Whether you sketch to brainstorm ideas for a bigger project, or as an artform in and of itself, I\u2019m guessing you wouldn\u2019t mind improving your sketching skills.
\nThat\u2019s why I\u2019ve put together a guide with 30 fun ways to challenge yourself to get better at the art of sketching, and it also comes with a handy printable to keep you on track! Let\u2019s get started.
\n[[cb-sketchingchallenge]]<\/p>\n
They say the best camera is the one you have with you. Same goes for sketchbooks: it doesn\u2019t matter if you spent your hard-earned money on a limited-edition Moleskine, what matters is that you\u2019re set with the tools to record your ideas when inspiration strikes. Create a habit of carrying even the smallest sketchbook, and don\u2019t let another creative moment go to waste. Check out this sketchbook review<\/a> to decide which of them is right for you.<\/p>\n Think of this as a form of visual brainstorming<\/a>. Instead of just scribbling your thought process, illustrate your thoughts in a creative, aesthetic way. Represent your ideas with symbols and add hand-lettering to emphasize key concepts.<\/p>\n\n You know those classic paintings of lemon-filled bowls and cracked jugs? Still life doesn’t have to be so predictable! Place a few interesting objects in front of you, and really take the time to observe them and sketch them in detail. Study their texture, and how the light hits them, and challenge yourself to render them with just a pen or pencil, no fancy tools needed.<\/p>\n\n If you\u2019re into drawing characters, what better practice than studying yourself in a mirror and sketching what you see in real-time? You can choose to try a realistic style, or a stylized version of yourself (think caricature, only less comic and exaggerated).<\/p>\n One of the greatest challenges in sketching and drawing realistically is to train your hand to draw what you see<\/em> and not what you know<\/em>, as you\u2019ll hear often in many art classes. One of the most effective exercises I\u2019ve found for this skill is to draw upside-down. Now, before you go looking for a trapeze by which to hang by your ankles, allow me to clarify: find a reference image of something you\u2019d like to draw, and tape it upside-down to a page in your sketchbook. On the opposite page, try to copy the drawing. You may be surprised at how much this forces you to study each line you put to paper, and even more surprised at how awkward your drawn image looks when you finally look at it right-side-up. Try it, you\u2019ll have a good giggle!<\/p>\n During a brief illustration course I studied years ago, our teacher taught us to learn to see things as shapes, not as lines, because if you think about it, there are no actual outlines for the real objects which surround us. This is another great method for slowing down your observation and focusing on rendering what is actually in front of you.<\/p>\n Well, not literally, because copying is a big no-no in the world of art (and any intellectual property, actually). But so long as it\u2019s for your own personal learning, and stays within your sketchbook, you can totally go ahead and attempt sketching the Mona Lisa, or any other masterpiece that speaks to you. Doing so may stretch your abilities, and lead you to try techniques you may not have otherwise thought of, or inspire you to draw new subject matter.<\/p>\n \u201cTools do not a craftsman make\u201d \u2014 ever heard the saying? In the spirit of this challenge, try to clear your desk of all but two writing tools for one week (one if you\u2019re really daring). This is a great way to let go of using fancy art supplies as a creative crutch, if you will.<\/p>\n\n Of your pencil, that is. Experiment with grasping your pencil in different ways- holding it<\/a> as you would a coin to scratch a lottery ticket, and gently sliding it over the paper, will give you an even, soft effect which is perfect for shading. Some pressure-sensitive stylus pens (like the Apple Pencil for iPad) will also respond to this technique.<\/p>\n Have you ever tried a figure-drawing class? One where a model poses for the students, sometimes clothed, and sometimes not-so-much? Whichever type of session you choose to attend, this is an excellent way to improve your understanding of the human anatomy. This isn\u2019t to say that you\u2019ll adopt a realistic drawing style, in fact, you\u2019re free to draw the model in any style you like, but it\u2019s great to know the \u201crules\u201d (of anatomy) before you break them.<\/p>\n Pick a subject to draw, and set a timer for five, ten, and fifteen minutes, drawing the same subject in each of the three time slots. Notice how your style changes when you limit yourself to five minutes, versus when you can take your time to focus on the smaller details. Which style do you prefer? I find that my natural way of drawing is quick and \u201csketchy\u201d, but when I force myself to lengthen the time I spend on a drawing, I stretch myself out of my comfort zone and the results are often surprisingly wonderful.<\/p>\n Try using your non-dominant hand for your next sketch, so all you lefties- use your right, and vice versa. I love this exercise, because it often yields a playful and wonderfully awkward aesthetic, one that I\u2019m not always able to achieve when I\u2019m overly conscious of it. You\u2019ll most likely see your lines be quite wobbly, and things won\u2019t come out quite as your brain wants them to, but you just might come up with something that you\u2019ll wish to re-create with your dominant hand.<\/p>\n This one\u2019s easy. Just fill a page with abstract shapes. Perhaps you can find an interesting way to connect them and make them cohesive. Don\u2019t make it more complicated than it is: this is a glorified version of when you doodle while talking on the phone. This is a great exercise to warm up your hand, to free your mind from over-thinking, and to possibly come up with interesting shapes to use in future illustrations. Here\u2019s a fun twist on this exercise: Use watercolors to place some abstracts blobs on the page, and let dry. Stare at your blob (squint if you must), and just like imagining seen objects within the clouds, use your imagination to think of what these blobs could be. Then, using a pencil or fineliner, add a few details to create the final illustration. It\u2019s super fun, give it a try!<\/p>\n\n Grab a photograph of an image which strikes your fancy and trace it. You can do this by placing a light source under a glass coffee table, or putting your photograph up to a window, with a blank page on top. You can of course also use a lightbox, designed especially for tracing. An even easier way is to use tracing paper or vellum paper. Or, you can opt to do this digitally by placing your photograph as a layer in Photoshop, and drawing on a layer above. Who said you need to sketch things with a front-view? For your next sketch challenge, I\u2019ll ask you to draw something from a bird\u2019s eye view, or with a fish-eye effect (imagine looking at your object through a door\u2019s peephole). Once again, this challenges us to look at our world with fresh eyes.<\/p>\n\n One of my latest discoveries is that I love to draw with my four-year-old son\u2019s markers. On the cheapest printer paper. No offense to my beautiful Copics, but there\u2019s just something about the limited color palette, and the squeaky nibs, that makes the experience very playful and fun! A post shared by Crazy Crayola Calligraphy (@crayligraphy)<\/a> on <\/span>Brain Map<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Still Life<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Self-Portrait<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Flip It<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>No Lines, Please<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Be a Copycat<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Less is More<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Get a Grip<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Go Figure<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Time Yourself<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Left vs. Right<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Abstract It<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>Trace It<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nTracing can help train your eye and hand to study the shapes of things, like the curve of an eyelid, or the many lines on a flower petal. Consider picking your photo based on the subject you normally sketch on your own, and perhaps you\u2019ll be surprised at some details you\u2019d been overlooking this whole time.<\/p>\n<\/span>Vary Your Angles<\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/span>New Media<\/span><\/h2>\n
\nIf markers aren\u2019t your jam, try any other tool (a perfect excuse to treat yourself at the art supply shop!). Fineliner lovers may discover they love messy gouache, and classically-trained oil artists may love to draw with a Wacom! This month we\u2019re all about trying new sketch techniques, and this one is a really exciting one! I\u2019d love to know if you tried and loved this!<\/p>\n\n
![holding it<\/a> as you would a coin to scratch a lottery ticket, and gently sliding it over the paper, will give you an even, soft effect which is perfect for shading. Some pressure-sensitive stylus pens (like the Apple Pencil for iPad) will also respond to this technique.<\/p>\n<\/span>Go Figure<\/span><\/h2>\nHave you ever tried a figure-drawing class? One where a model poses for the students, sometimes clothed, and sometimes not-so-much? Whichever type of session you choose to attend, this is an excellent way to improve your understanding of the human anatomy. This isn\u2019t to say that you\u2019ll adopt a realistic drawing style, in fact, you\u2019re free to draw the model in any style you like, but it\u2019s great to know the \u201crules\u201d (of anatomy) before you break them.<\/p>\n<\/span>Time Yourself<\/span><\/h2>\nPick a subject to draw, and set a timer for five, ten, and fifteen minutes, drawing the same subject in each of the three time slots. Notice how your style changes when you limit yourself to five minutes, versus when you can take your time to focus on the smaller details. Which style do you prefer? I find that my natural way of drawing is quick and \u201csketchy\u201d, but when I force myself to lengthen the time I spend on a drawing, I stretch myself out of my comfort zone and the results are often surprisingly wonderful.<\/p>\n<\/span>Left vs. Right<\/span><\/h2>\nTry using your non-dominant hand for your next sketch, so all you lefties- use your right, and vice versa. I love this exercise, because it often yields a playful and wonderfully awkward aesthetic, one that I\u2019m not always able to achieve when I\u2019m overly conscious of it. You\u2019ll most likely see your lines be quite wobbly, and things won\u2019t come out quite as your brain wants them to, but you just might come up with something that you\u2019ll wish to re-create with your dominant hand.<\/p>\n<\/span>Abstract It<\/span><\/h2>\nThis one\u2019s easy. Just fill a page with abstract shapes. Perhaps you can find an interesting way to connect them and make them cohesive. Don\u2019t make it more complicated than it is: this is a glorified version of when you doodle while talking on the phone. This is a great exercise to warm up your hand, to free your mind from over-thinking, and to possibly come up with interesting shapes to use in future illustrations. Here\u2019s a fun twist on this exercise: Use watercolors to place some abstracts blobs on the page, and let dry. Stare at your blob (squint if you must), and just like imagining seen objects within the clouds, use your imagination to think of what these blobs could be. Then, using a pencil or fineliner, add a few details to create the final illustration. It\u2019s super fun, give it a try!<\/p>\n\n <\/figure>\n \n\n<\/span>Trace It<\/span><\/h2>\nGrab a photograph of an image which strikes your fancy and trace it. You can do this by placing a light source under a glass coffee table, or putting your photograph up to a window, with a blank page on top. You can of course also use a lightbox, designed especially for tracing. An even easier way is to use tracing paper or vellum paper. Or, you can opt to do this digitally by placing your photograph as a layer in Photoshop, and drawing on a layer above.\nTracing can help train your eye and hand to study the shapes of things, like the curve of an eyelid, or the many lines on a flower petal. Consider picking your photo based on the subject you normally sketch on your own, and perhaps you\u2019ll be surprised at some details you\u2019d been overlooking this whole time.<\/p>\n<\/span>Vary Your Angles<\/span><\/h2>\nWho said you need to sketch things with a front-view? For your next sketch challenge, I\u2019ll ask you to draw something from a bird\u2019s eye view, or with a fish-eye effect (imagine looking at your object through a door\u2019s peephole). Once again, this challenges us to look at our world with fresh eyes.<\/p>\n\n <\/figure>\n \n\n<\/span>New Media<\/span><\/h2>\nOne of my latest discoveries is that I love to draw with my four-year-old son\u2019s markers. On the cheapest printer paper. No offense to my beautiful Copics, but there\u2019s just something about the limited color palette, and the squeaky nibs, that makes the experience very playful and fun!\nIf markers aren\u2019t your jam, try any other tool (a perfect excuse to treat yourself at the art supply shop!). Fineliner lovers may discover they love messy gouache, and classically-trained oil artists may love to draw with a Wacom! This month we\u2019re all about trying new sketch techniques, and this one is a really exciting one! I\u2019d love to know if you tried and loved this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA post shared by Crazy Crayola Calligraphy (@crayligraphy)<\/a> on](\"http:\/\/www.jerrysartarama.com\/blog\/images\/2015\/07\/blog-drawing-grip-2.jpg\"){kind=link}