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How to Draw
Co-authored by Kelly Medford
Updated: April 15, 2020

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Practicing General Drawing Techniques
Drawing People and Faces
Capturing Landscapes
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Questions & Answers
Related Articles
References
Article Summary
Learning how to draw can seem daunting, especially when you look at masterpieces by
your favorite artists. However, it's important to remember that even the great
masters were beginners once. Start by practicing some basic drawing techniques,
then move on to more complex drawings to capture people, landscapes, animals, and
more. If you keep at it, you'll likely be surprised at how quickly your drawing
skills improve!

Method
1
Practicing General Drawing Techniques
Image titled Draw Step 1
1
Start by drawing basic lines and curves. If you're just learning to draw, start by
carefully drawing the pencil over the page in a straight line. Practice holding
your hand at different angles to see what gives you the most control over the
pencil, along with what feels most comfortable. Once you feel comfortable drawing a
straight line, practice rotating your wrist as you draw, which should create a
curve. Try making a series of big loops on the paper, then draw tiny swirls below
that. This will help you build up your hand-eye coordination so you can create the
effects you want on the page.[1]
Practice drawing lines of different lengths, thicknesses, and textures. Try to
produce wavy lines, zig-zag lines, and tangled, scribbly lines.
After you get comfortable with lines and curves, try drawing shapes. For instance,
you might try filling a page with two-dimensional shapes such as circles, squares,
or triangles.
For more information on drawing a straight line, check out How to Draw Neat Lines.
Tip: Try choosing a set of graphite pencils in different hardnesses so you can
experiment with the ones that match your drawing style the best. Most manufacturers
grade pencils on a scale ranging from 9H (the hardest) to 9B (the softest). Harder
pencils draw thinner, lighter lines, while softer pencils make darker, thicker
strokes.[2]

Image titled Draw Step 2

2
Create a sense of depth by shading in a shape. Draw a simple shape, such as a
circle, and add an imaginary light source to your page. Use a pencil to lightly
shade in the areas farthest from your light source, while leaving the area closest
to the light source unshaded. Keep building up the shading until you have a gentle
fade you have a gradient from the darkest values at the parts of the object
farthest from the light source to the lightest at the area closest to the light
source.[3]
For instance, you might imagine that there's a lamp shining down from the top left
corner of the page. In that case, the top-left area of your shape wouldn't have any
shading. Just below that area, add light shading then progress to very dark shadows
in the bottom right corner of your page.
Try blending your shadows with your finger, an eraser, or a cloth to soften them.
To learn more about shading, check out How to Shade Drawings. You can also read
about more advanced shading techniques in How to Cross-Hatch and How to Stipple.
Image titled Draw Step 3
3
Make an object seem grounded in reality by adding cast shadows. Picture your light
source, then draw a shadow on the opposite side of the object from the light. The
shadow should be the same shape as the object, although it may be longer or shorter
than the object itself, depending on how far away the light source is and the angle
of the light.[4]
For instance, if you have a bowl of fruit on a table, the table will cast a shadow
on the floor, the bowl will cast a shadow on the table, and the fruit will cast a
shadow inside the bowl.
Use your finger or an eraser to blur the edges of the shadow so it looks more
realistic.
Check out How to Draw a Shadow to learn more!
Image titled Draw Step 4
4
Draw a grid on the paper if you need help with proportions. If you're drawing
something from a source image, draw several evenly-spaced vertical and horizontal
lines on your paper to make a grid. Then, draw the same lines on your source image.
Look at each individual square on the source image and copy it into the
corresponding square on your paper. Your finished picture should be proportionate
with the original![5]
For instance, you might draw 3 vertical lines and 2 horizontal lines to make a 4x3
grid.
It's okay if the squares aren't the same size on your source image as they are on
your paper. You'll naturally adjust the size as you copy the picture you see in
each grid. In fact, this technique is often used to resize a drawing.
Image titled Draw Step 5
5
Show an object's dimension by learning perspective. To start practicing
perspective, draw a horizontal line across your paper to represent the horizon.
Make a small dot on the line. This will be your vanishing point. Next, draw two
angled lines that meet at the vanishing point and stretch down toward the bottom of
your paper. This can represent a road, a stream, railroad tracks, or any other
pathway. The widest part of the path, near the bottom of the page, will seem
closest to you, while the vanishing point will seem to be very far away.
Perspective means that objects that are up close seem to be larger than objects
that are far away. Simple perspective drawings only have one vanishing point,
although more complex drawings might have two or even three.
Understanding perspective will also help your shading and cast shadows look more
realistic.
Learn more by checking out How to Draw Perspective. You can also read How to Draw a
3D Box for another way to study the concept of perspective.
Image titled Draw Step 6
6
Build an object out of different shapes. When you�ve mastered the art of drawing
and shading basic shapes, you can draw much more complex objects by breaking them
up into simpler shapes. Look at something you�d like to draw�such as a human
figure, a car, or your hand�and try sketching out the basic shapes that make it up.
[6]
You can practice by taking an image�such as a photograph from a magazine or
newspaper�and outlining the different shapes directly on the image. For example,
take a picture of a car and outline the rectangular shape of the windshield, the
circular shapes of the tires, and so on.[7]
Once you�ve sketched out the shapes that make up your image, shade them in to
create depth.
To create a more finished drawing, connect the different shapes together with lines
to build a coherent whole. You can then erase the outlines of the individual shapes
that you sketched in.
EXPERT TIP
Kelly MedfordKELLY MEDFORD
Professional Artist
Use a mirror to practice drawing objects. Hold a mirror in front of whatever you're
drawing and look at its reflection. The reversed image will make it look fresh and
give you a new perspective, which can help you figure out how to draw more
imaginatively overall.

Image titled Draw Step 7

7
Try a contour drawing. Contour drawing is an exercise that helps you learn to
create complex, realistic outlines. Pick an object to draw and follow the outlines
of the image with your eye while drawing them at the same time. Try to keep your
eye on the object you�re drawing as much as possible, instead of concentrating on
the hand that�s doing the drawing. Don't worry if the drawing isn't perfect�just
try to get the basic shape of whatever you're looking at onto the paper.[8]
Make a game of it by trying a continuous contour drawing�try to connect all the
outlines of what you see without lifting your hand from the page or going back over
what you�ve already drawn.
Image titled Draw Step 8
8
Outline your sketch first, then add details to keep your drawing proportionate.
When you�re taking a drawing from sketch to finished work, don�t worry about the
small details right away. Start by filling in basic shapes and values, then clean
up your drawing and add details as you go. If you focus on intricate details too
soon, you might make one part of your drawing too big or too small, and the work
will feel out of balance when you're finished.
For instance, if you're drawing a flower, you might start by sketching out the
lines of the petals and stem. Once you've done that, you might start adding details
like the center of the flower and the curves of the leaves and petals. Finally, you
would add shading and any intricate details that are left.
Method
2
Drawing People and Faces
Image titled Draw Step 9
1
Sketch a large oval shape and a cross to draw a person's face up close. Draw an
upside-down egg shape that's slightly narrower on the bottom and wider on the top.
Then, lightly sketch a vertical and a horizontal line going through the oval.
These lines will help you balance the proportions of the person's face. Draw them
lightly, since you don't want them to show in the finished drawing.
If you'd like to learn more, read How to Draw a Face.
Advanced Tip: If you want the person's head to be turned, tilt the bottom of the
oval to different angles, and angle the cross so it still runs from the widest part
of the oval down to the narrowest.

Image titled Draw Step 10

2
Use the lines to sketch the person's facial features. Draw the person's eyes along
the horizontal line and place the nose about halfway between the eyes and the
bottom of the chin. Sketch eyebrows above the eyes, then add the ears so that the
bottoms of the ears line up with the bottom of the nose, and the tops of the ears
line up with the eyebrows.
Imagine a line halfway between the bottom of the nose and the chin, then place the
mouth on top of this line.
From here, you can fill in details like the person's eyelashes, pupils, and hair,
along with shading and other details.
Erase the vertical and horizontal lines when you're finished.
Image titled Draw Step 11
3
Draw a circle on top of a trapezoid to make the silhouette of a head. If you're
drawing a person from a little further away, the picture will look more realistic
if you create the shape of a skull. To do this, draw a circle, then draw a narrow
horizontal line a little below the circle. Create the jawline by sketching angled
lines coming from the sides of the circle down to where they meet the horizontal
line.
Females tend to have a narrower chin, while males often have a wider jawline.
You can still use the crossed directional lines from a close-up drawing to help you
keep the proportion as you fill in the features of the person's face.
Draw these lines lightly so they don't show in your finished drawing later.
Image titled Draw Step 12
4
Draw a rounded rectangle and an oval to create the person's core. Just below the
head, draw a long rectangle, which will be the person's torso. Make the rectangle
very narrow for a slender person, or wider if the person is large. Then, sketch a
horizontal oval overlapping the bottom of the rectangle. This will be the person's
hips.
If the person's neck will show in the picture, draw a narrow rectangle reaching
from the person's head to their core.
If the person is standing still, the rectangle should be perfectly up and down. If
they're leaning slightly, tilt the rectangle a little, or tilt the rectangle
dramatically to show that a person is bent over or in motion, like someone who's
sprinting.
Image titled Draw Step 13
5
Use straight lines and circles to sketch out the person's limbs. Use a straight
line to represent each segment of the person's limbs, like their upper and lower
arms and legs. Then, draw small circles anywhere that the person bends, such as
their shoulders, knees, elbows, and wrists.
Draw the lines and circles lightly since they're just meant to help you visualize
the person's form. You'll erase them after you add detail to the drawing.
Image titled Draw Step 14
6
Fill in clothing and other details once the person's body is sketched out. After
you've drawn the person's figure, it's time to add detail. If you haven't already
drawn the details of their face, you can do that now, along with features like
their hair, clothing, and hands.
Remember, the further away a person is, the less detail you need to include. Focus
on silhouettes if you're drawing a large group of people.
For more tips on filling in details, read How to Draw Clothing, How to Draw
Realistic Hair, How to Draw Shoes, and How to Draw a Hand.
Image titled Draw Step 15
7
Try gesture drawings to capture the essence of poses and actions. A gesture drawing
is a basic sketch that captures both form and a sense of movement. Start by doing
some very quick sketches (e.g., 30-60 seconds) with just a few simple lines to
capture the shapes and movements that you see. Keep your lines loose, sketchy, and
curved. The idea is to create something that looks dynamic and natural, not tidy
and polished. [9]
If you�re drawing a human figure, try drawing a line through the center of the
figure, going from the top of the head to the weight-bearing foot. Build the rest
of the figure around it, sketching in other lines to indicate the angles of the
hips and shoulders.[10]
Keep your hand moving, and don�t worry about details or accuracy.
Method
3
Capturing Landscapes
Image titled Draw Step 16
1
Use a reference photo or your own personal view. Find a photograph of a natural
scene that you like, or look out the window and draw what you see. When you're
drawing a landscape, it's often helpful to have some sort of reference to help you
get your proportions right, especially when you're first starting out. [11]
Tip: If you can't find a picture you like and you don't have a good view from your
home, try taking a sketchbook to a natural spot like a national park or a wildlife
refuge in your area.

Image titled Draw Step 17

2
Draw a horizontal line across your page for the horizon. The line that divides the
ground and sky in a landscape picture is called the horizon line. Lightly sketch
this line wherever you want your horizon to fall. Keep in mind that if your horizon
features mountains, treetops, buildings, or other raised elements, it may not be a
perfectly straight line.[12]
According to the Rule of Thirds, your picture will be more visually interesting if
you place the horizon line a third of the way up from the bottom or a third of the
way down from the top of the page.[13]
If you draw your horizon further up the page, the viewer will see more of the
ground, and if you draw it further down, they'll see more of the sky.
In a typical landscape picture, the paper is turned so it is wide, rather than
tall.
Image titled Draw Step 18
3
Add a focal point in your picture. To make your landscape drawing seem interesting,
add some eye-catching object for the viewer to look at. This might be a tree, a
building, some interesting rocks alongside a stream, a barn, a waterfall, a bench,
a person, or anything else you can think of. Typically, the focal point is the
largest element in a painting, although it may also be an object that stands out
because of its color or contrast.[14]
For instance, a small patch of bright yellow flowers at the base of a stream would
likely catch the viewers' eye if the rest of the colors in the painting are more
sedate.
A large shrub in the foreground of a painting could act as a focal point, as could
a towering mountain in the background.
It's helpful to try to find a reference photo or a natural angle with a focal point
already included. However, you may need to select just a portion of a larger
picture to make it interesting. For instance, you might focus your drawing on an
area with an old tree, rather than trying to capture a whole park.
Image titled Draw Step 19
4
Use perspective to maintain your proportions. When you're creating your drawing,
imagine a vanishing point along your horizon line. Any lines in the picture should
point back to this spot. This will mean that you draw elements in the foreground so
they appear larger, while elements in the distance should be smaller.[15]
For instance, if you're drawing trees, the tops and bottoms of the trees in the
foreground can stretch up to the edges of the paper, if you like. However, as trees
recede into the background, the tops and bottoms should line up with an imaginary
diagonal that angles in toward the vanishing point.
Image titled Draw Step 20
5
Simplify the details in your drawing. When you're drawing a landscape, don't try to
draw every leaf on a tree, every blade of grass, or every brick on a paved road.
Instead, draw out the overall shape of an object, then add details to small
sections to give the viewer the suggestion of texture and movement.[16]
For example, you might draw a few wispy lines to indicate that a fir tree is
covered with needles.
Some detail is okay, and this will vary depending on your style of drawing. If
you're drawing a stony pathway, for instance, you might fill in the details of the
rocks in the foreground of the picture, then gradually start spacing them out until
you're only using a few circular shapes spaced along the path.
If you are practicing a hyper-realistic drawing style, you may choose to include as
many details as you can, and that's fine too. However, that's a more advanced
drawing technique, so if you're just starting out, you might want to include just
the details on your focal point, and let the rest of the picture be more simple.
Method
4
Trying Other Basic Drawings
Image titled Draw Step 21
1
Sketch a simple object from life. Once you have an idea of how to control your
lines and create different values of light and dark, try drawing a real object or
group of objects. Pick something relatively simple to start with, like a bowl of
fruit, a flower, or a vase. Use a lamp to create a strong light source. Sketch in
the outlines of what you see, then fill in the shadows and interior details.[17]
Try to really draw what you see rather than what you think the objects should look
like. This is harder than it sounds! To do it, try outlining the negative spaces
around and between the objects rather than the outlines of the objects themselves.
These are called still-life drawings, and they are commonly used in art classes for
practicing technique.
Image titled Draw Step 23
2
Try your hand at drawing cartoons if you have a playful style. Cartoon drawings
tend to be more simple than realistic drawings, but they also open the door for you
to be more creative. You might draw yourself as a superhero, for instance, or you
could draw a cartoon animal who goes on adventures. You could even practice drawing
a character that already exists, like your favorite anime or comic-book hero.[18]
Focus on your main character first, then create different backgrounds, supporting
characters, and props for your cartoon to interact with.
Also, play with your character's facial expressions and pose to convey different
emotions and actions.
You can also create realistic-looking fantasy drawings from your own imagination.
For instance, if you have a clear idea in your head of what a dragon would look
like, you could try drawing that!
For more tips, check out How to Draw Cartoon Characters or How to Draw Cartoon
Animals.
Image titled Draw Step 22
3
Draw a picture of your favorite animal to practice detail. Find a reference photo
of an animal you really like and study its features before you start to draw. Then,
start by sketching the outline of the animal. Once you've done that, fill in any
major features, like its face, wings, or fins. Then, gradually add detail and
shading until you're happy with the picture.
Drawing animals can be hard! Pay attention to light and shadows if you want to make
your picture look realistic, or emphasize the animal's most notable features if you
want a more cartoonish drawing.
Check out How to Draw Animals for a more in-depth look. If you want to draw a
specific animal, try reading an article like How to Draw a Dog, How to Draw a Cat,
How to Draw a Lion, How to Draw a Fish, or How to Draw a Bird.
Community Q&A
Question
So it doesn't matter what age I am? I used to love drawing and I was good at it,
but now I can't get anything right, I've lost my talent.
Community Answer
You can draw at any age. You just have to have the right mindset about it. Keep
working. Don't tell yourself you can't do it. A little effort and creativity and
I'm sure you can reunite with your talent.
Not Helpful 20Helpful 122
Question
What can I practice drawing?
Community Answer
There are lots of things you can draw! You can start with sketching your favorite
animal, or drawing an object that means a lot to you, like a ring or old book. If
you're really stuck for things to draw, set a timer for 2�5 minutes, look around
the room for a still object to draw (it could be a pen, a lightbulb, etc.) and draw
it until the timer goes. As you practice drawing, learn how to draw new things!
Have you tried drawing penguins yet? Or an expressive human eye? How about a
kitten? Or your favorite book/movie characters? There are many things to draw, and
trying new subjects will prevent you from getting bored.
Not Helpful 117Helpful 492
Question
What if you don't have any materials?
Community Answer
You can practice and improve your drawing skills without any fancy materials! Feel
free to just use normal pencils and lined paper or printer paper to practice with.
Not Helpful 145Helpful 572
Question
What if I'm not good at drawing?
Community Answer
Practice makes perfect, and you shouldn't just give up because you don't think you
good.
Not Helpful 149Helpful 582
Question
How do you draw neatly?
Community Answer
Sketch with light lines using a hard pencil (3H or H). Once you've got the shape,
erase every stray line and smudge. Go over the final drawing with a finely-pointed,
sharp pencil (HB, or a 2B or 4B for bolder lines).
Not Helpful 122Helpful 424
Question
How do I find inspiration to keep on drawing when I'm not that good?
Community Answer
Many artists have the desire but not the talent to begin with; this is normal. The
fact that you acknowledge your limitations is good because it shows you're willing
to improve. Choose to draw the things or beings you care about or that interest you
the most. Then, ready plenty of books on how to draw those things or beings,
picking up the techniques they suggest. After this, the best thing you can do is
practice, over and over again, until something good begins to form. It will take a
long while but once you cotton on to your own technique, you'll never look back and
your unique style will help you to stand out from the less humble and those who
cannot be bothered practicing.
Not Helpful 125Helpful 464
Question
What if one drawing comes out stupid?
Community Answer
This is a natural and expected part of learning to draw well. Nobody draws
perfectly the first time, otherwise everyone would be drawing. Good drawing comes
with practice and from going over bad drawings to learn about why it didn't work
and how to make changes to that to improve. Beginners have to start somewhere, so
don't be upset, just use the "stupid" to inform all improvements in future
drawings.
Not Helpful 41Helpful 143
Question
How long should you practice drawing?
Community Answer
The more you draw, the more you'll improve. Try to do at least one drawing a day,
even if it's just a tiny sketch. Invite your friends to do the "Drawing a Day"
challenge with you.
Not Helpful 80Helpful 281
Question
How can I improve my drawings, especially of faces?
Community Answer
Get familiar with the shape and guidelines of the face. Then start to learn the
steps to draw the parts of the face, starting from the eye to the lips and mouth.
Then learn to assemble them in the face using the guidelines.
Not Helpful 93Helpful 303
Question
How do I get to draw something I like, but there is nothing I like around me?
Community Answer
Try taking a walk outside, and finding something you like to draw. You can also
look up photographs on the internet, and draw from them.
Not Helpful 71Helpful 225
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Tips
Don�t be discouraged if you can�t get your ideas down on paper right away. Drawing
takes a lot of practice, so keep at it!

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References
?https://youtu.be/CqeuQF1qpvQ?t=255
?https://mymodernmet.com/best-drawing-pencils/
?https://youtu.be/5Zc1xVS_X7Q
?https://guidetodrawing.com/cast-shadows/length-and-direction-of-cast-shadows/
?https://www.art-is-fun.com/grid-method
?https://youtu.be/CqeuQF1qpvQ
?https://youtu.be/CqeuQF1qpvQ?t=445
?https://youtu.be/SL3LiR_pvsU
?https://youtu.be/xbE0vYgng00
More References (9)
About This Article

Kelly Medford
Professional Artist
This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford. Kelly Medford is an American painter
based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both
in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome,
and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded
Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of
Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.
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Updated: April 15, 2020
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