Click here to read the introduction to the course if you missed it!
Drawing is simply the process of layering shapes, lines, scribbles and values on top of each other until you get your desired result.
In this first lesson, we’re going to focus on the process of sketching. If you can make a mark on a piece of paper, you can learn how to sketch! You don’t need to be able to draw straight lines or perfect circles in order to be an artist.
Introduction to Sketching
Sketching is the process of roughly scribbling an idea on paper. It allows you to bring your ideas to life quickly so you can save time in the long run. It’s a great way to brainstorm!
So don’t be afraid to make mistakes!
This stage is meant for exploration! When I make a mistake, IÂ find ways to use that mistake to my advantage. If I can’t, I’ll simply move on.
How to Sketch
It’s best to use free flowing lines that are loosely and lightly drawn. To do that, adjust your grip on the pencil so that your hand is relaxed instead of tense. If your hand usually gets tired after you’ve drawn for less than an hour, you’re probably gripping it too tightly.
When making an initial sketch, you’ll want to leave your perfectionism behind and focus on general shapes. Think about the size, shape, angle, etc. The last thing you want to think about is detail!
Let’s Sketch Something Together!
Since this is a sketching tutorial for beginners, I’m using my left hand (non-dominant hand) to show you that you don’t need to have good control of your hand in order to sketch well.
Step 1: Sketch a circle loosely
I sketched a circle using a bunch of loosely drawn lines. Don’t worry if your lines are going in weird directions. It’s likely that you’re not going to draw something perfect the first time around. That’s totally fine! Remember, we’re supposed to work in layers.
Step 2: Refine the shape
After your initial sketch, find areas that need improvement and sketch over it until you get closer to your desired result.
Step 3: Keep refining
Keep repeating that step until you get even closer to what you want.
Tip: You can rotate your sketch book to help your eyes look at the shape differently. You might spot some obvious areas that need fixing.
Step 4: Define the shape
Happy with how it looks overall? Use more confident lines to define the shape of your circle. You can erase the scribbly lines or let them disappear naturally as you continue to work on your drawing.
Like That Example? Here are Some More!
I got used to moving my elbow and shoulder joint to draw which gave me much smoother lines. If you look at the images in the example above, you’l notice that my lines gradually become a lot less wobbly.
I thought it would be fun to show you the difference between a sketch made with my left versus right hand:
Your Homework Assignment
Things to remember while you draw:
- Don’t be a perfectionist
- Focus on the overall shape instead of the details
- Use a gentle amount of pressure
Assignment #1:
Fill an entire page in your sketchbook, following the steps in this lesson.
Step 1: Sketch Loosely
Step 2: Refine the shape
Step 3: Refine it further
Step 4: Define the desired shape
Find objects to draw around the house, outside or from a quick google search on “random objects”. Once you fill an entire page in your sketchbook, fill another one.
My challenge to you: If you can draw 50 things in your sketchbook and submit it to the facebook page, I’ll feature your artwork down below!
Here are some ideas for you to draw:
- Fork
- Apple
- Banana
- Laptop
- Jacket
- Hat
- Your hand
- Your foot
- Your eye
- Key
- Lamp
- Cat
- Dog
- Bird
- Boat
- Tree
- Flower
- Car
- Helicopter
- Plane
- Alligator
- Person jumping
- Person sitting
- Person standing
- My avatar picture
Done the assignment?
Let me know if/how you improved and how this lesson helped you draw better!
If you’re waiting for lesson 2, sign up to my special mailing list in the footage or follow me on facebook and I’ll notify you when it’s posted.
Update: Click here for lesson 2
Have any questions? Drop them in the comment section below and I’ll get back to you shortly!
Readers Who Completed the Challenge!
Firoz Wadud <– he drew 80!!
Anahita Sharma
Ritwik Verma
Guylene Antoine
Darlene created RFA In 2013 with the goal of sharing simple yet detailed drawing tutorials with other artists on the world wide web. She is a self taught pencil portrait artist and Youtuber.
Hi, Darlene – This will be a short comment on your excellent drawing lesson and a longer one on the comments section, which literally made me cry. I read every single one. They are from all over the world and from people whose voices show goodness, positivity, humility, hopefulness and gratitude – to name just a few of the qualities that will ultimately bring us out of the tribalistic funk so pervasive right now. There really are way more loving, kind and caring people than there are negative ones and I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your site at this moment and gotten to know you and share a glimpse of so many others of cheerful spirit. It has made me remember what a wonderful, beautiful place our little planet is. Cheers to you and to all who accept your generosity with thankful hearts. I love you, sweetie.
I am very lucky and grateful to have such kind and awesome readers! Thanks everyone for spreading love :)
Hi Darlene,
I love the way you teach, very easy to grab the concepts. Can you tell me how do I upload my sketches I do not use FB. Thanks!!
Hi Dinesh, please feel free to email me at rapidfireart at outlook.com :)
Hi Darlene,
Greetings from India.
You are am amazing amazing teacher I have ever come across. I wish I should have searched you earlier.
You have made sketching so simple and artistically beautiful.
I always wanted to learn sketching. I do oil painting but not so good (I mean not at all good) at sketching. After seeing your videos I hope I would learn sketching.
2 days back I came across your video on eyes when I was searching sketching video on eyes. Since then I’m watching all your videos on you tube. They are so irresistiable that I could not stop watching them whenever I got time even during office hours/Metro/Home.
Sorry for being so lengthy but I could not stop myself expressing my happiness after seeing all your videos and lessons.
I still cannot believe that I have such a great teacher like you.
“I have a request if you could send a PDF version of all your lessons, so that they can be practiced offline and sometimes net connectivity is poor”.
Warm Regards
Kavita
Hi Kavita! Sorry for the late reply! Thank you so much for your support and kind words, you are really sweet :)
I will send you the PDF’s via the email you provided. Let me know if you have any questions!
Also, if you have another way to submit besides facebook, I would love to send you my sketches! (I’m a recovering facebook addict and not looking to get back on it…)
Sorry for the late reply Kara! You can send them to my email: rapidfireart at outlook.com :)
Thank you for providing these lessons!
hi Darlene, thanks for this course. that is what I want . just please check your page on facebook, I mailed my drawing for you and I expect that you answer to them. thanks again.
Hi Darlene, I am inerested on learning how to draw. I find your information very useful, and I hope it helps me in my drawing abilities. My family is full of artists, literally. So I hope I can be like them one day.
Greetings from Ecuador!
Really great stuff, thanks a lot for the site. Had a go at most of the 25 recommended. I felt like 16, and 18+ we’re all a big jump up from the earlier ones. I got the idea behind it though, i feel like i can look at almost anything and see a simpler blueprint to start with. Looking forward to trying out the other lessons over the next few days.
Hey darlene,
This is Ankit from India.
I love drawing sketching but with time i lost my touch… I tend to get frustrated very quickly when i draw something and it doesn’t turn out the way it actually is. I m a good copier i mean if i see a sketch i can draw similar but i fail to draw real things by watching them. Could u help me or give some tips?
I even tagged you on insta with my first sketch im years. @ank.sin
And happy new year! I wanna b ur first student this year..:-)
Well, if you are good on copying things from paper or screen but aren’t good from drawin real things, why don’t you take a picture of them with your cellphone and then copying from it? You could also cut a square off from a paper and then use it as a frame pointed to the real object.
In other words, just try to force your brain to see things differently
I dont have facebook is there a way i could submit it without facebook?
Yes! You can submit via email to: rapidfireart@outlook (dot) com
Hi Darlene! , Greetings from the Philippines! Today I just decided to look for tutorials to improve my drawings coz my friends tease me. In fact I received a gift in our Christmas party and I was happy because what I received were art materials like sketchbook , colored pencils and oil pastel but then my friend said something, I felt that he want to say to me that the art materials will just be wasted, I Just ignore him coz I know he is good in arts compared to me. That’s why in that very day I said to myself “I’ll improve in arts. Im so happy because I found this Site today , I believe that this Tutorial site will help me :)
I LOVE how you took that experience and turned it into motivation, Carmela. I hope you’re finding these lessons helpful. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask. I’m more than happy to help you out :)
hi, teacher you are so sweet ,i extremely impressed by your drawing techniques . your voice like a cuckoo
Great tutorial for beginners! Thank you Darlene! Its fun, free and easy to follow.
Hi….Darlene,
I am Faisal Ahmed. I am from Bangladesh. I saw your web site and truly i am happy to see your drawing lesson. I want to learn how to draw. I like your drawing tutorial and i hope i can learn from you. Sometime i can not understand, if i ask some qustion about drawing is that ok? I hope you can understand what i say! I am afraid my english is not good but i am very very much interested in learning how to draw. will you help me?
Faisal
Of course it’s okay! You can contact me directly via the contact page of FB. Looking forward to hearing from you, Faisal!
What level of pencil/graphite should I be using? P.S. Thank you for this website and your time.