The Most Difficult Subjects to Draw - And How to Draw Them

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Certain subjects present unique challenges for drawing, making them some of the most difficult subjects to draw. In this video, we explore each of these subjects and share how to draw these subjects with accuracy. Drawing subjects include figure drawing, portraiture, ellipses, vehicles, and animals.
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[@almas.2530]

Excellent video! When relatives or friends ask me to make a portrait of them or their pets, I feel a bit stressed. However, I enjoy drawing famous people and all kinds of animals, from internet photos, because they can’t complain if the likeness is not very accurate 😅!

[@stella.r2708]

I use the grid method most often in my work. I have been expanding now into the Loomis method to practice faces (for now). But right this minute, I'm going through the coloured pencil course on VI for a second time. I found a couple of images I want to combine to make one picture, and I think it would look amazing in coloured pencil if I can pull off the effect I'm after.

[@celticpeasant9753]

Thanks so much Matt. Your membership program at The Virtual Instructor is absolutely awesome Matt as are the live lessons. It is one that I will never give up. You are so very generous -

[@brianupholz6361]

I'm super excited to have joined the virtual instructor membership program. I'm currently working in color pencil course. So much to learn and apply but the PDF documents, video instruction and everything else in between are wonderful.

[@thevirtualinstructor]

Thank you!

[@sabbiemv]

Great video! Thanks so much for this Matt. I had to laugh as I’ve been drawing for a couple of years now and seen myself improve significantly- BUT I do avoid all the subjects you’ve mentioned because I feel I’m not ready to tackle them yet. This has given me the kick up the behind to do so … after all if you don’t give it a try you’ll never succeed. Thanks very much for this and all other videos. They’re always excellent and encouraging.

[@lizcoyle8788]

Thanks, Matt. I find hands to be very hard as well.

[@Lynn_Nice]

I love seeing things in this video that I've watched live and your course material.

[@marit4660]

Wow! I had no idea you could use 1 or 2 pt perspective to draw ellipses. Thank you for these tips!

[@purplebutterfly412]

Another excellent video. Thank you kindly. 😊

[@julieconnor1837]

Thanks Matt, that was so helpful. You are brilliant to watch and learn from. 😊❤

[@JoeB_BSc]

Hi, thanks for the useful tips. I found eg with cups, that the front arc of an elipse curves, in my opinion, more fully than the back arc. Before realising this, and drawing what was there, I found elipses very difficult. Your art is beautiful.

[@danaashmore2786]

Your pink shirt looks great against the blue background, a very artistic choice 😊. I would like to learn how to render water and different textures in trees and rocks and wood, etc.

[@G.G.-nt2mi]

I sort of agree with you although I find the redish pink lit objects behind him to be very distracting and proportionally unbalanced. It would have been more comfortable to the eyes to just have the blue background behind him

[@danaashmore2786]

And I agree with you! I too felt that the reddish stuff behind him detracts from the overall composition

[@kerrylaw100]

Excellent video most helpful of all I’ve seen especially the portrait drawing 😊

[@patriciabrowning5741]

Thanks for the great information

[@susansumnerroberts9617]

Thank you. A great , informative video, as always. My most difficult subject, or rather the part I have most difficulty with is the human mouth. I always seem to erase two or three times at least and start again.

[@Jupiter86947]

Very very informative! Thanks m regards.

[@CMvE]

Very interesting, thx for the video 🙂

[@ourartandcraft1M]

Amazing tricks and tips, we always keep them in our mind🎉❤❤

[@marion7661]

Good as always, I have to go and practise again

[@smithjohn383]

Musical instruments are tough. Lots of details, many of them finger-sized. Especially guitars are hard because placing the frets correctly is a nightmare and strings having different thicknesses. And obviously if you have to draw somebody playing it. Without a reference you have to know about music theory. But, damn, a well drawn bass guitar is a thing of beauty. ( Not Rickenbackers, obviously )

[@user-tg8wh7uz3j]

Really helpful, these various techniques, some familiar, some less so. Especially challenging to draw, from this end: the lower lip, mouth, muzzle of horses from various perspectives other than side view. Also challenging from this end: depicting tonal values of a horse reference image with believable accuracy whether in graphite or watercolor. Hope that I'm using correct terminology regarding "tonal values" (meaning light, medium, dark, highlight, and ranges in between etc.). Thank you.

[@Cariena66]

You got me, Matt, anything wich is figure related or any veĥicle I find very difficult to draw. Great, you offer so many great lessons for practice and improvement. Have a wonderful day, Buddy

[@sylhayes8152]

Very well explained

[@sonijam]

Good advice.

[@robertclarkson6064]

Thanks you 👍👍👍

[@gloriamargolis581]

I’m a very detailed painter and sketcher especially when I do animals or insects and cartoons also my portraits/hair etc… but I don’t understand why some instructors say this is hard or this is difficult! I don’t look at things like that it might be challenging but that doesn’t mean you can do it☺️😁🙏

[@leonoradupreez9550]

Hi lovely video, I saw you using a flexible tool on the triangle method. What is it and where can we order it from. I'm in Malawi 🇲🇼 Africa

[@theresemasellis6207]

Can you share the details about your drawing tools used here? I can’t wait to get started on practicing your various tips. I’ve always been intimidated by faces and figures. Thank you.

[@keithscholes6158]

Good video Matt, I've not come across using perspective lines to draw ellipses before, can you elaborate on when you would use 1 point vs 2 point perspective to draw a particular ellipse, please?

[@thevirtualinstructor]

Hi Keith, You can use either. It would depend on the layout of your subject. If the ellipse is not in the center, two point perspective may be more accurate.

[@cowgirljane3316]

WHAT!? You are going to help me draw a straight line? COOL.

[@MICOCINAMEXICANA11]

I know how to draw copying simple Images that’s it but they don’t come up in the same size thought🤪 Your channel is very helpful, thank you! You’re a truly artist👏New subscriber👋

[@paulah317]

I failed geometry in 10th grade , never understood the angle thing. It permanently scarred me for life, lol. So I draw by sight now, sometimes use a grid, and definitely draw by analyzing shapes, and most of all....practice, practice, practice.

[@luisak68]

Omg you named every one I've tried & got frustrated with but you left one out & thats jewellery.

[@scottadams1061]

Drawing is invaluable and worth practicing BUT I have a Camera Lucida app on my I-phone. Build a simple height adjustable stand and you can accurately enlarge any image to whatever size you like. The limiting factor is that you must be able to look through the phone and reach the paper at the same time (basically arms length)

[@AT-ol2yj]

I’ve never had any problems with those, but I have had difficulties with campfires, rivers, a slice of bread and a crystal cup of water with shadows

[@heikesiegl2640]

Most difficult for me: folds, twists and textures. Not matter if its a leaf or cloth etc. I guess perspective in general xD

[@drexl45]

I find for myself mechs to be difficult to draw because of the amount of detail that goes into a mech, but how much versatility that you can have can also be a bit overwhelming to do IMO 😅

[@kennethhurst6715]

Hello how do i go taking virtual art lessons as im very interested on expanding my art skill even at sixty two years old.

[@neveh2784]

Drawing from a live model is much more difficult than from a photo reference. The same goes for any actual setting.

[@deborahyetter3570]

The thing I have the most trouble with is hair. I really need help with that.

[@brendarudman8806]

Eyes are easy Lips not

[@hetalkhatri8018]

Maps are difficult too I think

[@soniaalonzo5134]

CLOUDS ….the drawing struggle is real with clouds 😢

[@azalea1404]

I still find hands a challenge despite having drawn numerous of them.

[@sapnavora6834]

darn tootin

[@annepoirier6047]

Hi Matthew ! Thanks for this video. What I'm struggling the most with is drawing the outlines of my subject. I draw mostly realistic animals and my medium is pastel pencils. I am absolutely NOT a fan of using the grid. It kills me!😂 Do you have something better to propose? Thanks a lot. You are fantastic !

[@brendarudman8806]

Me too

[@carollizc]

My dad taught me to use the basic shapes method. It still serves me well, many decades later. I find myself looking for shapes as I ride the bus past some of our town's most notable houses or when passing people on the street. I'm not drawing, but I'm always noticing the shapes, how they connect and change from different angles, with movement, etc. I guess Dad taught me well.

[@ManWithoutThePants]

I don't use grid method either, since I think it slows down my ability to see proportions myself. One way to make drawing easier without grid is to draw some part of the drawing and use that as a basic unit to measure other things. Look at the negative shapes also. For example if you have a human figure with hand resting on the hip, there is a negative space between the arm and body, which can also act as a unit. You can also break down or outline the subject in simpler shapes first and then when you are happy with that start to refine it and you can use these two methods.

[@blueislandgirl_]

Trees! or anything with a lot of leaves. I get lost!!

[@yigitural2834]

imo it’s not about getting it exact it’s about getting the essence of it (identifying what makes it look the way it does in terms of light)

[@skyhavender]

Hardest stuff for me to draw. Nr1 heads, head from a different angle, expressions, gesture, legs and feet, perspective. Shading oddly enough. Nr2 backgrounds, hands, from memory, torsos Yeah hands are not in nr1 😂😂

[@ascricco987]

Hands down…it’s hands for me 🤦‍♀️

[@ourartandcraft1M]

Sorry English in not my language, but i can convey my msg clearly😂😂

[@user-kt5cp7lv5e]

Do you have anything YOU regard as easy? PS. You forgot hands. I use to go to an open model session where a man would only do the bodies. No hands, no heads, no feet. I felt he was a dirty old man, except he was really great at the bodies. I find drawing hard all thing equally so. My mind works in 3D. Cars are hard to draw? Try carving them, bas-relief. I do not do any grids. Never made sense to me even as a little kid. Just draw. I use very few pre-drawing lines. Once you learn the "lines" you don't need them. You say anyone can learn to be an artist. No you mean any one can learn to be a draftsmen. Artist is more, beyond. To say something. Not just an organic camera. Oh and art doesn't pay. Trust me. Do you have anything to say?

[@thevirtualinstructor]

Yes, in my next video I will share what I consider to be easy subjects to draw. I did not forget hands. I think hands can be easier to draw than you think. (kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5Czi2NvhtGmqdk) Yes, anyone can become an artist - everyone has something to say. Anyone can become a draftsman as well to better communicate what they want to say. Composition and communication through art can be learned as well. In fact, you can learn to be anything that you want to be. You can learn any skill with knowledge and practice.

[@user-kt5cp7lv5e]

​@@thevirtualinstructor I do not think hands are hard I have done them a lot in my career. You always have a hand with you. I am no longer subscribed.

[@thevirtualinstructor]

@@user-kt5cp7lv5e Perhaps you should re-read my response. Hands are not included in this list.

[@user-kt5cp7lv5e]

@@thevirtualinstructor Perhaps you should reread all my writings. I do not regard anything you said was hard as hard. I only started to watch theses videos to see if you had some techniques I didn't, you don't. Bye. And the first line of the top comment should say "Bless your heart." Bye

[@TeachKathy]

@@user-kt5cp7lv5ewow, you’re awfully rude…is it because you think you’re an expert who knows everything. If so, you’re definitely delusional

[@dietersdawgs]

Lol why not just take a photograph and give up drawing. All these techniques will do is give you a dead, lifeless drawing. By far the best thing to do is take a sketchbook and draw everything, and as much from real life as possible and avoid drawing from photographs as much as possible.