will give you a good range of line darkness and thickness. Don't forget a good pencil sharpener!
Paper: Sketchbooks or drawing pads with medium-weight paper are great for practicing. Look for paper with a smooth surface, as it's easier to work with.
Eraser: A kneaded eraser is ideal for lifting graphite without damaging the paper, and a white plastic eraser works well for more precise erasing.
Ruler and Compass: These tools help you create straight lines and perfect circles—a must for mastering basic shapes and proportions.

Setting Up Your Workspace

A comfortable and well-organized workspace can make all the difference in your drawing experience. Here are some tips to set up a space that's perfect for your easy drawing ideas:

Find a quiet space: Choose an area with minimal distractions so you can focus on your art. Natural light is a bonus!
Arrange your materials: Keep your pencils, erasers, and other tools within reach to make it easy to switch between them.
Comfortable seating: Make sure you have a chair that provides good support and allows you to sit at a comfortable height relative to your drawing surface.
Consider an adjustable drawing surface: A tabletop easel or drawing board can help you find the perfect angle for your work, reducing strain on your wrists and neck.

Now that you've set up your workspace and gathered your materials, it's time to explore fundamental drawing skills and find inspiration for your easy drawing ideas.

Fundamental Skills

Before diving into easy drawing ideas, it's important to develop a strong foundation with some fundamental skills. In this section, we'll discuss line drawing, shading techniques, and perspective drawing.

Line Drawing

Line drawing is the most basic form of drawing, and it's where you'll start to build your skills. Here are some tips to help you master line drawing:

Control your grip: Hold your pencil lightly and adjust your grip for different types of lines—closer to the tip for more control, further back for looser lines.
Use your whole arm: Instead of drawing from your wrist, use your entire arm to create smoother, more fluid lines.
Experiment with line weight: Practice using different pressures and pencil grades to create varied line thickness, which can add depth and interest to your drawings.

Shading Techniques

Shading is essential for bringing your easy drawing ideas to life, as it adds depth and dimension to your work. Here are some shading techniques to practice:

Hatching: Create texture and value by drawing parallel lines close together. The closer the lines, the darker the shading.
Cross-hatching: Build on hatching by adding another set of parallel lines, intersecting the first set at an angle. This technique is great for creating darker values and more detailed textures.
Blending: Use your fingers, a blending stump, or a piece of tissue to smooth out your shading, creating a more seamless and realistic look.

Perspective Drawing

Perspective is key to making your easy drawing ideas look realistic and three-dimensional. Here are some basic principles of perspective drawing:

One-point perspective: In this method, all parallel lines converge at a single vanishing point on the horizon. This is great for drawing simple scenes, like roads or hallways.
Two-point perspective: This technique uses two vanishing points on the horizon, with lines converging at both points. This is ideal for drawing more complex scenes, like buildings or cityscapes.
Three-point perspective: With three vanishing points (two on the horizon and one above or below), this method is perfect for drawing scenes with extreme angles, like looking up at a skyscraper.

Now that you've learned some fundamental skills, let's move on to finding inspiration for your easy drawing ideas and exploring different styles.

Drawing Inspiration

Once you've honed your fundamental skills, it's time to seek inspiration for your easy drawing ideas. In this section, we'll discuss using references and exploring different art styles to fuel your creativity.

Using References

References are a valuable tool for developing your drawing skills and generating ideas. Here are some ways to use references effectively:

Study from life: Observing and drawing from real-life objects, people, and scenes can improve your understanding of form, proportion, and lighting. Plus, it's a great way to find unique easy drawing ideas.
Use photographs: If drawing from life isn't an option, photographs can be a helpful alternative. Just be mindful of potential distortions from camera lenses and lighting.
Learn from other artists: Studying the work of other artists can provide inspiration and help you discover new techniques and styles. Just remember to give credit if you're directly referencing someone else's work.

Exploring Styles

Experimenting with different art styles can make your easy drawing ideas even more engaging and fun to create. Here are some popular styles to explore:

Realism: Aim to capture the true appearance of your subject, focusing on accurate proportions, shading, and color.
Cartoon: Simplify and exaggerate your subject's features for a playful, expressive look. This style is great for creating characters and storytelling.
Abstract: Break away from traditional representations and focus on shapes, colors, and textures to convey your ideas. This style invites personal interpretation and can lead to unique easy drawing ideas.

With these sources of inspiration in mind, let's dive into some specific easy drawing ideas you can start practicing.

Easy Drawing Ideas

Now that you're equipped with fundamental skills and inspiration sources, it's time to explore some easy drawing ideas for beginners. We'll cover still life, landscapes, and portraits as great subjects to practice and build your confidence in drawing.

Still Life

Still life is an excellent starting point for easy drawing ideas, as it allows you to practice your skills with a variety of objects and textures. Here are some tips for getting started:

Choose simple objects: Start with everyday items like cups, books, or fruit, and gradually progress to more complex objects as you gain confidence.
Arrange a composition: Experiment with different arrangements and angles to create interesting compositions and challenge your observational skills.
Practice lighting: Use a single light source to create clear shadows and highlights, helping you understand how light affects form and volume.

Landscapes

Landscapes offer a different set of challenges and easy drawing ideas, as they typically involve larger spaces and a variety of natural elements. Here are some ways to approach landscape drawing:

Start with a horizon line: Establishing a horizon line helps you determine the perspective and layout of your landscape.
Focus on simple shapes: Break down the landscape into basic shapes like circles, rectangles, and triangles before adding details.
Use texture and shading: Experiment with different shading techniques and textures to bring your landscape to life, such as stippling for foliage or hatching for rocky surfaces.

Portraits

Portraits can be a rewarding subject for easy drawing ideas, as they allow you to capture the unique features and expressions of people or animals. Here are some tips to get started with portrait drawing:

Begin with a basic structure: Start by sketching a simple oval for the head and marking guidelines for the eyes, nose, and mouth to ensure accurate placement and proportions.
Observe shapes and angles: Focus on the shapes and angles of the subject's features, rather than trying to replicate specific details from the start.
Practice shading and highlights: Use shading techniques to bring depth and dimension to your portrait, paying attention to the direction of the light source.

With these easy drawing ideas in your arsenal, let's discuss how to keep improving your skills through practice and learning from your mistakes.

Practice and Improvement

As with any skill, practice is key to improving your drawing abilities. In this section, we'll discuss daily sketching, learning from your mistakes, and joining art communities to help you progress and stay motivated in your artistic journey.

Daily Sketching

Daily sketching is a powerful habit to build your drawing skills, as it helps you:

Develop muscle memory: Consistent practice trains your hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, making drawing feel more natural over time.
Boost creativity: Sketching every day encourages you to explore new subjects, styles, and techniques, sparking fresh ideas and creative inspiration.
Track progress: Keeping a sketchbook allows you to see your improvement over time, helping you stay motivated and celebrate your achievements.

Learning from Mistakes

Embrace your mistakes as opportunities for growth, rather than getting discouraged. Here are some ways to learn from your drawing errors:

Analyze your work: Take a step back and objectively assess your drawings, identifying areas that need improvement and adjusting your technique accordingly.
Seek feedback: Share your work with others, whether friends, family, or online art communities, and be open to constructive criticism that can help you refine your skills.
Be patient: Remember that progress takes time and effort, so don't be too hard on yourself if your drawings don't turn out perfectly at first.

Joining Art Communities

Connecting with fellow artists and enthusiasts can provide valuable support, inspiration, and learning opportunities. Consider joining art communities both online and offline, such as:

Art forums: Online platforms like conceptart.org or deviantart.com provide a space to share your work, ask questions, and learn from others' experiences.
Social media groups: Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest all have thriving art communities where you can connect with other artists, share your work, and find inspiration.
Local art classes or clubs: Participating in local art classes or clubs can help you make friends with shared interests, receive feedback on your work, and learn new techniques and approaches.

By incorporating these practices into your artistic journey, you'll be well on your way to honing your skills and discovering new, easy drawing ideas to express your creativity.

If you're looking to improve your drawing skills and accuracy, don't miss out on Yazmin Moktan's workshop, 'Drawing with Ease and Accuracy'. This workshop will provide you with essential techniques and tips to help you create impressive drawings with confidence and precision.