How To Do These Exercises

Here are some tips to help you get started drawing.

1. Try to reserve a fixed spot where you can draw

If you can reserve a corner in your home where you always draw, and only draw, that can be a powerful habit trigger for you. You can get into the habit of starting to draw by just sitting down there. That can become an automatism.

2. Put drawing tools there so you can just start

It is easier to start drawing if all the tools you need to draw are there in front of you.

3. Try to find a fixed time when you can draw

Next to having a fixed place to draw, a fixed time can be a powerful habit trigger also. In that case you don't need to have a fixed spot. If you always draw first thing in the morning, or in the evening after dinner when all other chores are done, it doesn't matter as much where you draw. You could doodle while watching a movie on the television every night.

4. Try to make sure there are no distractions

At least in the beginning, when you are still trying to form a daily drawing habit, your brain is fighting it every step of the way. It will grab any distraction as an excuse. Dishes need to be done? Your phone lies there and you're wondering if someone posted something interesting on social media somewhere?

Try to remove any and all distractions: make sure there is no device that is connected to the internet near you, turn off all notifications, close doors so people can not barge in, et cetera.

Watching television, or some longer online video, or listening to some podcast or music can actually help you get you into the activity drawing, I found. That background noise has a soothing effect, and distracts the “critic” part of your brain as you get into the flow of drawing.

5. Make sure you set small targets

If you set your targets too ambitious, you will find it hard to get started eventually. Set your targets small: draw just one quick sketch maybe? Or only draw for 5 minutes? And then keep going if you feel like, it of course! This is just about making it easier to start drawing.

6. Make sure you enjoy every second of the activity

It just helps if you enjoy making every mark. Choose the drawing tools you feel like drawing with today. It will make it more fun, and you will - hopefully - eventually look forward to what you now perceive as the fun activity of drawing every day.

7. Try to find an exercise you feel like doing

This falls into the same category of making the activity fun. That is why we do this in the first place, isn't it?

8. Try to find a way to make your pages visually pleasing

It may help to find things to draw that don't require utmost precision to get right: clouds, trees, cartoon heads. It will be easier to make your sketchbook visually pleasing.

A nice looking sketchbook page is a reward in itself and helps you as it may make it easier to help you get started the next day.

Fill out a full sketchbook page with lots of sketches, and don't worry if you find yourself drawing over a previous sketch. This is about warming up, and it tends to look good anyway if you fill a page with lots of lively fun sketches. Or you can make things go in front of behind each other and get a fun collage that way. Most importantly, don't over-think it. Just draw. There is always a next sketchbook page where you can do things differently. It's just a sketchbook page.

I find sketchbook pages do tend to look beautiful, and it helps if you have something beautiful to look at afterward. It's a little reward.

9. Hit the “Completed” button

On this website, you will find “Completed” buttons. If you click on one of them, you are brought to a web page that can help you keep track of how long you went without interruption. That is a reward in itself and a little game that can help you keep going.

How many days can you keep drawing without interruption?

That is it, really!

I hope you find yourself in a daily drawing habit!