How to Draw - 8 Tips to Fast-Track Your Improvement

Fast track your drawing skills development with these 8 tips to focus your efforts and maximise your improvement. Ideal for beginners, but equally relevant for any level of skill; these are the techniques Stephen has come to value for his own drawing improvement.

[@jacynthasimon]

This channel is a hidden gem sir!! I am really passionate about architecture drawings and yours is mind-blowing

[@stephentraversart]

Very kind of you to tell me Jacyntha. Glad you discovered this channel. Please tell your friends, and keep drawing. 😀

[@davidsmith812]

All of your points are SO practical and SO appropriate, yet, we often forget these points. This was a fantastic video w/ things that we probably know but don't appreciate. Thanks for reminding us of these 'practical practices'!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks David. Appreciate your generous comments. Please tell your friends who draw if you think my videos are helpful. All the best. 😀

[@davidrustylouis6818]

I always remember art school in college during drawing class our instructor assigned us to draw wooden blocks/shapes and a few chairs with a white sheet draped over a portion of the chairs and flowing onto the floor. The lights in the room were off & only a one directional light illuminating the scene. I remember thinking "this is going to be impossible to draw in a one-hour class". Then the instructor said I want you to draw only the shadows. My entire perspective of drawing changed in that one-hour class. Excellent tips, artwork & instruction as well. Thank you.

[@stephentraversart]

What a great sounding experience. Thanks for sharing it with us David. Something we could all try. Have fun with your drawing 😀

[@Sylvinessa]

Your videos are absolutely inspiring. The hardest part about sitting down to practice is the fear of making mistakes and now I'm grabbing my pens and paper and ready to go make a mess and love it!

[@stephentraversart]

Fantastic Rebecca. Getting rid of the need to be perfect is so liberating. 😀 (And productive as well).

[@immortalgraveyard2099]

I think it's okay to copy from time to time and here's why: 1)You can remember stylistic choises of other artist much better. 2)By copying the whole artwork or a solid part of it you can really understand how all elements in particular art piece work together and how they form the artwork. 3)It's just a fun thing for relaxing and making creative detox. If you draw a lot, you can drain your creativity at some point, so it's very helpful and healthy to make absolutely uncreative drawings, when you just make a straight copying without thinking. But really don't copy too much - it could become a bad habbit and you will slow down your progress as a creative unit.

[@stephentraversart]

Anyone is free to draw whatever or however they want. My point is that’s copying doesn’t help us develop the skills we need to create our own drawings, and that’s a misunderstanding I just want to clear up. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@perinilan4364]

Great tips! I used to use a ruler and measuring to draw architecture in pen and ink from photo references. Now do the same as you and don’t worry about it being perfect, but rather loose, expressive and a lot more fun! Now I go out to do plein air sketching and love it! Those sketching experiences and looking through my sketchbooks to see my progress.

[@stephentraversart]

Sounds like a great development Peri. Congratulations and keep at it. Thanks for telling me 😀

[@pchabanowich]

You've set the gold standard with the interior of the Paris Opera House, and I weep. Dear me. Oh well. Maybe I'll attend a performance of La Traviata and leave it at that. But, oh. You've spun a web impossible to escape. Lines. Curves. Scales, in essence. Wish me luck...😵‍💫

[@stephentraversart]

Such generous words. But I hope you realise those Palais Garnier drawings are not freehand pen efforts. They are drawn with a 4x4 grid on reference and paper with pencil underdrawing. I would be very happy to be such a good teacher that you become a better artist than me! No more weeping! 😀

[@pchabanowich]

@@stephentraversart - dear fellow, what grand news, sort of. I am not daunted, however, and I will keep learning. Thank you for your encouragement, tutorials and your good nature.🪷

[@stephentraversart]

😀

[@Spoonwranglerz]

i am getting so much better at drawing because of you. I truly owe you one

[@stephentraversart]

That’s so wonderful to hear Chris. Thanks for telling me. Please tell your friends, that would help me. 😀

[@000CreamX0]

Saving this because I can't digest all this information in just one go. Anyways, thankyou so much Sir!

[@stephentraversart]

You can save them all if you like 😀. Hope you can see the results in your drawings. 😀

[@dianecharest8365]

You are soooo right. I am all over the place, wanting to do everything, and not focusing on one thing. I love urban sketching, and that's what I want to get better at. I'm trying to be looser. But then I jump into something else. Running around and buying arcrylic paints so I can get into that. And forgetting all about urban sketching. Therefore I'm not getting better. Thank you so much for all of your tips.

[@stephentraversart]

It’s fun to try new things but focus is a faster way to improvement. 😀

[@yolo-yo1113]

I love your videos so much literally one of my favourite art ed channels !!!😭😭

[@stephentraversart]

So great to hear. Thanks 😀

[@robot7759]

Personally I find using a view finder (just two L shaped pieces of cardboard) helps me focus and relax at the same time. For larger and more complicated compositions a line grid (Albrecht Durer) can be a huge help as well.

[@stephentraversart]

Yes. I use a 4x4 grid for my large Instagram drawings I really developed my freehand drawing for my KZbin videos and to use in urban sketching when I get to visit Europe again. 😀

[@stevendavie]

This was fantastic! I don’t comment often, but wanted to here to +1 the algorithm 😂😂 AND tell you that the way you presented observation was perfect!

[@stephentraversart]

The algorithm as our friend?!😂😂😂. Lol, that will take getting used to! Thanks Steve. I’m glad this was so helpful, and I hope you check out my other videos. Have fun with your drawing. 😆

[@itsallspent]

I have struggled with finding the balance needed to improve. This video taught me i need to select a subject and tools to render the subject. I have colored pencils, graphite pencils, watercolors and ink pens. I was thinking they overlaped with skills for all of them . I understand now, from your video, that each has its rules. Thanks

[@stephentraversart]

There can be overlap James, but too much at the same time can slow everything down. If you’re feeling on top of some of the media, you can try something more. 😀

[@chodge57]

So very helpful! I struggle with this exact thing! Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Brilliant. So glad to have helped Cindy😀

[@AniketKumar-pd4gy]

Love form India brother. I am learning very much by watching your vedios

[@stephentraversart]

So pleased to hear this, Aniket. Appreciate you telling me. Greetings back from Australia.

[@adamedwards3730]

Absolutely love your art, I'm just starting out and particularly want to draw architecture. I'm going to start on small structures and go from there .

[@stephentraversart]

Sounds great Adam. My KZbin channel Community Page has lots of reference photos you could use some of which may be suitable if you want to have a look. All the best with your drawing. 😀

[@cheryltotty804]

To your point about drawing what you actually observe, rather than what you think you're observing... when working from a source photo, I turn it upside down. It forces me to see lines, shapes, and values, rather than objects. Of course, this doesn't apply when sketching from life, but it's helpful otherwise. Thanks for another great video!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Cheryl. Yes, it’s a great way to force more careful observation 😀

[@kristinkirby1362]

Thank you! Such good points. This channel is really great. I hope you keep it up for a long time!

[@stephentraversart]

Thank you Kristin. That’s encouraging to hear. If you think it would be helpful for them, please do me a favour and tell your friends about my channel. The better it does, the more I can put into it. 😀

[@sarahantin2106]

I found you just in time!

[@stephentraversart]

Phew! Well done Sarah. Welcome aboard 😀

[@meetkaur1000]

Great explanation. As a beginner tried to understand what you said. I have to see this video 2....3 times again to understand it deeply and feed this in my mind😊 .Thank u so much.

[@stephentraversart]

I’m glad it’s falling into place for you Kaur. Keep at it. 😀

[@possumpowered]

So helpful, thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks Charlotte. Great to hear. 😀

[@sridurga6720]

Thank you sir. Since I was a kid , I just copied multiple drawings and don't understand why I can't see improvement in me until I came to know how to learn, observe and do smart work than more heard work. Anyway this videos are more helpful for me, sir 🙏

[@stephentraversart]

You are most welcome. All the with your drawing 😀

[@sd8544]

Very helpful @StephenTraversArt ! Anything you would adjust for sketching ?

[@lisbethmacdonald6452]

You are so inspiring! Your lessons will definitely help my drawing skills, especially trees! Thank you

[@stephentraversart]

That’s very kind Lisbeth. I’m glad to hear the videos are a help. I have a drawing Trees playlist if you’re interested. 😀

[@Ant12335]

You drawing always remind me of Calvin and Holmes ❤

[@stephentraversart]

Hobbes?😉

[@jonataleite]

Muito bom! muito obrigado! parabéns pelos vídeos! falo do Brasil.

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Jonatá. Thanks 😀

[@RoadToFuture007]

18:00 I would also omit the dark, low ceiling bow in the foreground, it cuts off the upward movement of the rest of the cathedral.

[@stephentraversart]

For me, that was the interesting bit. It kept our attention horizontal. I’d have used a portrait orientation and different reference if I was going for a soaring view. But composition is a very personal thing. 😀

[@ThuyLe-zb3hw]

Thank you

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Thuy. 😀

[@ralucacristina7394]

I double what was said, a gem of an artist and teacher, sir you are share as we speak, same with every video that you have done si far..thank you,

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. So kind of you. 😀

[@7bessaa]

Amazing

[@pritiraj2002]

Thankyou ❤

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure 😀

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Yeah, I've got a pretty good add-in... REVISIT your old work... AND I MEAN that you should get out the old one, find the reference if at all possible, and DO IT AGAIN... Surely, most of us (if not ALL of us) as artists, save at least some of our work, for better or worse. We keep it in the sketchbooks that stack up, folders and three-ring binders, or (as I do, most often) laying it into large "tupperware" casseroles... At least, that's what happens to the vast majority that I don't sell or use in gifts... This does TWO specific things. First, we find the progress from that last attempt at the given subject... Be it a month ago, a year ago, or a decade ago, if we've been remotely diligent in our efforts to practice, then we've improved. BUT in the day to day work, we just don't really SEE the progress. We might notice from time to time how we've shaved a few minutes off drawing... say... a tree. By and large, however, the slow plodding progress of more confident strokes, a better consistency in direction and precision in our hatching or cross-hatching, the steady improvements in our attention to the details of whatever we're looking at. We notice "ah ha moments" like the dubious "dawning realization" that the majority of leaves on a tree are dedicated to outer branches, largely because they're little solar cells and it makes very little sense to produce hoards and hoards of them next to the trunk where all the shade already depletes the return... Sure. We improved greatly when we stopped trying to "stuff" the tree instead of shading and allowing ourselves in the moment to visualize it more with the anatomy of an umbrella with branch reinforcements and less like a "total clusterf*ck of leafy greenery"... SO going back in our memoirs or tupperwares or notebooks, and finding that tree in the park we did so long ago... and going back to the park, repeating the work entirely... and then comparing the two... We can SEE the tangible revelation... "Hey, I might actually BE getting better at this whole drawing business!" Second... Like anything else done in repetitions, we just give ourselves the slack to come back "fresh" and build on our experience EXACTLY doing that same exercise again. It might seem like just going through motions, but it's more than that. If you've already drawn a thing, and then critiqued your work... You've got an idea of what worked and what was kinda weak, and where you just didn't like the result... SO taking the opportunity to try again, you give yourself a chance at building upon it and SEEING the tangible results... This is also why I suggest (strongly) that you find that old drawing first. Take a solid look at it... even critique it again, at least beyond the "I can't believe I drew this piece of crap! What the f***?!" Obviously, some of us improve faster or slower than others. AND similarly obviously, you wouldn't necessarily go back to your grade school art folder to find something to draw again if you're in your 40's or 50's... SURELY, an aspiring artist has some built up portfolio to pick through... BUT coming back to stuff that's around a year or even a decade old, is worth the while... even if ONLY to see how much more efficiently you can get that subject down, and maybe experiment a bit on exactly how you answer the "stylistic" questions of doing it. A LOT of art in practice is just "farting around" to see what works. Almost nobody can really pour all the creativity into your head that you can get by picking up tools and putting image to paper or canvas... or leather... or stone... metal... etc... At the same time, mindless experimenting without direction or structure is similarly more chaos and disorganized wasting time than actually building on anything. It CAN contribute to the journey, but as stated in the video, to get better at anything you have to DO what you want to get better at. Going back to earlier work helps reinforce the lessons from earlier, usually builds upon those foundations, AND lets us see where we've actually accomplished real and tangible growth since the last time we did it. ANYWAYS... hope this helps, or at least inspires someone to take another crack. You might be surprised what you learn about yourself, and your journey. I've never regretted doing an old piece "from scratch" again. While I'm 90% my own worst nightmare as a self critic, it consistently teaches me to relax, breathe, and keep on keeping on. I can't (and generally won't) JUST suck forever. ;o)

[@stephentraversart]

Can be an encouraging thing to do. Thanks for sharing it 😀

[@stephentraversart]

Wolfgang, your synopsis was pretty spot on, but I removed it so that it wouldn’t be a substitute for anyone actually watching the video. Hope you understand 😀

[@arkanoid77]

Feeew this was amost a mystical listening :D Yours seems like a really awesome journey across visual arts. Also the fading details scene at 7:02 is scary af! :_)

[@stephentraversart]

Thanks. It has been an amazing decade in lots of ways. Actually, that drawing is easier than you think. It’s the subject of a whole video, and also I’ve just posted a number of videos in the last few weeks on drawing the effect of detail if you’re interested in my technique with this. 😀

[@arkanoid77]

@@stephentraversart I've seen some of them, not the main one you mention though. It's still scary somehow :o Being aware of something isn't the same of knowing how to do that. But I'm sure I'll get there!

[@stephentraversart]

@@arkanoid77 No, but it's a great start. And we need to normalise drawings that don't work out as part of the learning process.

[@arkanoid77]

@@stephentraversart Yes, totally.

[@AniketKumar-pd4gy]

I am a beginner at sketching. I always loved nature and wants to draw landscapes and cityscapes. Can I start practicing with pencil and then shift to pen once I feel confident in my stokes?

[@stephentraversart]

Pencil and pen are both great art materials to use. Use the one you want to draw with. But if you really want to draw with pen, then I suggest you start with pen. Pencil is such a different experience that there is not as much benefit as you might think when you switch to pen. If you are scared of making mistakes with pen, it's probably best to address this from the start. I have a few videos on dealing with mistakes you might find helpful. The early mistakes you make drawing with pen will help you focus and deliver great improvement as you keep on. All the best.

[@Ethan-kr3yv]

Thank you!

[@stephentraversart]

Time to put it into action! All the best with your drawing improvement. 😀

[@Ethan-kr3yv]

​@@stephentraversart Thanks! I really appreciate it! I admire your art. Hopefully the tips you show will make my art good like yours.

[@stephentraversart]

I hope so too Ethan. Have fun. 😀

[@ajeshajesh9453]

Thank u sir

[@stephentraversart]

My pleasure Ajesh. 😀

[@mooms04]

how about if you have a love of many things? and I've narrowed my media to watercolor, pencil, color pencil and microns

[@stephentraversart]

Do you mean in the one artwork? There are no rules, in the end make choices that will take you where you want to end up. But generally, we will improve faster if we have less new elements to handle at once. But particularly if you use them all together at once, go for it! And all the best. 😀

[@ralucacristina7394]

i would live to show you my drawings and to learn from your comments, sorry for my poor english.

[@mattsuran1270]

You're like the Bob Ross of pen and ink, but Australian. 😊

[@stephentraversart]

I’m honoured Matt. Thanks for such a kind comment 😀

[@DYINGKESTREL]

I know I shouldn't copy other people works, but I don't know how to do a relatively proper drawning without doing it. When I try to apply my knowledge on a drawning on my own (always from references) it ends in a very poor quality drawning... in the end I always end up copying and trying to learn as much as possible from that, I try to grasp everything I can from value and perspective to line variation and anatomy. I have a lot of notes and everything but, I really dislike my drawings... I always need to copy someone to enjoy the drawning process. Anyway, thank you very much for the tips sir! Your skills are insane I am a fan.

[@stephentraversart]

It’s not up to me to tell you what you shouldn’t do, but if you want to be able to draw your own drawings, copying the drawings of others won’t develop the skills you need. For the reasons I explain in the video, it is easier to copy a drawing than create one. But it won’t take you where you want to go. Can I encourage you to draw some easier subjects. Look at my video on how to improve in drawing. It may give you some helpful direction. All the best. 😀

[@DYINGKESTREL]

@@stephentraversart I see, thank you, i'll keep trying

[@PaulS2211]

Great videos! Just curious, whereabouts is this tree located? Is it in London?

[@stephentraversart]

No, it’s in Vienna. 😀

[@littlemoonillustrations4372]

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤

[@stephentraversart]

😀😀😀😀

[@anahata2009]

This is very helpful, but I couldn't disagree more with your suggestion that we shouldn't try to copy other artists. In the beginning stages of learning, this can be a very useful exercise, as we observe the various ways that different artists tackle the matter of visual representation. We can learn a lot from it. The problem is when we don't move on from copying and take what we've learned from it into the development of our own techniques and style. During my art school days, I was lucky to have an amazing teacher for my first painting class. At the end of the semester, we were told to copy a masterwork of our choice (I copied a figurative work by Lucien Freud). I only wish we had done that exercise at the beginning of the course, too, because I learned more about technique and color from that copy than in much of what I did all semester, relying on my own derth of knowledge, and my own habitual mark making/brushwork. To replicate his work, I had to step out of my own typical modes of working and really stretch my abilities. For this reason, I think copying artists of varying styles is a good way to introduce ourselves to techniques we might not stumble upon naturally. Just my two cents. I really did appreciate this, and your other videos.

[@stephentraversart]

I think as part of a course, particularly if it is not early in the course, it can be a helpful part of the learning process, for all the benefits you state. The problem is copying other drawings is often done by people wanting to learn drawing but as a self directed event with a focus on having an artwork at the end of each session. But copying doesn’t teach us the creative thought processes needed to translate our reference into marks. It teaches us to copy. I suspect you were able to make the exercise a learning process because of what you had already learnt of the creative thinking processes earlier in you course.

[@jivantupkar8897]

Sir i want to tok to you regarding me please tell me how I can contact you please sir reply me

[@stephentraversart]

Send me a DM on Instagram. @stephentraversart