HOW TO GET STARTED

This is mainly aimed at absolute beginners, but also applies to those who might like to improve their drawing, how they can do that cheaply or even better - for free!

If you want to just skip straight to the youtube links, just scroll straight down to the end. Happy drawing, you eager beavers!

I recently wrote a Facebook post that said;

“Hey if you're stuck at home and you're complaining about being bored... why not learn to draw?”

And the responses were awesome! Somehow I hadn’t really anticipated that people might actually be interested in learning to draw. In one of the comments, by my lovely friend Ruby, I was asked a very simple question:

Do I have any advice on how to get started?

It was a great question, and it prompted me to make a concentrated effort to devise this list. I took a few days, and I wouldn’t say it’s totally comprehensive, but I think it’s a really good start. 

Many are tutorials I have actually used myself. Also one more thing to consider before reading on, for you budding landscape drawers, I have written this coming from a figure drawing angle, since that is what I personally enjoy doing.

But first, let’s get some common misconceptions out of the way…

THE MOST COMMON EXCUSE FOR NOT LEARNING A NEW SKILL

There is a huge misconception that children are better at learning than adults. This is quite simply, not true. I don’t recall the book I learned about this in, but here’s an internet article that explains it. Adults are actually better at learning than children. Children just often have easier circumstances to learn in, ie. zero responsibilities, and they don’t give a shit when they suck at something.

The biggest way in which adult learners hold themselves back, is by worrying about not being good at what they’re trying to learn. They are embarrassed or just way too hard on themselves. 

This is insanity!

No one is good at anything when they first start. FACT! (I’ve been learning to skip (jump rope) EVERY DAY for 3 months and STILL trip up on the rope every 2 minutes…)

JUST MAKE MISTAKES! Don’t compare yourself to others, keep track of your progress, and keep at it.

"It doesn’t so much seem that living the life of an artist every day has caused me to become a better artist, but rather that being an artist everyday has helped me become a better human.

I’d like to devote my life to instilling that desire in anyone with the kaputska to take on the rigors necessary in finding true joy through confidence in themselves."

–Jeremy Mann

I’M TOO OLD! IT’S TOO LATE FOR ME!

Maybe you’re one of these people who has convinced themselves that it is too late. Maybe you often say to yourself that you just wish you’d started when you were younger. Why not start now? Why keep putting off something that could potentially enrich your whole life? Creative outlets have a measurable, positive ripple effect on every other part of your life. And you’re not the only person who started late!

Bill Withers didn’t start writing music till he was 32!

Waiting for retirement to take up a hobby is way too much time lost. This is your life, and it goes by fast. Don’t waste any more time.

Speaking of wasting time, a super cool benefit of being a drawer is that you can do it while watching* tv, or listening to podcasts. This is great if you just want to relax and let your mind wander. 

Take that, musicians!**

*Don’t watch anything you particularly need to pay attention to though.

**Except for Mr. Bill, who is such a freak that he can write music while listening to music. Wtf.

THE MOST COMMON APPROACHES TO LEARNING TO DRAW

Here are some of the most common ways people learn to draw:

• Copy other artists.
  These are called “studies” and should be labeled as such to avoid any misrepresentation, as well as crediting the original artist. That’s if you plan to show them publicly.

• Draw from life.
  Draw something REAL, that is physically in front of you ie. a bowl of fruit, your housemate watching tv, nature etc

• Draw from photographs.
  Photographs are best when they are high in resolution, not blurry, and if you want to be picky they should have a clear light source.

• Purchase guides.
  How-to books, tutorials, online courses etc

Most artists I know first began by copying art that they liked. I used to copy anime and cartoon characters that I was obsessed with. I also had those really short, easy to read “How to draw Manga” books, which I am certain I can still see the influence of in my art today.

DRAW WHAT YOU LIKE

Seems obvious, but, draw what you are attracted to. Draw things you like. Don’t draw what you think you should draw. In fact, any time you have the word “should” enter your mind, take a moment to investigate it. What are you really saying to yourself? 

Be as fun, cute, weird, macabre as you want. Don’t judge yourself, your wild mind should not be limited.

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS TO CONSIDER

One last thing to consider is what your goals might be, maybe you have no goals, or you don’t know them yet, and that’s perfectly okay.

Are you just drawing for fun? Are you drawing to relax? Do you want to draw cartoon faces, or realistic faces?

Do you have artists you’d like to emulate? If so, keep referring back to what they do, and study how they do it. What makes them different. What DON’T you like?

See what you can learn just by really looking!

If your goals are to draw with a style, as opposed to ‘realistically’, you will find that learning the basics of realism drawing are a great tool for informing anything non-realistic. So even if your intention is to draw cartoons, learning realistic drawing techniques will help you.

These days we have so much information at our fingertips, it’s such a blessing, but also extremely overwhelming… So with that in mind, below are some of my picks. 

HOW TO GET STARTED FOR FREE

Proko

Drawing absolute basics playlist 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_W9sZ8S7RM&list=PLtG4P3lq8RHFRfdirLJKk822fwOxR6Zn6

Advice: What holds back beginner artists
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP7geXzJ864
- Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
- Comparison to others
- Self doubt
- Don’t focus on details too soon, keep things simple and get the basics right first

Loomis method for drawing heads (Can get Loomis books as PDFs on the internet if you really look)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAOldLWIDSM

Robert Marzullo

Sample lesson for drawing heads, (divide heads into thirds)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUJZUZRmNUE

Struthless

Great advice for anyone/ everyone:
“The drawing advice that changed my life” my favourite video, (with special thanks to Jay Lysdexic for linking me to it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6NsEDwHHiE&t=131s

Bill Platz

Really fun AND very informative draw-along workshops with Bill Platz, sponsored by QAGOMA program: “Home with QAGOMA”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7Koeks-qQE&t=2s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24HwhDEz4xI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLZ65lxGY9g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l55JAW3ZQxQ

James Gurney

Anything to do with James Gurney! He is a living legend, highly regarded by virtually everyone. He also has really great books if you would like to invest in some physical educational material. Check out his channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIoOLzT1jbxAcPW99xn0zQ

Ron Lemen

Quick figure and gesture drawing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzdD9iyIIxg

Drawing heads from any angle. This one is really fast. You’ll might need to pause as you go, or rewatch a lot)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFQcvdBLUOM

Sycra

Drawing over and over technique - this video presumes you know the Loomis thirds technique of drawing a head
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ufz75UvHs

Love Life Drawing

Drawing from a photograph, “forget what you’re drawing, and just simplify to lights and darks”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG-WG6JeKNI

Udemy

Here are free options on Udemy. You have to make an account, and I cannot speak to the level of quality because I haven’t tried any of them, but there isn’t much to lose!

https://www.udemy.com/topic/drawing/free/

HOW TO GET STARTED FOR PRETTY CHEAP

Udemy

I did this anatomy for figure drawing course, it’s a “draw along'' and only $15 for like 60 hours of content. It’s not perfect but you DEFINITELY get your money’s worth, and there’s the potential to learn A LOT!
https://www.udemy.com/course/anatomy-for-figure-drawing-and-comics/)

Udemy is also great because it’s a 30 day money back guarantee. There’s a lot on the platform so it’s a bit of an effort to sift through, but there’s no risk: if you don’t like a course, just refund it!

New Masters Academy

This is slightly more expensive but of a much higher quality, as it is more discernibly curated than Udemy. It is a subscription-based platform and you can cancel any time. I recommend Glen Vilppu and Steve Huston, but any courses aimed at beginners will no doubt be fantastic.

OTHER ARTISTS

Webinars are usually a very reasonably priced way to learn, advertised by many different artists from time to time. Not all great artists are great teachers though - but there’s always something to gain in my experience. These typically run over Zoom, and are much cheaper than physical workshops or ongoing courses.

LAAFA has lots of amazing teachers to choose from, but is California based, so for Australians the times can be a bit inconvenient (although you can just watch the recording if you miss it).

I have started running painting workshops - Suitable for beginners! Jump on my VIP LIST to stay in the know.

Also check out my patreon for more informative insight to how I make my art here.

WHAT TOOLS YOU NEED

Last but not least, to make art you need some tools. You won’t need expensive or particularly specific tools to start with. Lots of us start with the humble ballpoint pen (they’re great for shading!) or just a grey lead pencil and standard eraser. 

Pens are fun because they force you to commit to your lines (unless you introduce white-out, which I also use sometimes)

You might find later down the track you’d like to upgrade your tools and if so, I recommend a few things here

• Range of soft pencils

• Fineliners

• Kneadable eraser - way more essential than you’d think! 

• Tombow Mono zero eraser (super super fine eraser, for detail)

• Charcoal - it’s like the ‘paint’ of the drawing world

• Soft pastels or coloured pencils (to introduce colour...a whole new can of worms!)

I hope this was helpful. Feel free to send me the results of your new endeavour via DM on instagram or fb! 

I really believe the joy of drawing could bring you the fulfilment you deserve.

Much love

Ash

Written by Ash Darq, with special thanks to my editor Visaic