Learn to Draw for 15 Minutes a Day

Drawing is the 'bones' of art. You have to be able to walk before you can run

Here are two simple and fun exercises to get you started in becoming better at drawing accurately. With practice, you can learn to draw not only what you see, but what you imagine.

You'll need a stopwatch/timer, paper (anything will do!), pen, pencil, or marker, and a few random objects like toys, kitchen implements, or jewellery  Whatever you have around is fine. Alternatively, you could use images found online. In some ways these are easier to draw from because they're already flattened to a two dimension. You'll also need a gentle attitude toward yourself. Your masterpieces maybe quite a ways down the road at this point, so expecting to make drawings you're proud of at the start is unrealistic and will lead to frustration. In fact, just plan to throw away your drawings at first. The goal is to enjoy yourself and learn.

Observational Drawing

We look at things all day long. But how often do we look hard enough to memorize the details?

Look at one of your objects for one minute. Try to memorize the overall shapes, and those of the details. Think about proportion and relationships. Then put the item away and draw it. Yes, you will certainly be embarrassed by the first few, or dozen, drawings. It's okay; everyone is! Study your drawing versus the object for another minute. What did you miss? What did you remember but get wrong? Now, put the object and drawing away and draw it again for one minute. Look at the object and both drawings. Did you get more accurate? Toss those drawings in the recycle bin and repeat the whole process two more times to total 15 minutes for today.

10 - 4 - 1  Drawing Rule

Take an object or image and draw it for 10 minutes. Aim to at least consider all parts of the object - don't just start at the top and work your way down. Repeat this time in 4 minutes and again in 1 minute. 

Sketch the image roughly, then refine the image a little bit, and finally add details. At the end of 10 minutes, do the same thing on fresh paper in four minutes. You will not get as far, but you may observe and correct inaccuracies from your first drawing. Finally, start fresh again and sketch the same thing in one minute. Whew! This one will look like a scribble, but try to get the "gesture", or basic idea, of the object without details. This can feel overwhelming and confusing at first. If you keep an attitude of exploration and fun, it can be exhilarating! This is also one of the best ways to learn to very quickly observe something and sketch it.

Alternating just these two exercises for 15 minutes each day you will see improvement in a matter of weeks. Keep a few of your drawings from these exercises to look back on when you're not sure you're progressing. It is easy to not realise how far you've come when progress takes place little-by-little.

Never ever give up and draw a little every day rather than one day per week. Doing both at the same time would of course be even better.