List of drawing practice exercises for beginners.
Drawing is a skill that improves with consistent practice, and the best way to get better is by working on simple, structured exercises.
Whether you are just starting or looking to refine your basic drawing skills, these basic drawing exercises will help you to develop control, accuracy, and confidence in your art techniques.
This post includes various easy and harder drawing practice exercises for beginners, covering everything from basic lines to more complex forms. These are perfect as warm-up for daily art practice. Ready to start? Grab your sketchbook, and let’s go!
1: Lines & Curves
Alright, first up—lines and curves! This beginner drawing practice is all about getting comfy with your arm movements. Try drawing three sets of lines and three sets of curves using your wrist, elbow, and full arm. Now, here’s the trick: go over each line eight times.
If that’s too easy, spice it up by drawing waves and tracing over them eight times too. This simple drawing practice builds control and confidence, and trust me, you will see a difference in no time!
2: Point
Time to test your hand-eye coordination! This art practice for beginners is a game-changer. Place a dot anywhere on your paper and try drawing straight lines through it from different angles—without rotating your page! Start with small, medium, and large distances. The further you start, the harder it gets!
Want an extra challenge? Try drawing straight lines through two dots instead of one. This beginner drawing exercise is super simple but makes a big impact on your accuracy.
3: Ellipses
Next up—ellipses! If you have ever wondered how artists make smooth, confident circles, this one’s for you. Draw straight horizontal lines across the page, then add ellipses (aka ovals or circles) in between them. Change the angle, size, and spacing to keep it interesting—fat, thin, long, short, you name it! This is one of the best beginner drawing exercises to improve control and precision.
4: Parallel Ellipses
Time to level up those ellipses! Draw a straight line, then add ellipses along it, making sure they stay perpendicular. This practice drawing exercise for beginners is a great way to develop consistency, especially if you love sketching organic shapes or designing cool patterns.
5: Ribbons
Feeling fancy? This one is super fun! Draw a random, wavy line. Now, draw another one right next to it, following the same curves. Boom—you just made a ribbon! Connect the lines with parallel strokes, and suddenly, it’s like your drawing is moving.
Bonus: try twisting them into 3D ribbons for extra depth. This easy drawing practice exercise will boost your spatial awareness and line confidence!
6: Flattening Planes
Perspective can feel tricky, but don’t worry—this basic drawing exercise makes it simple. Start with a straight line, then slowly add planes that rotate toward the viewer until they form a square. Then, rotate them back until they flatten again. Try it both horizontally and vertically. You can also repeat this with circles for a fun twist! This drawing practice for beginners will train your brain to see in 3D.
7: Extrusion
Let’s make things pop! This practice exercise for drawing helps you visualize 3D forms. Start by drawing any shape—a square, triangle, or even a funky blob. Now, draw the same shape slightly offset and connect the edges with lines. Bam! You have just turned a 2D shape into a 3D object. This is a fantastic art practice for beginners who want to get better at depth and form.
8: Box Stacking
Now, let’s stack some boxes! This easy drawing practice exercise will sharpen your understanding of structure and perspective. Start with a simple box. Then, stack another one on top—maybe at an angle. Keep going until you’ve got a cool little tower! As you get better, try stacking them in different orientations. This beginner drawing exercise is a great way to practice sketching solid objects.
9: Cylinders
Cylinders are everywhere—cups, cans, tree trunks—you name it! To get better at drawing them, sketch a bunch of cylinders stacked or floating in space. This drawing practice for beginners is perfect for improving your understanding of shape and volume.
10: Organic Forms
Finally, let’s loosen up with some organic forms! Draw random blob-like shapes, then add centerlines and contour lines to give them depth. If you want to take it up a notch, add shading or branch the forms out like roots or tentacles. This is one of the best easy drawing practice exercises for beginners to develop a sense of volume and creativity!
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