Have you always been interested in learning to draw but worry that it’s too late, that you have no natural talent, or that mastering this skill is simply too hard to do? Thankfully, this guide can help you better understand what materials and soft skills you need to become a better artist and get started on this rewarding and exciting learning path.
What is Drawing?
Drawing is uniquely connected to human history and is likely one of the first advanced artistic skills we ever mastered. For example, ancient cave drawings showcase hunters attacking game in crude but effective artwork. Since these early sketches, drawing has become a far more advanced skill that integrates complex lines, shapes, colors, and textures. It has served as the basis of beautiful artwork and even skills like creating comics and drafting architectural designs.
Interestingly, scientific studies have highlighted many ways that drawing affects the mind. In an article by NPR, it was found that drawing helped ancient people solve problems. It also activates the “reward” center of the mind. Simply put, drawing makes people feel better and think more effectively. In these and other ways, drawing is one of the key abilities of humanity and is a very rewarding skill to master, even if you never become a professional-grade artist.
Benefits of Learning Drawing?
Learning to draw can provide you with many amazing benefits that can improve your life and make it well worth trying. First of all, we already briefly discussed how drawing can improve your mental health. However, we also want to touch on its impact on more severe disorders. Multiple studies, including an in-depth article by Harvard Health Publishing, state that drawing and creating art can help decrease depression and anxiety symptoms.
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Furthermore, drawing is a far more diverse artform than you might think. There are almost unlimited drawing styles and techniques you can learn to express yourself artistically. For example, photorealistic artwork renders the world in exacting detail and requires a steady hand and sharp eye. However, you can also learn styles like manga, anamorphism, pointillism, impressionism, pop art, surrealism, cubism, and much more to expand your skills.
Even better, you could transition into a new and exciting art-based career after mastering drawing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights several jobs that may require drawing on some level. These include career paths like art directors, fashion designers, graphic artists, industrial designers, special effects artists, animators, interior decorators, fine artists, and much more. If you’re interested in a creative career, learning to draw is an essential task.
Is Drawing Easy to Learn?
Drawing isn’t necessarily hard to learn if you’re dedicated to your lessons and have a reasonable expectation of your skills. While anyone can master the basic techniques necessary for drawing, some people will naturally be more gifted than others. You probably know at least one or two people who have never taken any drawing classes but who can create beautiful and intricate artwork without any obvious struggle.
These innately creative people can be frustrating to know if you’re still struggling to master basic artistic skills. That said, you can master these techniques with dedication. Even people with no natural drawing talent can become skilled artists by building muscle memory and practicing their techniques over and over. It might be a steeper hill to climb for you than it would be for someone with innate drawing skills, but the journey is worth it.
If you feel intimidated teaching yourself to draw, CourseHorse provides many online and in-person classes that might benefit you. For example, Painting and Drawing With Mixed Media is an online program by New York School of the Arts that teaches you how to draw beautiful designs and paint them in attractive and eye-catching ways. Similarly, Fear-Free Beginners Drawing 101 teaches you how to draw effectively even if you have limited artistic experience.
These online courses are a great option if you don’t live in a major city or would rather just learn at home. However, CourseHorse does offer many in-person drawing classes in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Nashville, Houston, San Diego, and many more. Most of these programs include hands-on training with a live professor who also provides your learning materials and who can help you sharpen your skills and become a better artist.
What You Need to Know Before Learning Drawing
While we truly believe that anyone can learn to draw, we also know that it’s important to be prepared for many challenges. There are certain skills you need to develop and pitfalls you must avoid when traveling down the road to becoming an artist. Make sure to read through the following two paragraphs to get a better idea of what challenges you might experience.
Prerequisite Skills to Develop
While learning to draw, you’ll master skills like sketching, shading, and texturing your artwork. These techniques include methods like edging or defining your shapes more sharply, mastering negative space in your drawings, shadowing your art to add depth, and understanding how simple lines and shapes create complex artwork. As you progress through your learning journey, these skills will become an innate part of your artistic ability.
Common Pitfalls You Might Experience
Motivational struggles are the most common problem people run into when learning to draw. Simply put, you’re going to make a lot of mistakes and produce sub-par drawings for a long time while you’re learning how to draw. That’s simply part of the learning experience: very few people can naturally pick up a pencil and start producing great artwork without any practice. Just understand that this frustrating period of failure is critical for becoming a skilled artist.
What You Need to Learn Drawing
If you’re ready to join a drawing class, it’s important to step back now and understand what supplies you’ll require before starting. You’re going to need plenty of paper and drawing utensils, as well as things like time, patients, and a place to practice. In the following sections, we’ll highlight some of the most important things to have before learning to draw.
Drawing Room
All artists deserve a comfortable space where they can practice their artwork. Try to find a room in your home where you can relax and practice your skills. Install a drawing desk that makes it easier to produce your artwork, as well as lights that minimize shadows and other distractions as you work.
Paper
While you can practice basic drawing skills on cheap paper, it’s better to invest in high-quality drawing pads to improve your techniques and produce better artwork. Visit an in-person or online shop and purchase heavy duty paper such as 80-pound drawing pads. This latter option is particularly useful because it is thicker and resists tearing more effectively. Try to buy several weights to find one that fits your specific art style the best.
Drawing Utensils
Don’t just grab your closest pencil or pen and start drawing: you’re likely to get disappointed. Instead, invest in high-quality drawing pencils that have sturdier leads to produce finer and better lines. Also, buy colored pencils and pens to expand your options. Furthermore, you’ll need erasers to handle your mistakes. The best options will vary based on your needs, but latex- and PVC-free options typically leave minimal dust and erase lines very effectively.
Guide Books
While there are many online sites that can help you master various drawing techniques, it’s a good idea to have a few physical drawing guides on hand when learning this skill. These books often focus on specific art styles and give you a tangible look at various artistic techniques. Pick up a few that interest you, including beginner-level guides, and follow their instructions. This self-directed learning technique is a good supplement to your drawing classes.
Computer (With Drawing Programs)
If you’re good with computers or are interested in digital artwork, you might want to buy one and install various drawing programs on it. This software can help you practice your skills and use them practically, including designing websites and uploading your art to various art-sharing platforms. Some programs include a stylus and drawing pad that lets you create artwork directly on your computer without having to transfer physical drawings with scanners and other tools.
Key Takeaways
- Anyone can learn to draw, even people with no natural artistic talent
- The difficulty of learning to draw will vary based on individual cases
- Drawing can improve your mental health in many ways
- You can practice many art styles such as photorealistic or surrealistic drawing
- Staying motivated is critical for mastering this art
- It’s important to have many supplies before learning to draw
- You can take in-person, online, and private classes from CourseHorse to learn drawing