Freehand Drawing: Exercises and Tricks to Improve Your Skills
Discover how to refine your line and train your eye with fun and consistency
Drawing freehand is a bit like learning to play an instrument: it takes practice, patience, and a few good tricks. It's not just a matter of talent, but also of practice and observation. If you really want to improve, here's a mini-guide that will guide you step by step.
The Artist's Warm-Up: Doodles with Style
Before you start drawing seriously, warm up your hand! Draw straight lines, circles, spirals, and waves on a piece of paper. Sounds simple? It's actually like a gym session for your hand-eye coordination. This simple exercise improves accuracy and loosens wrist stiffness.
Copying from life: the power of observation
Take simple objects (a cup, an apple, your shoes) and try to copy them. Don't think you "know how" something is made: really observe. That's the secret. Training your eye to see proportions, shadows, and details will make a huge difference in your drawing.
Want to understand what Leonardo or Michelangelo felt? Experiment with fresco art with us in your next creative workshop .
Blind Contours: The Zen Exercise of Drawing
Zen challenge: choose an object, look only at it, and draw it without ever looking at the paper. This exercise (yes, it will make a crazy scribble at first) helps you "switch off" your brain and trust your gaze. After a while, your fluidity and confidence will improve. If you want to draw with the guidance of a true artist, try our art workshop : relaxation guaranteed.
The Visual Journal: Stress-Free Daily Drawing
Keep a small sketchbook with you at all times. Even five minutes a day is enough to create a habit. Draw whatever's in front of you, without judging yourself. A sandwich, a plant, a face on the tram. It doesn't have to be perfect: it just has to be consistent.