Drawing mistakes: What you should avoid as a beginner – with these tips you will succeed!
- Amanda Piniecka
- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Have you decided to start drawing? Great! But especially as a beginner, you can fall into common pitfalls that slow your progress. In this post, I'll show you the most common drawing mistakes and give you practical tips on how to easily avoid them. This way, you'll make rapid progress and have more fun being creative.
❌ 1. Drawing mistake: Applying too much pressure to the pen:
Why is this a problem?
Applying too much pressure can damage the paper and make it difficult to erase mistakes.
This creates unsightly depressions that can be disruptive when shading.
Tip:
Hold the pen loosely and work with light strokes .
Use soft pencils (e.g. HB or 2B ) for sketches and later go over the final lines with darker pencils (e.g. 6B ).
❌ 2. Ignoring proportions:
Why is this a problem?
Unbalanced proportions make figures and objects appear unnatural .
This can quickly become apparent, especially when drawing faces or human bodies .
Tip:
Use guidelines and basic shapes to set the correct proportions.
Use the rule of thirds for faces or stick figure sketches before adding details.
❌ 3. Starting with details too early:
Why is this a problem?
If you start directly with details , you run the risk of the overall picture appearing unbalanced .
Often the details no longer fit with the rest of the motif .
Tip:
Always start with a rough sketch and work your way forward step by step .
Move from large-scale forms to the finer details .
❌ 4. Being afraid of making mistakes:
Why is this a problem?
Many beginners constantly erase or are afraid to try new techniques .
As a result, the learning process often falls by the wayside.
Tip:
Try drawing without an eraser – it will help you become more confident .
Try different techniques , even if you don't get it perfect. You learn the most from mistakes!
❌ 5. Being impatient:
Why is this a problem?
Drawing requires practice and patience .
Those who expect results too quickly often give up in frustration .
Tip:
Set small goals : Draw a small motif every day or try out a new technique .
Look at your old drawings and see how much you have already learned !
❌ 6. Don't take breaks:
Why is this a problem? When you spend hours drawing, you quickly lose your eye for detail. You tend to overlook mistakes and stifle your creativity.
Tip: Take short breaks regularly. Stand up, move around, or look at your drawing from a distance. Fresh eyes see more!
❌ 7. Fear of the eraser:
Why is this a problem? Many beginners are afraid to correct mistakes. Even though corrections are part of drawing! This fear inhibits your development and prevents bold experiments.
Tip: Use the eraser actively! Experiment, change lines, and don't be afraid to start over. Every correction takes you one step further.
Mistakes are a natural part of drawing – especially as a beginner. But if you know the common pitfalls, you can consciously avoid them and improve faster. So: pick up a pencil, experiment, and above all, have fun! Every stroke brings you closer to your artistic goal.
💡 Which of these mistakes have you made yourself? Do you have any other tips that might help other beginners? Feel free to share them in the comments!
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