How Long Does it Take to Learn Sketching?

You can pick up the basics of sketching in just a few months, however, developing professional-level skills can take much longer. It can take several months or even years to learn how to sketch. Whether you are teaching yourself how to sketch or earning a degree in the arts, creating high-quality sketches takes practice and time. 

Of course, the length of time it will take you to learn how to sketch depends on several factors. Keep reading to learn about how you can learn sketching and some resources to help speed the process along.

What is Sketching?

Sketches are freehand drawings. They’re done quickly to recreate something that has been observed or imagined. They can be done using graphite, ink, charcoal, or Conté crayons on a variety of surfaces. Unlike drawings, sketches don’t need to be done on high-quality or large surfaces. 

Learning how to sketch will provide you with foundational art skills. You’ll be able to use your sketches to map out your drawings or paintings and figure out how to successfully incorporate what you’ve observed into your work. Successful sketches will demonstrate an understanding of motion, space, proportion, and other art essentials. 

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Benefits of Learning Sketching?

There are several benefits to learning how to sketch. 

Sketching is a relaxing activity. When you exercise the creative part of your brain, it releases serotonin, which can reduce stress and anxiety. There are no rules that you’re required to follow, which ultimately makes sketching a low-pressure activity that you can do whenever the urge strikes you. 

Sketching can be done to make money. People buy sketches and commission them from artists. Once you’re confident in your skills, you can aim to sell some of your work to others. It’s important to remember that sketches that people purchase are typically of higher quality than what you might put in your sketchbook. You should use archival-quality paper that’s thick and acid-free if you plan to sell your sketches.

Learning how to sketch can help you improve your attention to detail. When you sketch a person or an object, you need to pay close attention to their details to ensure that you depict them correctly. You also need to pay attention to how their environment influences the way they’re perceived. If motion, light, and space are at play, then you’ll need to correctly observe and incorporate that into your sketch. 

Average Time It Takes to Learn Sketching

You can learn the basics of sketching in just a few months. Being able to create a professional-level sketch, however, could take years. Some people learn sketching much more quickly than others based on their innate skills or how they choose to learn. 

You can speed up the learning process by taking an online or in-person sketching class. Classes are led by professionals who will guide you through the fundamentals of sketching. You can also learn sketching by watching videos and tutorials online, or by reading a guidebook on sketching from your local library or bookstore. These methods allow for flexible learning but won’t provide hands-on instruction or provide you with an instructor to ask questions. 

The length of time it takes you to pick up sketching will depend on a variety of factors that are detailed in this guide. 

Other Factors

Sketching comes more easily to some than it does to others. This may be for several different reasons. The length of time it takes you to become successful at sketching will depend on your prior experience, how much free time you have to learn, your learning speed, and the subject you’re sketching.

Prior Experience 

If you have prior sketching or drawing experience, learning how to sketch may be easy for you. This includes experience doodling for fun or making sketches for design purposes. People who have a prior understanding of the fundamentals of sketching will find it easier to implement the essentials of sketching into their work as they learn. Knowing how to create lines and work with the space on your page can be difficult if you’ve never attempted to sketch before. 

Free Time

The more free time you have to spend learning how to sketch, the faster you’ll learn. If you spend five to ten hours practicing sketching a week, you should pick up the basics in just a few months. You can practice in your free time at home or sign up for a class when you’re available. 

Learning Speed

The speed with which you pick up new skills will influence how quickly you learn how to sketch. Hands-on activities that involve creativity come more naturally to some than others. Although learning quickly can be convenient, it’s important that you take the time to learn the fundamentals of sketching so that you don’t run into any problems later. 

Subject of Sketch

What you choose to sketch will impact how quickly the learning process takes. Sketching people is common, but you may have difficulty doing so if you don’t have any live models or reference pictures to use. Likewise, sketching landscapes is also common, but if you don’t have access to a landscape to observe, it can be difficult. When you first start learning to sketch, it’s best to use what you can readily observe as your subject. 

What to Know Before Learning Sketching 

You should first focus on the basics of sketching when you begin learning. You’ll need to understand how the perspective of a piece differs based on your point of view and environmental factors like light and space. You should also be sure to understand the different mediums used to sketch. There are resources online that can help you learn about common mediums or you can enroll in a sketching class on CourseHorse to gain experience using a variety of mediums. 

Beginner-level sketching classes will not require you to have any prior sketching experience. It does help, however, if you have some background in art or innate artistic ability. 

Learning how to sketch is relatively inexpensive. The basic materials needed are graphite pencils, a high-quality eraser, and paper. Sketches are fairly informal, unless being sold, so they can be done on cartridge paper or in a notepad. 

Can I Learn Sketching for Free / on My Own?

You can learn the basics of sketching online for free. Videos and tutorials uploaded by artists and instructors are available on YouTube and other on-demand video platforms. These are a good way to learn important terminology and about the sketching process. However, this learning method requires a great deal of motivation as you won’t have access to an instructor to ask questions or receive feedback from. 

Key Takeaways

• You can learn the basics of sketching within a few months but developing professional-level skills may take you years. 
• Your prior experience, available free time, learning speed, and choice of subject will impact how long it takes you to learn how to sketch. 
• When learning how to sketch, it’s important to understand the foundations, including medium types. 
• You can learn how to sketch on your own by using free online resources or by enrolling in an in-person or online sketching class on CourseHorse. 
• You can contact CourseHorse to learn about the online and in-person training options available to you, including private group sessions.