5 simple drawing techniques for beginners – How to get started creatively

Want to start drawing but don't know where to begin? Don't worry! In this post, I'll show you five simple drawing techniques that will help you quickly achieve success. Whether you're a complete beginner or just want to brush up on your artistic skills, these techniques will help you unleash your creative potential.

Hand drawing hatchings on a white sheet of paper with a pencil.

🎨 1. Hatching: ( Drawing techniques for beginners)

What is hatching? When hatching, you draw parallel lines to create shadows and depth . The denser the lines, the darker the area appears.

Here's how:

Start with light lines .
Try different angles and distances .
You can also use crosshatching (lines in opposite directions).

Tip: Practice on simple shapes , such as a ball, to create realistic shadow effects.

Hand making small dots on a white sheet of paper with a pencil.

✍️ 2. Stippling:

What is stippling? Instead of lines, you use small dots to create textures and shading .

Here's how:

Use a fineliner or pencil .
Place many small dots close together to create darker areas.
Fewer points result in brighter areas .

Tip: This technique is particularly suitable for realistic drawings or detailed work .

Hand tracing the contours of a drawn object on a white sheet of paper with a fineliner

✏️ 3. Contouring (Outlining):

What is contouring? This involves first drawing the outline of an object before adding details.

Here's how:

Start with light pencil lines .
Then go over the final lines with a fineliner or a darker pencil .
Make sure the lines are clean .

Tip: Ideal for cartoon or kawaii styles that require clear contours.

Hand gently smudging pencil lines on paper with a cotton swab.

🖍️ 4. Blending:

What is smudging? Use this technique to create smooth transitions and soft shadows .

Here's how:

Use pencils of different hardnesses (e.g. HB, 2B, 6B).
First roughly draw the shadow areas .
Smudge the lines with a cotton swab , cloth or your finger .

Tip: Perfect for realistic portraits or landscapes where you need smooth transitions.

Basic shapes such as circles, squares and triangles

🖊️ 5. Drawing with simple shapes:

What is it? Many complex motifs can be reduced to simple basic shapes (circles, squares, triangles).

Here's how:

Start by dividing your motif into simple shapes .
Connect and refine these shapes step by step.
Finally, add details and shading .

Tip: Especially helpful if you want to draw animals , human figures or objects .

🚀 Learning to draw doesn't have to be difficult! With these five drawing techniques for beginners, you'll lay the foundation for your artistic development. The most important thing is: practice, practice, practice! Grab a pen and paper, try out these beginner techniques , and, above all, have fun being creative.

Good luck!

💡 Which technique would you like to try first? Share it in the comments. And for more drawing tips, follow me here on the blog or on my social media channels (@amy_pini) .