We’ve all heard that practice makes perfect, but sometimes improvement can seem a little slow going. Skill certainly doesn’t develop overnight, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take matters into our own hands. If you’re looking for quick ways to see improvement in your drawing skills, here are some effective ways to practice on your own time.
Challenge Yourself
The 100 Challenge
One way to improve attention to detail and increase skill in specific areas is to take on the 100 challenge. Over the course of a few weeks, draw the same subject 100 times. After a few times repeating the same drawing, you’ll start to notice the difficult parts of that specific piece becoming a bit easier as you progress. By the end of challenge, you’ll not only be an expert in drawing that particular subject, but you’ll also be able to apply the skills you’ve gained across your other work – and you’ll even have a clear progress reference over time! This challenge is a great way to face your drawing weaknesses. For example, if you have a hard time drawing hands, the 100 challenge will force you to face any sort of dread you feel when drawing them while improving your ability to draw them over the course of several weeks.
Study from art books
Whatever drawing challenge you are facing, you are not facing it alone. Many artists have documented their hardships and how they’ve confronted them. Art books are a great way to learn from the professionals as well as people who are sharing their best tips. You never know when you might stumble upon a new way of thinking or a tip that will change your drawing habits for the better.
Time challenges
Have you ever thought that you do your best work on a time crunch? Well, that is the premise behind timed drawing challenges. Set a timer for anywhere from 2-5 minutes and draw a single subject with as much detail as possible. You don’t have to worry about creating a masterpiece; this is more of a way for you to analyze your strengths and weaknesses. Repeating this exercise multiple times across the course of weeks will help you improve your drawing speed and detail work. It can also help you to stop overthinking your work as it forces your mind into the present drawing rather than how each detail might look to an audience.
Find the Right Space
If you’re looking for your own dedicated studio space to put your drawing expertise into practice, AmFab is a home to all artists. Apply for your very own AmFab studio on our website.