Drawing is a fantastic form of expression whether you want to visualize your emotions, how you’re feeling, want to illustrate an important moment in your life, or if you just want to make something that looks cool. Whatever you want to draw, anyone can learn how to start drawing with no art experience or artistic background- zero. We all start from no experience, including myself. Think of it as starting off at Level 1 – you learn more skills and techniques the more you practice and you don’t need to spend money on art classes right away or even spend any money at all!

This article will guide you with art inspiration, easy drawing exercises, drawing idea starters, and even cheap drawing supplies to properly equip you with everything you need to learn how to start drawing with no art experience, now.

CONTENTS

1. Have a Drawing Mindset
2. Art Inspiration
   • Mood Boards and Art Reference
   • How to Make a Mood Board for Art
3. Start Drawing
4. Cheap Drawing Supplies
5. Easy Drawing Exercises
   • Drawing Exercises for Line Control and Precision
   • Gestural Drawing Exercises
6. Drawing Idea Starters

How to Start Drawing with No Experience

1. Have a (Flexible) Drawing Mindset

You probably want to get started drawing right away. I know the feeling and I totally get it – it’s super exciting, fun, and you get to draw cool pictures, even your own ideas! Not to mention shopping for all the cool or cheap drawing supplies or maybe you want to get started with a few drawing idea starters. But, I’ll get to that later.

Right now, I first want to talk about having a flexible drawing mindset.

Why?

Because this type of thinking grounds your mind and your expectations before you even get started on making art and is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to start drawing with no art experience.

Why is having a flexible drawing mindset so important?

• Having a flexible drawing mindset is my #1 must-do tip before I get started on any art project because it sets expectations for what I want to achieve vs. my current skill set.
• It grounds artistic expectations to reality so that you’re not (a) starting off with something complicated which in turn (b) prevents creative burnout that can possibly lead to you giving up on your art or getting in your head that “you’ll never be good enough”.
  • I know this sounds a bit extreme but is entirely possible as many artists including myself have felt this way due to multiple external factors.
• It’s a fantastic way to set low expectations from the beginning so that you won’t be disappointed with what your completed drawing or artwork may look like.
  • Having low expectations when drawing actually sets you up for success, not failure because it puts you in a growth mindset instead of a fixed mindset
• It allows for a growth mindset meaning that you understand you can get better at art the more time and practice you put into it. And I have a feeling you will!

A flexible drawing mindset is a must for anyone who wants to know how to start drawing with no art experience. Now the big question is, what does this attitude on art ‘look like’?

What is a Flexible Drawing Mindset?

• Having low expectations for the outcome of your artwork
  • It’s 100% fine if your drawing isn’t perfect, the main goal starting out, is to have fun
• Knowing that you can always improve your current skills to get to get to where you want in art
  • You don’t need to stick with the same or current skill set forever – get an upgrade with a class or new art program once you feel confident in your other artistic skills
• Know that drawing with no art experience is the best place to start and learn how to do it
  • Everyone starts with no experience, even the most popular artists
  • There’s nothing to be ashamed about
• Try to not compare your art to other artists (especially more accomplished ones) as it boxes you into not improving your work as well as spawning negative, progress-halting thoughts
• *Be Confident in Yourself and your Artistic Abilities a Majority of the Time
  • This is especially important because it serves as a basis for long-term motivation, inspiration, and persistence to make awesome things happen with your artistic skills
  • It will keep you progressing in your creative efforts even when you may feel you’re lost in the process or have hit what seems to be an impassable wall
    • These walls and blocks can always be overcome with enough practice and time
• Understand that good things always take time including drawing
  • Being good at drawing is never an overnight thing, it takes months if not years to start seeing any major improvements
  • For now, enjoy the process and don’t worry about your art being ‘perfect’
• *Failing Is Progress
  • It’s okay if you feel you’ve failed at first but failing is always progress because you’re learning what to do right and what things you should avoid next time
• When an artist makes drawing look easy and quick = it means the artist has spent years mastering it
  • Don’t feel bad if another artist made a work that took them 3 hours when it may take you closer to 10 or more
  • Learning drawing techniques and how to get from Point A to Point B is a slow process at first but will get faster the more you practice it
• Be easy on yourself and understanding of your current skills
  • Be Semi-strict with yourself but also comfortable in your learning

To make the drawing process easier for you, check out these 10 Brutal Truths Before You Start Drawing to help you set realistic expectations of your art and skills and always succeed!

Let’s get into art inspiration.

2. Art Inspiration

Gathering a bit of art inspiration when you don’t know how to start drawing with no art experience is an another important part of the learning process and will help speed you up in your art creation.

It’s incredibly easy to get overwhelmed on what to draw , especially when you’re starting.

To fix this, you can make a short list of things that you like or want to draw. Stick with some very simple objects. I wouldn’t recommend starting off with a full face, person, or animal because there’re so many different shapes and planes involved that it can be very overwhelming at first. If you still want to draw a face, pick an aspect of the face you want to draw, like the lips, eyes, or nose.

If you have trouble coming up with things to draw, here’s a quick list of easy art inspiration and drawing idea starters to get your creativity running.

Mood Boards & Art Reference

Whether you’re a visual learner like me or a wizard at listening to understand concepts, a mood board is an invaluable resource to anyone working on a creative work or project.

A mood board is a visual representation of multiple ideas, objects, and / or people that collectively represent your idea, concepts, or what you want to draw, in an organized manner using reference photos.

Reference photos are pictures that are used as visual representations for creating art, that provide a base point or foundation of (sometimes an accurate) what the subject looks like. They’re used as guides to make drawing things, easier.

Easy drawing exercises like creating a mood board is a great way to kick start your creativity because it helps you visualize your drawing target and gather all your ideas onto one page. It organizes everything and takes out the guessing of what an object is ‘supposed to look like’ (what you think it looks like) vs. what it actually looks like in reality.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve drawn something thinking I know what it looks like only to pull up a reference photo that looks entirely different. Think a chair or a light bulb. Yup, it happens to me too.

Here’s a sample below of one of the mood boards / reference sheets I made when practicing how to draw buildings. I placed notes on the side to help focus on what I want to draw without getting carried away.

How to Make Your Own Mood Board with Art Reference Photos

1. Gather art reference photos of simple things you’d like to draw
   • They can be photos taken with your (digital preferred) camera or found online by searching the internet
   • Stick to 2-4 reference pics per subject so you don’t get too overwhelmed- keep it simple
2. Organize your photos either on a desk or if digitally, in a digital art program
   • Free Digital Art Programs : Microsoft Paint, Gimp
     • Here are “10 Best Free Drawing Softwares for Digital Artists” to try by Software Testing Help if you want to go digital
   • Right click on image, choose ‘Copy Image’, and paste it into your art program
3. If you have different subjects, arrange your photos by subject so they’re easier to find
4. Once all the photos are arranged how you want, feel free to print them if you want to have something on hand as reference
   

Now on to art supplies!

3. Cheap Drawing Supplies Vs. The Expensive Stuff

Before we start drawing, let’s talk about drawing supplies,

I know it can be tempting to go for the best papers, paints, markers, newest tablet, and any other fancy art supplies right away. But it’s important to get yourself familiar with the process of drawing first, to see if it’s something you even enjoy or want to continue with.

For some of you, drawing might not be fun. In which case, it’s great you saved your money.

But for the rest of us:

Art supplies can get expensive quickly, even if they’re ‘not the best’.

I remember spending over $100 easy just on markers alone pre-pandemic, so it’s important to keep a budget in mind from the beginning of your art adventures since it will help you be more mindful of, and help you plan for these costs in the future.

And no, you definitely don’t need the ‘best’ art supplies to make amazing art. Creating great art is 90% dependent on your skills, not what you use.

When drawing and sketching, I use a medium ball point pen that I get at a department store with copy / printer paper.

Nothing fancy. At. All.

*What’s more important to keep in mind is what materials you enjoy using and what you feel works best for you in your art process, especially if it makes it easier and more efficient for you. It doesn’t matter if you have a $1200 drawing tablet with a screen or a $70 USB tablet you bought off eBay (<- that’s me). If you don’t like what you’re using, it will interfere with your art and process.

• Prices have gone up for supplies in the U.S.
• If you’re spending over $25, you’re already going over budget
• You can draw for free by using the materials you already have in your living and/or office space

Here’s a quick list and tips of cheap drawing supplies for those of you with no art experience how to start drawing.

*I want to keep the materials specific to cheap drawing supplies at first so you’re not wasting time or money on an investment you may not be sure about yet. Keep it simple at first.

Drawing Materials

• A Drawing Tool
  • Anything you have lying around works great (doesn’t matter if it has an eraser or not)
    • Markers
    • Pencil – Preferred
    • Pen
    • Tablet Pen (for digital)
• Drawing Surface
  • Traditional
    • Any type of paper that doesn’t have a glossy finish
    • Copy / printer paper works well
    • You can even use things like index cards or post-it note pads
  • Digital Tablet or Phone
    • Tablet Devices
    • Plug & Play Digital Drawing Tablets with USB cords (no need for the fancy screens right now)

Once you have all your art materials and a few reference photos ready (if you like) it’s time to finally get started with a bit of drawing!

4. Let’s Start Drawing!

It’s important to get your feet wet with a bit of drawing to get your mind into a creative mindset and exercise those drawing muscles.

1. Set a timer for how long you want to spend on your drawing session
   • It’s very easy to get carried away while having other responsibilities
   • Try keeping your first few drawing sessions to 15min -1 Hr to start
   • Be confident and it’s okay if you make mistakes
2. Make a Simple Goal for what you want to accomplish this session
   • It keeps you on track and focused on what you want to create and how you can improve
   • It doesn’t overwhelm you in all the things you feel you need to accomplish right now
   • Here are some simple goals to start and get some drawing ideas going
     • Want to just draw whatever you feel like? Ok!
     • Or have something particular you want to draw? Write it down and start drawing.
     • Do you want your drawing to look right?
     • Do you want to draw for fun or maybe a bit of relaxation, like for art therapy?
3. Start Drawing Very Simple Shapes
   • (Using your photo references) Whatever you’re drawing, look at the big picture
     • This means to look at the overall big shape you see when drawing an object, minus the details inside of it – trains you to recognize basic shapes and sketch more complicated drawings faster
     • For example, if drawing a nose, the entire larger shape of the nose is a triangle, where as the nostrils and tip are the details inside of it – smaller triangles
   • Try your best to not focus on super fine details at the beginning, it will slow you down and can shift your focus to something less important than the ‘bigger picture’
   • *Everything is made out of the core shapes : cube, cone, cylinder, sphere
   • Try drawing simple shapes like a triangle, square, circle, or rectangle to start, then try adding details to the overall shape
4. Get Used to Your Drawing Tool
   • While drawing, notice the types of marks you make and the differences you notice when you apply more or less pressure
   • *In general : more pressure = darker thicker lines, less pressure = lighter and thinner lines
   • Your drawing tool is what you use to transfer your creativity onto paper
     • Think of it as en extension of your arm that you need to train and understand how it works
5. Give Yourself a Pat on the Back When You’re Done!
   • Drawing can seem daunting when learning how to draw with no art experience
   • Becoming better at drawing takes a lot of time and is a slow process at first but you’ll get better the more time and effort you put in
   • Making those first few steps to physically draw is a huge accomplishment and now you have something to show for it!

Now that you have a good idea of how to start drawing even when you have no art experience, you can try some easy drawing exercises below to get you started, or continue with your art adventures.

5. Fast & Easy Drawing Exercises

To speed up your art, easy drawing exercises are a perfect place to start any daily art routine.

Drawing exercises are simple techniques that improve your art skills fast and anyone can do them, such as drawing straight lines or circles.

• Some of these easy drawing exercises use repetition which not only improve your hand eye coordination but improve your muscle memory, helping you to create cleaner and more precise-looking art.
• The repetition may seem a bit boring at first but it will improve your drawing skills fast.
• Doing easy drawing exercises before starting on your main art project, can be used as ‘drawing warm ups’ to help loosen up your muscles and get you to sketch with more gesture and fluidity, making your art look more natural and dynamic instead of stiff and straight.

Here are some quick sketching exercises when learning how to start drawing with no art experience.

They’re so easy!

Easy Drawing Exercises for Line Control & Precision

Have you ever felt that when you draw, you just feel out of control when holding your pencil and can’t seem to make your picture look ‘right’?

These art warm ups focus on hand-eye coordination.

They train your arm and hand muscles to move in specific directions and really help you gain control and precision of what you’re making.

• Connect the Dots
  • Draw 2 dots anywhere on the page and then draw a straight line from one dot to another
  • Do your best to touch both dots (it’s okay if you miss at first, keep trying!)
• Draw Circles
  • Loosely draw circles on your drawing surface for 3-5 minutes
  • You can fill up your page if you like
  • This helps loosen up your arm muscles and trains you to draw curved lines
• Draw Over a Line 3-5 Times
  • Try your best to draw a straight line
  • This time, draw over the line 2-3 times at first, making a darker, thicker line
  • This helps your control and precision by drawing over something more than once, helping you to replicate your sketching skills

These drawing idea starters may be a bit difficult at first because they rely a lot on controlling the movements of your hand, which can actually feel like you’re out of control, especially when learning how to start drawing with no art experience. That’s normal.

Nailing down precision doesn’t happen over night. It might take you some time to get the hang of it. But if you find these drawing exercises too constrictive, below are some techniques that rely on movement and gesture. Basically, easy drawing exercises that are fluid and open-ended.

Gestural Drawing Exercises

These types of drawing warm ups focus on movement and the feeling of drawing, not so much the end result. You could even argue these could be a type of abstract art.

• Continuous Line Drawing
  • Using 1 line, draw anywhere on the page without lifting up your drawing tool for 3-5 min.
  • Focus on moving your hand across the page rather than the end result
  • You can make any type of gesture or marking, whether it’s swirls, scribbles, or doodles, just don’t lift up your pencil / (tablet) pen
• Automatic Drawing
  • Like the previous exercise, just draw, move your hand, and make markings on the page
  • Only difference is that you can lift up your drawing tool from the page
  • Start with 3-5 minutes
  • Try making crosshatch marks (multiple short lines next to each other that indicate shading), dots, circles, and anything else you can think of
  • *Don’t think about what you’re drawing, just keep your hand moving – it teaches you muscle memory, gesture, and a wide range of movement while building up your line confidence
• Gesture Drawing Figures
  • Try setting a timer for 30s to 1 minute
  • Instead of drawing the full figure, focus on the figure’s movement by drawing only lines or curved lines that represent the person, trying to not get into any detail at all
  • This helps you focus on making dynamic lines and focusing solely on movement, helping to bring your drawings to life
  • Check out Line of Action for free timed figure drawing sessions you can set yourself, with photographs of figure models

Let’s move on to some easy drawing ideas.

For more gestural drawing ideas, check out these 5 Relaxing & Gestural Drawing Ideas of People or 10 Expressive Art Therapy Activities you can try now, no art experience needed!

6. Drawing Idea Starters

If you’re still stuck on what to draw or need some quick inspiration to jump start your creativity, here are some great drawing idea starters.

Quick Drawing Ideas for Starters

• 10+ Art Inspiration Ideas for Beginners to Jump Start Your Creativity
• Draw Simple Household Objects, like a cup, pencil, or notebook
• Easy & Relaxing Drawing Ideas of People for Beginners
• Learn How to Draw Hair Buns
• Make Your Own Fan Art
• Stick Figure Poses for Figure Drawing
• Draw a Sun using Simple Shapes
• How to Make a Stress Drawing & 7 Ways Drawing Lowers Stress
• Cute Heart Drawing Ideas
• How to Draw an Egg Shape (Titled “How to Draw a Yoshi Egg”)
• Make an Art Therapy Drawing

For an even better drawing experience when you’re first starting out and to improve your drawing fast, you can grab my printable Free Drawing with Art Therapy Printable Activity Sheets with easy drawing exercises that are mentioned in this post to start creating right away!

Easy Drawing Tutorials, Tips, & Cheats When Learning How to Draw with No Experience

• How to Get Back into Drawing After a Long Break & Keep It Up | Post
• 10 Brutal Truths to Always Be Successful at Art, Before You Start Drawing | Post
• 6 Best Figure Drawing Poses for Art Reference for Stunning Character Designs | Post
• How to Start Drawing a Tree Branch Freehand with Essential Techniques | Post
• Prevent Creative Burnout When You’re Serious About Making Art | Post
• How to Draw Awesome Hair Buns for Male & Female Characters | Post
• How to Stay Motivated Long-Term and Beat CreativeArt Anxiety | Post
• The Big Differences Between Traditional Art Expression Vs. Expressive Art Therapy Activities | Post
• 15 Simple Drawing Activities to Help You Feel Calm Now | Post
• 10 Soothing and Gestural Art Therapy Prompts | Post

Now you know how to start drawing with no art experience, like a pro. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!