The 10-Minute Foundation

Drawing isn't just a skill—it's a form of active meditation that quiets the anxious chatter of the mind and anchors you firmly in the present moment. When your hand moves across the page and your eyes truly observe the world around you, the endless loop of worries, to-do lists, and rumination simply cannot compete for your attention. This 24-week illustrated course, designed for complete beginners with just 10 minutes of daily practice, offers a gentle yet structured pathway into this deeply calming practice. You'll build foundational skills progressively—from confident mark-making to understanding light and form—while simultaneously cultivating patience, self-compassion, and the capacity for focused attention that transfers to every area of life. Whether you're seeking a creative outlet, a screen-free ritual, or a therapeutic practice to complement your mental health toolkit, The 10-Minute Foundation meets you exactly where you are and proves that the ability to draw was never about talent; it was always about showing up, pencil in hand, and giving yourself permission to begin.

The 10-Minute Foundation

A Complete Beginner's Drawing Course — Build real skills in just 10 minutes a day with pencil and ink

24 Weeks • 10 Min/Day

How This Course Works

Daily practice builds skill faster than occasional marathons. This curriculum transforms complete beginners into competent draughtspeople through structured daily practice.

Drawing is not innate talent but a learnable set of perceptual and motor skills. Research confirms that 20-30 minutes of targeted training outperforms hours of unfocused work—making 10-minute focused sessions remarkably effective when structured correctly.

The critical insight: you must learn to see before you can draw. This course follows the proven sequence used by art schools worldwide—perception before technique, simple before complex, fundamentals before stylisation.

The 50% Rule

Spend half your practice time on structured exercises, and half drawing whatever you enjoy. This prevents burnout, maintains motivation, and lets you apply skills creatively while still building foundations.

Essential Materials

Start with minimal supplies. Quality matters less than consistent practice at this stage. Everything here costs under $30.

Item	Recommendation	Purpose
Pencils	HB, 2B, 4B (individual)	Sketching (HB), light shading (2B), dark values (4B)
Kneaded eraser	Faber-Castell or Prismacolor	Lifting graphite, creating highlights, correcting without damaging paper
Plastic eraser	Pentel Hi-Polymer or Tombow Mono	Complete removal of marks
Sketchbook	80lb/130gsm minimum, A4 or larger	Daily practice surface
Fineliners	Sakura Pigma Micron or Uni-Pin (0.1, 0.3, 0.5mm)	Ink drawing (introduced in Phase 2)

Paper Note

Smooth paper suits fine detail and ink; textured paper creates interesting graphite effects. Start with medium-tooth cartridge paper, which handles both media adequately.

Core Foundational Skills

These nine skills form the foundation of all drawing ability. The curriculum develops each systematically throughout the 24 weeks.

Observational Seeing

Learning to perceive what is actually present rather than drawing mental symbols. When you see a "nose," your brain retrieves a simplified symbol—you must bypass this.

Line Control

Confident, intentional marks from the shoulder (long lines), elbow (medium), and wrist (details). The "ghosting method" builds planning and confidence.

Shape Recognition

All complex subjects reduce to basic 2D shapes—circles, rectangles, triangles, ovals. Recognising these allows accurate construction.

Form & 3D Construction

Translating 2D shapes into 3D forms: cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones. Understanding how light falls on these creates convincing drawings.

Proportion & Measurement

Accurately representing size relationships. Techniques include angle checking, triangulation, plumb lines, and negative space comparison.

Value & Light

The spectrum from white to black. Five key locations: highlight, half-tone, core shadow, reflected light, and cast shadow.

Perspective

Creating 3D space using converging lines toward vanishing points. One-point for single focal points, two-point for corners.

Gesture Drawing

Rapid sketching (30 seconds to 5 minutes) capturing movement, energy, and the essential action line of a subject.

Contour Drawing

Drawing outlines and edges—both outer contours and inner lines. Blind contour develops observation; cross-contour reveals volume.

Deliberate Practice Structure

Research confirms that focused, intentional practice produces faster improvement than mindless repetition. Each session should have a specific goal.

Principles for Maximum Efficiency

Focus beats duration: Neural pathways strengthen through consistent daily activation. 10 minutes daily builds stronger connections than occasional marathon sessions.

Specificity accelerates learning: "Practise drawing eyes" beats "practise drawing." Isolate individual skills for targeted improvement.

Discomfort signals growth: If exercises feel easy, you're maintaining skills, not building new ones. Push into the zone where mistakes happen.

Immediate feedback: Compare your work to references, identify errors, and correct immediately. The gap between intention and result is where learning occurs.

Session Structure Options

Option A: Single-Focus Session

0-2 min Quick warm-up (lines, circles)
2-10 min Focused practice on one specific skill

Option B: Gesture Session

0-1 min Quick line warm-up
1-10 min Timed gesture drawings (30-second, 1-minute, 2-minute poses)

Option C: Foundation Builder

0-2 min Ghosted lines practice
2-4 min Circles and ellipses
4-7 min Quick gesture sketches (3-4 poses)
7-10 min One detailed contour or observation drawing

Phase 1 • Weeks 1-6

Perception & Mark-Making

Develop accurate seeing, build confident mark-making, and establish your daily practice habit. This phase rewires how your brain processes visual information.

Phase Goals

Train your brain to see shapes rather than symbols
Develop smooth, confident line control from the shoulder
Master circles and ellipses through muscle memory
Establish a sustainable daily practice routine

Week 1

Learning to See

Core concept: You cannot draw what you cannot see. This week trains your brain to perceive shapes rather than symbols. When you look at a face, your brain says "eye" and retrieves a simplified symbol—not the actual complex shapes before you.

Days 1-2

Upside-Down Drawing

Find a simple line drawing image (portraits work well)
Turn it upside down and copy it
Focus on abstract shapes and angles, not recognising the subject
This bypasses your brain's symbolic processing

Days 3-4

Negative Space Observation

Look at a simple object (mug, shoe, plant)
Instead of drawing the object, draw only the shapes of space around it
Fill in these "negative" shapes on your paper
The object emerges from what you didn't draw

Days 5-7

Blind Contour Drawing

Look at your non-dominant hand
Place pencil on paper, then look only at your hand (never at paper)
Slowly trace the contours with your eyes while your hand follows on paper
Accept the "messy" result—this trains hand-eye connection

Week 1 Milestone: By end of week, you should notice you're observing objects differently, seeing shapes rather than labels.

Week 2

Line Confidence

Core concept: Confident lines come from your shoulder, not your wrist. The ghosting method eliminates hesitation and builds intentional mark-making.

Days 1-2

Ghosted Lines

Place two dots on paper
"Ghost" the line several times (practice the motion without touching paper)
Execute with one confident stroke
Repeat with varying lengths and angles

Days 3-4

Superimposed Lines

Draw a straight line with a ruler
Freehand draw directly on top of it 8 times
Lines should fray at the end, not the starting point
This builds consistent starting accuracy

Days 5-7

Lines to Points

Draw a small dot in the centre of your page
Draw lines toward that dot from various angles around the page
Do not rotate your paper
This builds comfort with all stroke directions

Key Technique: Hold the pencil further from the tip, move from your shoulder for long lines, and prioritise smoothness over perfect accuracy.

Week 2 Milestone: Lines feel more confident and controlled. Starting points are consistent even if endings vary slightly.

Week 3

Curves and Ellipses

Core concept: Circles and ellipses form the foundation of cylindrical forms. Shoulder rotation creates even curves. These shapes appear constantly in drawing—wheels, cups, eyes, heads.

Days 1-3

Circles from the Shoulder

Fill a page with circles of varying sizes
Draw through each circle 2-3 times before lifting
Use shoulder rotation, not wrist
Aim for smooth, consistent shapes

Days 4-5

Tables of Ellipses

Draw a grid of rectangles (3 columns × 4 rows)
Fill each rectangle with an ellipse that touches all four sides
Vary the width and angle of ellipses across the grid
Focus on smooth, confident curves

Days 6-7

Combined Warm-up + Blind Contour

3 min Ghosted lines and circles warm-up
7 min Blind contour of a simple object

Week 3 Milestone: Circles and ellipses feel more natural. You can draw them at various angles with reasonable consistency.

Week 4

Basic Shapes and Observation

Core concept: All complex subjects reduce to simple shapes. Train your eye to identify these building blocks in everything you see.

Days 1-2

Shape Breakdown

Look at 3 objects around you
Sketch each as simple shapes only (rectangles, ovals, triangles)
No details, no shading—just underlying geometry
Train your eye to see the structure beneath the surface

Days 3-4

Modified Contour Drawing

Draw an object while looking mostly at the subject
80% attention on object, 20% on paper
Occasional glances allowed, but keep focus on the subject
Bridge between blind contour and regular drawing

Days 5-7

Quick Sketches

Set timer for 2 minutes per object
Draw 4-5 simple objects around you
Focus on capturing shape relationships, not perfection
Speed forces you to prioritise what matters

Week 4 Milestone: You instinctively break down objects into basic shapes before drawing. Quick sketches capture essential proportions.

Week 5

Introducing Gesture Drawing

Core concept: Gesture captures the essential movement and energy of a subject in rapid time. This builds instinctive drawing skills and develops your ability to see the "action line" in any pose.

Days 1-3

30-Second Gestures

Use line-of-action.com or quickposes.com
Set timer for 30 seconds per pose
Draw the "line of action" (main movement curve) first
Add basic form shapes rapidly
Complete 15-20 gestures per session

Days 4-5

1-Minute Gestures

Same process, slightly more refinement
Add more form indication
8-10 gestures per session

Days 6-7

Mixed Timing

4 min 30-second poses (8 drawings)
6 min 1-2 minute poses (4-6 drawings)

Week 5 Milestone: You can capture the essential gesture of a figure in 30-60 seconds. Line of action feels intuitive.

Week 6

Consolidation and Habit Building

Focus: Reinforce skills from Weeks 1-5 and establish a sustainable daily practice routine that will carry you through the rest of the course.

Days 1-3

Combined Foundational Practice

2 min Line warm-up (ghosted lines, circles)
4 min Gesture drawing (30-second poses)
4 min Modified contour of one object

Days 4-7

Self-Directed Practice

Choose exercises that feel most challenging for you
Rotate through all learned skills
Maintain variety to prevent plateau
This is preparation for independent learning

Phase 1 Milestone Assessment

By the end of Week 6, you should be able to check off these achievements:

Can draw smooth, confident straight lines using ghosting method
Can draw consistent circles and ellipses from the shoulder
Notice yourself observing shapes in daily life
Daily practice feels like an established habit
Completed at least 100 gesture drawings

Congratulations! You've completed Phase 1. Your brain now processes visual information differently, and your hand has developed the muscle memory for confident marks. Phase 2 will build on this foundation with 3D form and value rendering.

Phase 2 • Weeks 7-12

Form & Value

Understand 3D form, learn to render light and shadow convincingly, and introduce ink drawing techniques. This phase transforms flat shapes into believable three-dimensional objects.

Phase Goals

Construct basic 3D forms (cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones)
Understand and render the five value locations on forms
Develop pencil shading techniques (hatching, cross-hatching, blending)
Learn ink drawing fundamentals (hatching, stippling, line weight)
Begin rendering simple objects from observation

Week 7

3D Forms from 2D Shapes

Core concept: Spheres, cubes, cylinders, and cones are the building blocks of all complex forms. Master these four primitives and you can construct anything—a head is a sphere with a cylinder for the neck, a car is boxes and cylinders combined.

Days 1-2

Drawing Cubes

Draw a Y-shape for the corner of a cube
Extend lines to complete the box
Practise various orientations (looking up, looking down, rotated)
Draw through the form—include hidden edges as light lines

Days 3-4

Drawing Cylinders

Draw two ellipses (top and bottom)
Connect with straight vertical lines
Practise different angles and proportions
Remember: ellipses get rounder as they move away from eye level

Days 5-7

Drawing Spheres with Cross-Contours

Draw circles
Add cross-contour lines that wrap around the form
These guidelines show the 3D surface and help with shading later
Practise spheres from different angles

Week 7 Milestone: You can confidently construct cubes, cylinders, and spheres from imagination at various angles.

Week 8

Understanding Light and Shadow

Core concept: Five value locations create the illusion of form on any object: highlight, half-tone, core shadow, reflected light, and cast shadow. Understanding these transforms flat drawings into convincing 3D renderings.

Days 1-2

Value Scales

Create a 5-step scale from white to your darkest value
Aim for even gradation between steps
First with pencil (varying pressure and layering)
Then with ink hatching (varying line density)

Days 3-5

Shading Spheres

Draw a circle
Determine light source direction (pick a corner)
Apply the five values systematically:
- Leave highlight as white paper
- Light half-tone on lit side
- Core shadow (darkest) opposite light
- Reflected light within shadow area
- Cast shadow on "ground" surface

Days 6-7

Shading Other Forms

Apply same value locations to cubes and cylinders
Notice how form affects shadow shapes (hard edges on cubes, gradual on cylinders)
Practise with consistent light direction across all forms

Week 8 Milestone: You can shade a sphere convincingly with all five value locations clearly defined.

Week 9

Introduction to Ink Drawing

Core concept: Ink's permanence teaches intentional mark-making. Unlike pencil, values are built through line density rather than pressure. Every mark counts—there's no erasing.

Days 1-2

Ink Hatching Basics

Use 0.3mm fineliner
Fill rectangles with parallel hatching lines
Vary line spacing: closer for dark, farther for light
Lift pen after each stroke—no back-and-forth scratching

Days 3-4

Cross-Hatching

Layer hatching in two directions (perpendicular or angled)
Add more layers for darker values
Create a value scale using cross-hatching only
Keep each layer's lines parallel and consistent

Days 5-7

Ink Sphere

Lightly sketch sphere in pencil
Apply values using hatching and cross-hatching
Use contour hatching—lines that follow the curve of the form
Let dry completely before erasing pencil guidelines

Ink Tip: Work from light to dark. You can always add more lines to darken an area, but you can't remove them. Build up values gradually.

Week 9 Milestone: You can create a full value range using ink hatching and have completed at least one ink sphere study.

Week 10

Combining Pencil and Ink Techniques

Focus: Expand your ink vocabulary and begin applying both media to simple object studies.

Days 1-2

Contour Hatching Practice

Draw simple forms with ink outlines
Add hatching that follows the curves of the form
Lines should wrap around the surface, revealing volume
This technique is particularly effective for organic forms

Days 3-4

Stippling Introduction

Create value through dots only
Denser dots = darker values
Patient, meditative technique—don't rush
Hold pen perpendicular for consistent dots

Days 5-7

Simple Object Rendering

Choose a simple object (fruit, mug, small box)
Sketch lightly in pencil first
Render values in ink using chosen technique
Complete one finished study per session

Week 10 Milestone: You can complete a simple object study in ink with convincing form and value.

Week 11

Texture and Surface

Core concept: Different surfaces require different mark-making approaches. Expanding your texture vocabulary adds realism and interest to your drawings.

Days 1-3

Texture Swatches

Create small squares (5cm × 5cm)
Render different textures: wood grain, fabric, metal, stone, fur, foliage
Experiment with different stroke types for each
Build a reference library of texture marks

Days 4-5

Textured Object Study

Choose textured objects (woven basket, rough stone, smooth glass)
Focus on how light interacts with surface texture
Rough surfaces scatter light; smooth surfaces show sharp reflections

Days 6-7

Mixed Media Exploration

Combine pencil and ink in one drawing
Use pencil for subtle gradations
Use ink for crisp details and dark accents
Explore what each medium does best

Week 11 Milestone: You have a vocabulary of texture marks and can render different surfaces convincingly.

Week 12

Phase Consolidation

Focus: Bring together all Phase 2 skills in complete object studies and assess your progress.

Days 1-4

Complete Object Studies

Draw simple still life objects from observation
Apply form, light, shadow, and texture understanding
Alternate between pencil and ink renderings
Aim for one complete study every two days

Days 5-7

Self-Assessment

Compare current drawings to Phase 1 work
Identify strongest skills and weakest areas
Note which techniques need more practice
Adjust Phase 3 focus accordingly

Phase 2 Milestone Assessment

By the end of Week 12, you should be able to check off these achievements:

Can construct basic 3D forms (cubes, spheres, cylinders) from imagination
Understand and can render the five value locations on forms
Can shade a sphere convincingly in both pencil and ink
Basic competence with ink hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling
Can render simple objects from observation with form and value

Excellent progress! You've completed Phase 2. Your drawings now have believable three-dimensional form and you can work confidently in both pencil and ink. Phase 3 introduces perspective and construction—the tools for drawing anything from any angle.

Phase 3 • Weeks 13-18

Perspective & Construction

Master the fundamentals of perspective and learn to construct complex objects from simple forms. This phase gives you the tools to draw anything from any angle—from imagination or observation.

Phase Goals

Understand and apply one-point and two-point perspective
Draw boxes confidently at any angle in 3D space
Understand how ellipses behave in perspective
Construct complex objects by combining simple forms
Draw simple environments with correct spatial depth

Week 13

One-Point Perspective

Core concept: When facing an object directly, all lines receding into the distance converge to a single vanishing point on the horizon line. This creates the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

Days 1-2

Horizon and Vanishing Point

Draw a horizontal line across your page (this is the horizon/eye level)
Mark one vanishing point on the line
Draw lines radiating from that point to the edges of your paper
Notice how this creates the illusion of depth

Days 3-4

Boxes in One-Point Perspective

Draw a square facing you (this is the front face)
Connect all four corners to the vanishing point
Draw a smaller square along those lines to close the back
Practise boxes above, below, and at eye level

Days 5-7

Simple Environments

Draw a road or railway disappearing into the distance
Add buildings or telephone poles receding along the sides
All elements converge to the single vanishing point
Notice how objects get smaller as they approach the VP

Week 13 Milestone: You can draw boxes and simple scenes in one-point perspective with correct convergence.

Week 14

Two-Point Perspective

Core concept: When viewing an object's corner (rather than a flat face), two sets of receding lines converge to two separate vanishing points on the horizon. This is how we see most objects in daily life.

Days 1-3

Boxes in Two-Point Perspective

Draw horizon line with two vanishing points (far apart, even off-page)
Start with a vertical edge line (the corner facing you)
Draw receding lines from top and bottom to both vanishing points
Close the sides with vertical lines

Days 4-5

Stacked and Varied Boxes

Draw boxes at different heights relative to eye level
Below horizon: you see the top of the box
Above horizon: you see the bottom of the box
Stack boxes to create simple structures

Days 6-7

Constructed Objects

Build simple objects from boxes in perspective
Books, furniture, buildings, vehicles (basic forms)
Start with the overall bounding box, then subdivide

Week 14 Milestone: You can draw boxes in two-point perspective at any position relative to the horizon line.

Week 15

Drawing Through and Rotating Boxes

Core concept: Drawing "through" objects (as if they were transparent) ensures accurate perspective. This reveals errors in convergence and builds spatial understanding. This is the foundation of construction drawing.

Days 1-3

Transparent Box Practice

Draw boxes in various orientations
Include all edges, even hidden ones (use dashed lines)
Check that all parallel edges converge to the same VP
This reveals errors you wouldn't see otherwise

Days 4-7

Rotated Boxes Challenge

Draw boxes at many different angles in space
Estimate vanishing points (they may be off the page)
Use the "Y method": start with three edges meeting at a corner
Aim for 10-15 boxes per session in varied orientations

The 250 Box Challenge: Many artists swear by drawing 250 rotated boxes to truly internalise 3D thinking. Aim for at least 50-100 boxes during this phase. Quality improves dramatically with quantity.

Week 15 Milestone: You can draw boxes at various rotations with reasonable accuracy, always drawing through the form.

Week 16

Cylinders and Ellipses in Perspective

Core concept: Cylinders are essentially boxes with ellipses on the ends. Understanding how ellipse width changes based on viewing angle is crucial for drawing convincing cylindrical objects.

Days 1-2

Ellipse Angle Relationship

Draw a vertical line (cylinder axis)
Draw ellipses at different heights along the axis
Ellipses at eye level are nearly flat lines
Ellipses become more circular as they move away from eye level

Days 3-4

Cylinders in Boxes

Draw a box in perspective (one-point or two-point)
Inscribe ellipses on opposing faces
Connect the ellipses with lines tangent to their edges
The minor axis of each ellipse aligns with the cylinder's axis

Days 5-7

Cylindrical Objects

Draw cups, bottles, cans, and jars from observation
Focus on getting ellipse angles correct
Remember: top and bottom ellipses have different widths
Check that ellipses are symmetrical around their centre

Week 16 Milestone: You can draw cylinders at various angles with correctly proportioned ellipses.

Week 17

Construction Method

Core concept: Complex objects are combinations of simple forms. Rather than copying outlines, "construct" objects by combining boxes, cylinders, spheres, and cones. This allows you to draw anything from any angle.

Days 1-3

Object Breakdown

Choose a moderately complex object (lamp, shoe, camera, chair)
Analyse it: what simple forms make it up?
Sketch the geometric primitives first (light lines)
Then refine toward the actual contours

Days 4-5

Drawing from Construction

Start with a box in perspective
Carve away or add volumes to create the object
Work from general to specific
Add details only after the main forms are correct

Days 6-7

Quick Constructions

Set 3-minute timer per object
Construct 3 different objects from observation
Focus on accurate proportions and perspective
Speed forces efficient thinking about form

Week 17 Milestone: You instinctively see objects as combinations of primitive forms and can construct them in perspective.

Week 18

Phase Consolidation

Focus: Combine all Phase 3 skills in complete perspective drawings and assess your spatial understanding.

Days 1-4

Still Life with Perspective

Arrange 3-4 objects at different depths on a table
Establish horizon line and vanishing points
Construct each object using primitive forms
Include complete value rendering from Phase 2

Days 5-7

Self-Assessment

Draw the same objects you drew in earlier phases
Compare your spatial understanding and accuracy
Identify which perspective concepts need reinforcement
Note areas of confidence and continued challenge

Phase 3 Milestone Assessment

By the end of Week 18, you should be able to check off these achievements:

Can draw boxes in one-point and two-point perspective
Understand how ellipses behave in perspective
Can construct complex objects from simple forms
Can draw simple environments with correct perspective
Drawing rotated boxes feels manageable (completed 50+ boxes)

Outstanding work! You've completed Phase 3. You now possess the spatial reasoning skills to draw any object from any angle. Phase 4 brings everything together—applying all your skills to more complex subjects like figures and faces, and developing your personal artistic direction.

Phase 4 • Weeks 19-24

Application & Integration

Apply all your foundational skills to complex subjects—figures, faces, and personal projects. This phase transitions you from structured exercises to self-directed artistic practice and helps you discover your creative direction.

Phase Goals

Apply construction principles to the human figure
Understand basic facial proportions and features
Develop longer gesture drawings with more detail
Create complete drawings combining all learned skills
Establish a sustainable personal practice routine
Identify your artistic interests for continued development

Week 19

Figure Construction Basics

Core concept: The human figure is built from the same primitive forms you've mastered. The torso is a box (or two), the head is a sphere with a wedge for the jaw, limbs are cylinders. Construction allows you to draw figures from any angle.

Days 1-2

Bean and Box Torso

The torso can be simplified as two masses: ribcage and pelvis
Draw them as tilting, rotating boxes connected by a flexible "bean"
Practise drawing these masses at various angles
The relationship between ribcage and pelvis creates the gesture

Days 3-4

Limbs as Cylinders

Arms and legs are tapered cylinders
Draw limbs with clear joint articulation (shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle)
Use ellipses at joints to show orientation
Practise limbs at various foreshortened angles

Days 5-7

Constructed Figures

Use reference from line-of-action.com
Set timer for 2 minutes per figure
Focus on constructing the figure from forms, not copying contours
Complete 5-6 constructed figures per session

Week 19 Milestone: You can construct a basic figure mannequin from simple forms at various angles.

Week 20

Head and Face Basics

Core concept: The head is a sphere (cranium) with a wedge-shaped addition (jaw/face). Understanding the Loomis head construction and basic facial proportions allows you to draw faces from any angle.

Days 1-2

Loomis Head Construction

Draw the sphere and slice the sides
Add the centre line and brow line
Attach the jaw wedge
Practise this construction from front, side, and 3/4 views

Days 3-4

Facial Proportions

Eyes sit at the vertical centre of the head (not face!)
Nose ends halfway between eyes and chin
Mouth sits roughly 1/3 from nose to chin
Head is about 5 eyes wide; one eye-width between eyes

Days 5-7

Head Studies

Draw heads from reference (photos or life)
Start with the Loomis construction
Map features onto the constructed form
Complete 3-4 head studies per session

Week 20 Milestone: You can construct a head from any angle using the Loomis method and place features with reasonable accuracy.

Week 21

Extended Gesture and Figure Drawing

Core concept: Now that you can construct figures, extend your gesture drawings to include more anatomical accuracy while maintaining the energy and flow of quick gestures.

Days 1-3

Timed Figure Sessions

2 min 30-second gestures × 4 (warm-up)
4 min 2-minute figures × 2
4 min One 4-minute figure with more detail

Days 4-5

5-Minute Figure Studies

Start with gesture (30 seconds)
Build construction forms (1 minute)
Refine contours and add simple values (remaining time)
Complete 2 studies per session

Days 6-7

Mixed Practice

Combine figure and head studies
Alternate between quick gestures and longer studies
Begin noticing your preferences—what do you enjoy drawing?

Week 21 Milestone: You can complete a 5-minute figure study that captures gesture, form, and basic value structure.

Week 22

Complete Drawing Projects

Focus: Create finished drawings that integrate all skills—construction, perspective, value, and ink techniques. These are portfolio pieces that demonstrate your growth.

Days 1-3

Still Life Study

Arrange 3-5 objects with varied forms and textures
Create a complete drawing over multiple sessions
Apply: construction, perspective, full value range, texture
Work in pencil or ink (your choice)

Days 4-5

Figure Composition

Draw a figure in an environment (even simple)
Consider how figure and space interact
Apply perspective to both figure and setting
Complete value rendering where time allows

Days 6-7

Portrait Study

Draw a portrait from photo reference
Use Loomis construction as your foundation
Focus on accurate proportions and likeness
Add value to create form

Building a Portfolio: Save your best work from this week. These complete drawings demonstrate your ability to see a piece through from construction to finish—valuable for showing your progress or sharing your work.

Week 22 Milestone: You've completed at least one substantial finished drawing that integrates multiple skills.

Week 23

Finding Your Direction

Focus: Explore different subject matter and styles to discover what resonates with you. Your personal interests will guide your continued development beyond this course.

Days 1-2

Exploration Day

Try drawing something you've never attempted before
Animals? Vehicles? Plants? Architecture? Fantasy creatures?
Don't worry about quality—explore freely
Notice what excites you and what feels tedious

Days 3-4

Style Exploration

Draw the same subject in different styles:
Realistic with full rendering
Loose and gestural
Graphic with bold lines and limited values
Which approach feels most natural to you?

Days 5-7

Deep Dive

Choose your favourite subject from this week
Create 3-4 drawings focusing on that subject
Research artists who specialise in this area
Note techniques you'd like to learn next

Week 23 Milestone: You've identified at least one subject area or style that particularly interests you for future development.

Week 24

Course Completion and Future Practice

Focus: Consolidate your learning, establish your ongoing practice routine, and create a plan for continued growth.

Days 1-2

Progress Review

Gather your drawings from Week 1 and compare to now
Note the specific improvements you can see
Identify skills that still need work
Celebrate how far you've come!

Days 3-4

Final Project

Create one "best effort" drawing
Choose a subject you're passionate about
Apply everything you've learned
Take your time—this is your capstone piece

Days 5-7

Building Your Ongoing Practice

Design your personal 10-minute daily routine
Balance fundamentals (gesture, construction) with interest areas
Set a 3-month goal for your continued development
Identify resources for your next learning phase

Suggested Ongoing 10-Minute Routine

Option A: Maintenance

3 min: Quick gestures (6 × 30 seconds)
7 min: One focused study in your interest area

Option B: Skill Building

2 min: Warm-up (lines, ellipses)
8 min: Deliberate practice on your weakest skill

Phase 4 Milestone Assessment

By the end of Week 24, you should be able to check off these achievements:

Can construct basic human figures from simple forms
Understand the Loomis head construction and facial proportions
Can complete extended gesture drawings with construction and value
Have created at least one finished portfolio-quality drawing
Have identified your artistic interests for continued development
Daily drawing practice feels like an established habit

🎉 Congratulations! 🎉

You've completed The 10-Minute Foundation!

Over 24 weeks and roughly 28 hours of practice, you've built a solid foundation in drawing. You now understand:

How to see like an artist (observation over symbols)
How to make confident marks (line quality and control)
How to create 3D form (construction and value)
How to place objects in space (perspective)
How to approach complex subjects (figures and faces)

This is just the beginning. Every artist continues learning throughout their life. Keep drawing, stay curious, and enjoy the journey!

Common Beginner Mistakes & Solutions

Every artist makes these mistakes—they're part of learning. Recognising them is the first step to correcting them. Here are the most common pitfalls and how to overcome them.

Drawing Symbols Instead of What You See

The Problem: Your brain has shortcuts for common objects—a "symbol" for an eye, a nose, a leaf. When drawing from observation, beginners often draw these symbols instead of the actual shapes they see.

Solutions

Draw upside-down: Inverting the reference confuses your symbol recognition
Focus on negative space: Draw the shapes around objects, not the objects themselves
Blind contour drawing: Look only at your subject, not your paper
Ask "What shape is this really?" instead of "What is this object?"

Chicken Scratching (Hairy Lines)

The Problem: Drawing with many short, tentative strokes instead of confident single lines. This creates fuzzy, uncertain-looking drawings and prevents you from developing line confidence.

Solutions

Ghost your lines: Practise the motion in the air before committing to paper
Draw from the shoulder: Use your whole arm for smoother, more controlled strokes
Commit to the stroke: One confident line is better than ten tentative ones
Accept imperfection: A wrong confident line teaches more than a "safe" scratchy one

Starting with Details Instead of Big Shapes

The Problem: Beginning with small details (eyes, buttons, leaves) before establishing the overall proportions and structure. This leads to drawings where individual parts may look good but the whole is distorted.

Solutions

Big to small: Always establish overall shape before any detail
Use construction: Build with simple forms first (boxes, spheres, cylinders)
Check proportions early: It's easier to fix a simple shape than a detailed one
Squint: Blurring details helps you see the big picture

Fear of Making Mistakes

The Problem: Being so afraid of "ruining" a drawing that you draw too lightly, avoid challenging subjects, or give up after the first error. This fear severely limits growth and makes drawing stressful instead of enjoyable.

Solutions

Embrace the sketchbook: It's for practice, not masterpieces. Fill it with experiments
Set quantity goals: "I'll draw 10 hands today" removes pressure from each individual drawing
Mistakes are data: Each "failed" drawing teaches you something specific
Use cheap materials: Expensive paper creates performance anxiety. Newsprint is liberating
Draw in pen sometimes: No erasing forces you to work with, not against, your marks

Mindset Shift: Professional artists produce hundreds of sketches for every finished piece. Those "failed" sketches aren't failures—they're the necessary steps to the good drawings.

Ignoring Value (Drawing Only Outlines)

The Problem: Drawing only contour lines without any shading or value. Line-only drawings can look flat and fail to convey three-dimensional form, especially for realistic subjects.

Solutions

Learn the five values: Highlight, halftone, core shadow, reflected light, cast shadow
Squint at your subject: This simplifies the values into clear light/dark patterns
Do value studies: Quick sketches focusing only on light and dark, no line
Use a value scale: Create a reference strip to match against your subject

Incorrect Proportions

The Problem: Features or parts are the wrong size relative to each other—eyes too big, limbs too short, heads too small. This is often the most obvious issue in beginner drawings.

Solutions

Measure relationships: "How many eye-widths fit across the face?" Use your pencil as a measuring tool
Learn standard proportions: Eyes at vertical centre of head, arm span equals height, etc.
Compare constantly: Check each part against others as you draw
Use guidelines: Light construction lines help place features accurately
Mirror check: View your drawing in a mirror to spot proportion errors

Inconsistent Practice

The Problem: Drawing intensively for a few days, then not touching a pencil for weeks. Sporadic practice prevents skill consolidation and makes progress feel frustratingly slow.

Solutions

Start tiny: 10 minutes daily beats 2 hours weekly
Same time, same place: Attach drawing to an existing habit (after breakfast, before bed)
Lower the bar: On tough days, even one quick sketch maintains the habit
Track your streak: Visual progress (like filled calendar boxes) is motivating
Keep materials ready: Sketchbook and pencil always accessible removes friction

Comparing Yourself to Experts

The Problem: Measuring your beginner work against professionals with decades of experience, then feeling discouraged when you don't measure up. This leads to frustration and can cause people to quit.

Solutions

Compare to your past self: Look at where you were 1 month, 3 months, 1 year ago
Study expert journeys: Look up artists' early work—everyone started somewhere
Focus on the process: Did you learn something? Then it was successful
Remember the hours: That "effortless" professional work represents 10,000+ hours of practice
Find appropriate peers: Connect with others at similar skill levels for realistic comparison

Remember: Every professional artist you admire once drew awkward stick figures. The difference is they kept going. Your job isn't to be perfect—it's to be better than yesterday.

Quick Reference: Mistakes → Solutions

Drawing symbols → Draw upside-down, focus on shapes

Chicken scratching → Ghost lines, draw from shoulder

Starting with details → Big shapes first, then refine

Fear of mistakes → Embrace quantity, use cheap paper

No values → Learn the five values, squint

Wrong proportions → Measure relationships, use guides

Inconsistent practice → 10 min daily, track your streak

Comparing to experts → Compare to your past self

Measuring Your Progress

Progress in drawing can feel invisible day-to-day, but it accumulates significantly over weeks and months. Here's how to track your improvement and stay motivated when progress feels slow.

Why Tracking Matters

Drawing improvement is gradual and nonlinear. Without documentation, you'll forget how far you've come. Tracking provides:

Motivation when progress feels slow
Evidence that practice is working
Insight into what's improving and what needs work
Accountability to your practice goals

Benchmark Drawings

Draw the same subjects at regular intervals to see direct before/after comparisons.

Suggested Benchmark Subjects

✋ Your non-dominant hand

👤 Self-portrait (from mirror)

🏠 A corner of your room

☕ Your favourite mug

🏃 A figure from the same reference photo

🌳 A tree or plant you see regularly

Schedule: Draw each benchmark at Week 1, Week 6, Week 12, Week 18, and Week 24. Date everything and keep them together for easy comparison.

Skill Checklist Assessment

Rate your confidence in specific skills periodically. This reveals which areas are improving and which need attention.

Self-Assessment Checklist

Rate each skill from 1 (struggling) to 5 (confident). Reassess every 4-6 weeks.

Practice Log

Track what you practice, not just that you practised. This helps identify patterns and ensures balanced skill development.

Simple Log Format

Digital Options: Use a simple spreadsheet, a notes app, or dedicated habit trackers. The format matters less than consistency.

The "Aha!" Journal

Record moments of insight—when something suddenly "clicks." These breakthroughs are progress milestones worth celebrating.

Example Entries

Week 3

"Realised I've been drawing from my wrist. Shoulder movement makes lines SO much smoother!"

Week 7

"Finally see how the core shadow is different from the cast shadow. It's about the form, not just darkness."

Week 11

"Started seeing negative space without trying. Noticed the shape between chair legs at the café!"

Week 16

"Ellipses finally make sense—they're just circles in perspective. Why didn't I see this before?"

External Feedback

Sometimes you're too close to your own work to see improvement. Outside perspectives can reveal progress you've missed.

Show a Non-Artist Friend

They'll often notice improvement you've become blind to. "Wow, this looks way better than last time!"

Join an Online Community

Reddit's r/learnart, Discord servers, or dedicated forums offer supportive critique from fellow learners.

Take a Class or Workshop

Instructor feedback is invaluable. Even a single session can provide months of direction.

Signs You're Improving (Even When It Doesn't Feel Like It)

👁

You notice more mistakes — This means your eye is ahead of your hand. That's growth!

😤

Your old work looks worse — Your standards have risen. You literally see better now.

⏱

You work faster — What took 20 minutes now takes 10. Efficiency is skill.

🧠

You think about drawing differently — Seeing shapes in daily life, analysing photos, noticing light.

🎯

You can identify what's wrong — "The proportions are off" beats "It just looks bad."

💪

Difficult things feel slightly easier — Last month's struggle is this month's warm-up.

Realistic Progress Timeline

Everyone progresses at different rates, but here's a general timeline for what to expect with consistent 10-minute daily practice:

Remember: These are rough guidelines. Some skills will click faster, others slower. Trust the process—consistent practice always yields results.

Recommended Resources

This course gives you a foundation, but learning never stops. Here are carefully selected resources for continued growth, organised by category and skill level.

Books

Foundational

Beginner

Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain

Betty Edwards

The classic text on learning to see like an artist. Excellent for breaking through symbolic drawing habits.

Beginner

Keys to Drawing

Bert Dodson

Practical exercises focused on observation. Great complement to this course with its structured approach.

Intermediate

How to Draw

Scott Robertson

The definitive guide to perspective and construction. Dense but invaluable for technical drawing skills.

Figure Drawing

Beginner

Figure Drawing for All It's Worth

Andrew Loomis

Timeless instruction on figure construction. Available free as a PDF. Start here for figures.

Intermediate

Force: Dynamic Life Drawing

Michael Mattesi

Focuses on capturing energy and movement rather than static anatomy. Excellent for gesture development.

Advanced

Figure Drawing: Design and Invention

Michael Hampton

Modern approach to figure construction. More accessible than Bridgman, more detailed than Loomis.

Anatomy

Intermediate

Anatomy for Sculptors

Uldis Zarins

3D visualisations make anatomy intuitive. Excellent for understanding form beneath the surface.

Advanced

Human Anatomy for Artists

Eliot Goldfinger

Comprehensive anatomical reference. Use as a reference book rather than reading cover-to-cover.

Head & Portrait

Beginner

Drawing the Head and Hands

Andrew Loomis

The Loomis head construction method explained in detail. Essential for portrait work.

Intermediate

Portrait Drawing

John Singer Sargent (various compilations)

Study the master's portrait drawings. Learning by analysing great work is invaluable.

YouTube Channels

Proko

Beginner+

Professionally produced tutorials on anatomy, figure drawing, and fundamentals. Stan Prokopenko's teaching is clear and engaging.

Best for: Figure drawing, anatomy, portraits

Drawabox

Beginner

Companion videos to the Drawabox curriculum. Focuses on fundamentals: lines, boxes, construction. Rigorous and effective.

Best for: Fundamentals, perspective, construction

ModernDayJames

Intermediate

Deep dives into perspective, composition, and visual design. More conceptual than technical, excellent for understanding "why."

Best for: Perspective theory, composition

Love Life Drawing

Beginner+

Gesture drawing and figure fundamentals. Kenzo's teaching style is encouraging and practical.

Best for: Gesture, figure drawing basics

Marco Bucci

Intermediate

Painting and colour theory focused, but his "10 Minutes to Better Painting" series teaches fundamental concepts applicable to all media.

Best for: Light, colour, visual principles

Alphonso Dunn

Beginner+

Ink drawing specialist. Excellent tutorials on pen techniques, hatching, and creating texture.

Best for: Ink techniques, pen and ink

Online Courses & Websites

Free

Drawabox.com

Structured fundamentals curriculum with community feedback. The 250 Box Challenge is legendary. Highly complementary to this course.

drawabox.com

Free

Line of Action

Timed figure drawing practice tool. Essential for gesture drawing practice with real model photos.

line-of-action.com

Free

SketchDaily Reference

Another excellent reference photo tool for practice. Good variety of subjects beyond figures.

reference.sketchdaily.net

Paid

Proko Premium

In-depth courses on anatomy, figure drawing, and portraits. Stan Prokopenko is an excellent teacher. Worth the investment when ready.

proko.com

Paid

New Masters Academy

Traditional art education online. Comprehensive courses from working professionals. Subscription-based with extensive library.

nma.art

Paid

Schoolism

Courses from industry professionals (Pixar, Disney, etc.). More advanced and specialised. Best after fundamentals are solid.

schoolism.com

Apps & Tools

⏱

Pose Timer Apps

Various apps for timed drawing practice. Search "gesture drawing timer" in your app store. Essential for figure practice.

📐

Magic Poser / Design Doll

3D poseable mannequins for reference. Useful when you need a specific pose or angle that's hard to find in photos.

🎨

Procreate (iPad)

Excellent for digital sketching practice. Not a replacement for traditional media, but great for convenience.

📷

Create reference boards for subjects you want to draw. Curate inspiration and study materials in one place.

✅

Habit Tracking Apps

Streaks, Habitica, or simple calendar apps. Track your daily practice streak—visual progress is motivating.

🖼

Sketchbook Apps

Autodesk Sketchbook (free), Krita (free, desktop). Good for digital practice when traditional materials aren't available.

Communities

r/learnart

Supportive Reddit community for learning artists. Post work for feedback, ask questions, find motivation.

r/ArtFundamentals

The Drawabox community on Reddit. Focused on fundamentals practice with peer feedback on exercises.

Drawabox Discord

Active Discord server for Drawabox students. Real-time feedback and community support.

Discord

Proko Community

Forums and groups for Proko students. Share work, get feedback, connect with others learning anatomy and figure drawing.

Web / Discord

Local Life Drawing Groups

Search for life drawing sessions in your area. Drawing from live models with other artists is invaluable experience.

In Person

Urban Sketchers

Global community of location sketchers. Local chapters organise sketch meetups. Great for building a habit of drawing in public.

Web / In Person

Suggested Learning Paths After This Course

Figure Drawing Focus

Loomis "Figure Drawing for All It's Worth"
Proko Figure Fundamentals (YouTube)
Daily gesture practice on Line of Action
Hampton "Figure Drawing: Design and Invention"
Anatomy deep dive (Proko Premium or books)

Portrait Focus

Loomis "Drawing the Head and Hands"
Proko Portrait Course (YouTube free content)
Daily head construction practice
Study master portrait drawings
Life drawing / portrait sessions

Environment/Perspective Focus

Drawabox 250 Box Challenge
Scott Robertson "How to Draw"
ModernDayJames perspective videos
Urban sketching practice
Environment concept art courses

General Improvement

Continue daily 10-minute practice
Drawabox Lessons 3-7
Alternate focus: one week figures, one week objects
Join a community for feedback
Set 3-month project goals

A Note on Resources

You don't need to use everything listed here. Pick one book, one YouTube channel, and one practice tool to start. Master those before adding more. The best resource is the one you'll actually use consistently.

Remember: Drawing regularly matters more than consuming content. Spend 80% of your time drawing and 20% learning new concepts. The pencil teaches more than any video or book.

Pencil Techniques Reference

A visual guide to essential pencil techniques. Use this as a quick reference when practising or when you need to achieve a specific effect in your drawings.

Understanding Pencil Grades

Hard Pencils (H grades)

Light construction lines
Technical drawing
Fine details
Under-drawing that won't smudge

Medium (HB, B)

General sketching
Everyday drawing
Good starting point
Versatile all-rounders

Soft Pencils (B grades)

Rich, dark values
Expressive lines
Shading and rendering
Gesture drawing

Pencil Grip Techniques

Shading Techniques

Line Weight Variation

Varying line thickness adds depth, emphasis, and visual interest to your drawings.

Line Weight Guidelines

Thicker lines for:

Objects closer to viewer
Shadow sides of forms
Outer contours
Areas of emphasis

Thinner lines for:

Objects further away
Light-facing edges
Interior details
Secondary elements

Pressure Control

Expressive Mark Making

Quick Reference

For smooth shading

Use side of pencil lead + circular motions + light pressure + build layers gradually

For crisp lines

Sharp pencil point + writing grip + controlled pressure + single confident strokes

For loose sketching

Underhand grip + shoulder movement + varied pressure + embrace imperfection

For dark values

Soft pencil (4B-6B) + multiple layers + cross-hatching + heavier pressure on final pass

For texture

Match mark to subject: scumbling for foliage, hatching for fabric, stippling for stone

For construction

Hard pencil (2H-H) + light pressure + ghosting before committing + can erase easily

Ink Techniques Reference

Ink is permanent and unforgiving—which makes it an excellent teacher. This reference covers essential ink tools, techniques, and approaches to help you work confidently with this beautiful medium.

Essential Ink Tools

Choosing Your Tools

Start With

A set of fineliners (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8mm) or a single brush pen. Micron, Staedtler, and Uni Pin are reliable brands.

Add Later

Brush pens for expressive work, white gel pen for corrections and highlights, grey markers for quick values.

Paper Matters

Use smooth paper (Bristol, marker paper) to prevent bleeding. Avoid textured paper until comfortable with ink.

Hatching Techniques for Value

In ink, you can't blend—you create the illusion of value through mark density. Here are the primary approaches:

Line Quality and Expression

Line Quality Tips

For organic subjects:

Use varied line weight—thicker in shadows, thinner in light. Let lines taper at ends.

For mechanical subjects:

Use consistent line weight with fineliners. Clean corners, no variation.

For depth:

Thicker, darker lines in foreground. Thinner, lighter lines recede.

Ink Drawing Workflow

Critical: Wait for ink to dry completely before erasing pencil lines—at least 1-2 minutes for fineliners, longer for brush pens. Smeared ink cannot be fixed!

Common Ink Mistakes (and Fixes)

❌ Overworking

Adding more and more hatching until the drawing becomes muddy.

Fix: Plan your values before starting. Leave white areas white—they're your lightest value.

❌ Uniform lines

Every line the same weight, making drawings feel flat.

Fix: Deliberately vary line weight. Thick for shadows/foreground, thin for light/background.

❌ Wobbly lines

Drawing slowly creates shaky, uncertain marks.

Fix: Draw faster with your arm, not wrist. Ghost the line first, then commit.

❌ Tangent lines

Lines that just touch edges create visual confusion.

Fix: Either clearly overlap or clearly separate elements.

❌ Parallel hatching everywhere

All hatching at same angle ignores form.

Fix: Curve hatching to follow the form you're describing.

❌ Erasing too soon

Smearing wet ink ruins the drawing.

Fix: Patience! Test in corner before erasing. Use a kneaded eraser.

Ink Quick Reference

Lightest values

Leave paper white or use widely-spaced parallel hatching

Medium values

Cross-hatching with 2 layers or closer parallel lines

Dark values

Dense cross-hatching (3+ layers) or solid black fills

Smooth gradients

Stippling (slow) or carefully varied hatching density

Texture: fabric

Contour hatching that follows folds

Texture: foliage

Scribbling and organic marks, vary density

Texture: metal

High contrast—sharp whites against solid blacks

Texture: skin

Subtle contour hatching, stippling for smoothness

Your Weekly Practice Schedule

Consistency beats intensity. Use these templates to structure your practice, or adapt them to fit your schedule. The key is showing up regularly—even 10 minutes counts.

🎯

The 10-Minute Foundation Philosophy

This course is built around 10 minutes of daily practice. That's roughly 70 minutes per week, or about 28 hours over the full 24-week course. Small, consistent efforts compound into significant skill.

Basic Weekly Template (10 min/day)

Alternative Schedule Options

⚡

Minimum Viable Practice (Busy Week)

When life gets hectic, maintain the habit with less:

5 minutes, 5 days = 25 min/week
Focus on just ONE thing: gesture OR construction OR observation
Even a single 30-second gesture keeps the habit alive

Remember: A small practice beats no practice. Protect your streak.

🗓

Weekend Warrior (Limited Weekdays)

If weekdays are impossible:

Saturday: 45-60 min focused session
Sunday: 30-45 min different focus
Try to add even 5 min on 2-3 weekdays

Caution: Progress will be slower than daily practice. Spread practice across days when possible.

🔥

Accelerated Practice (More Time Available)

For faster progress when you have the time:

20-30 min daily = 2-3 hours/week
Split into: 5 min warm-up + 15-25 min focused practice
Add a weekly 1-hour "deep study" session

Tip: More time isn't always better. Quality focus matters more than hours logged.

Structuring Your 10-Minute Session

🌅 Warm-up (2-3 min)

Superimposed lines (ghosting practice)
Ellipses in planes
A few quick gestures

Never skip warm-up—it calibrates your hand-eye connection.

💪 Main Practice (6-7 min)

Work on current week's exercises
Focus on ONE skill per session
Quality over quantity

This is deliberate practice—stay focused and present.

🔍 Review (1 min)

Look at what you drew
Note one thing that worked
Note one thing to improve

Self-assessment accelerates learning.

Phase-Specific Practice Focus

What to emphasise in each phase of the course:

Phase 1

Perception & Mark-Making

Weeks 1-6

Line confidence exercises
Observation practice (upside-down drawing)
Basic shapes and ellipses
Quick gesture drawings

Build muscle memory and learn to see.

Phase 2

Form & Value

Weeks 7-12

3D form construction
Value scales and studies
Light and shadow observation
Ink technique practice

Understand how light creates form.

Phase 3

Perspective & Construction

Weeks 13-18

Box drawing (lots of boxes!)
Perspective exercises
Cylinders and ellipses
Object construction

Develop spatial reasoning.

Phase 4

Application & Integration

Weeks 19-24

Figure gesture and construction
Head and portrait practice
Complete drawings
Personal interest exploration

Apply everything to complex subjects.

Your Customisable Weekly Tracker

Use this template to plan and track your practice. Tick off each day as you complete it.

Week: _______ Phase: _______ Focus: _______

Mon

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Tue

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Wed

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Thu

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Fri

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Sat

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Sun

Exercise: _______________

Time: _____ min

Notes: _______________

Weekly Reflection:

What improved? _______________________________________

What needs work? ____________________________________

Next week's focus: ___________________________________

This Week:

Days practised: ____ / 7

Total time: _____ min

Streak: ____ days

Tips for Staying Consistent

⏰

Same Time Every Day

Attach drawing to an existing habit: after morning coffee, during lunch, before bed. The trigger becomes automatic.

📍

Dedicated Space

Keep your sketchbook and pencils ready in one spot. Reducing friction makes starting easier.

📱

Set a Reminder

Phone alarm, calendar event, or habit app. External prompts help until the habit is automatic.

✅

Track Your Streak

Visual progress is motivating. Use a calendar, app, or the tracker above. Don't break the chain!

🎯

Lower the Bar

On hard days, commit to just 2 minutes. Once you start, you'll usually continue. Starting is the hardest part.

🤝

Find Accountability

Share your work, join a community, or find a drawing buddy. Social commitment strengthens habit.

Remember

You don't need hours of free time to learn to draw. You need 10 minutes and consistency. The artists you admire didn't become skilled through sporadic bursts of inspiration—they showed up day after day, putting pencil to paper.

Your schedule is your own. Adapt these templates to fit your life. The best schedule is the one you'll actually follow. Start today.

Your Journey Begins

You now have everything you need to learn to draw.

This course has given you a structured 24-week curriculum, detailed illustrations of every technique, practical exercises for each skill, and reference guides you can return to again and again. But here's the truth that every artist eventually learns:

"The course doesn't teach you to draw. The practice does."

The pages you've read are worthless without the pages you'll fill. The techniques you've studied are meaningless without the hours you'll spend making marks. Knowledge becomes skill only through repetition, struggle, and persistence.

What You've Learned

Phase 1

To See

You learned to observe shapes instead of symbols, to trust your eyes over your assumptions, and to make confident marks.

Phase 2

To Build Form

You learned how light creates the illusion of depth, how to render values, and how to use ink techniques expressively.

Phase 3

To Construct Space

You learned perspective, how to draw through forms, and how to construct any object from simple primitives.

Phase 4

To Apply Everything

You learned to draw figures and faces, to complete finished drawings, and to find your own artistic direction.

Truths to Remember

Everyone struggles.

The artists whose work you admire have sketchbooks full of terrible drawings. They just didn't show you those. Struggle is not a sign you lack talent—it's a sign you're learning.

Talent is overrated.

Drawing is a skill, not a gift. It's built through practice, not bestowed at birth. The "talented" artists simply started earlier or practised more. You can catch up.

Comparison is a trap.

The only fair comparison is you today versus you yesterday. Someone else's Year 10 shouldn't discourage your Week 10. Run your own race.

Bad drawings are necessary.

You cannot skip the bad drawings on the way to the good ones. Each "failed" attempt is tuition paid toward future success. Make them gladly.

The plateau is a lie.

When progress feels invisible, you're often on the verge of a breakthrough. The skills are consolidating beneath the surface. Keep going.

What Comes Next

After completing this course, you have options:

Go deeper into the areas that excite you—figure drawing, portraiture, environments, whatever calls to you
Repeat phases that still feel shaky—there's no shame in revisiting fundamentals; professionals do it constantly
Find your voice by experimenting with style, subject matter, and media
Join a community of other artists for feedback, motivation, and friendship
Keep showing up day after day, because that's what artists do

The Blank Page Is Waiting

Right now, somewhere, there's a sketchbook with empty pages. A pencil waiting to be picked up. Ten minutes you could carve out of your day.

The gap between "I wish I could draw" and "I can draw" is not talent, not time, not the right supplies. It's the decision to begin—and to keep beginning, day after day.

You've read the course. Now close this page, open your sketchbook, and draw something.

Happy drawing,

The 10-Minute Foundation

You did it. Now keep going.