Drawing is by far my favorite pastime, but I have had more than a few days when it just feels a little boring, frustrating, or uninspiring despite listening to my favorite playlist on Spotify while I’m at it.
Usually I can group the reasons why I don’t enjoy drawing on a certain day into these three main buckets:
- I’m drawing the same thing over and over again even though I like drawing that thing. I, for example, get bored of drawing portraits all the time even though it’s my favorite subject to draw.
- I’m trying to learn art fundamentals, drawing with a new technique, medium, or something I’m currently not very good at but do want to get better at. For example, I’m horrible at drawing hands, and even though I want to improve, I find the actual process of learning how to draw hands quite frustrating and dreadful.
- I’m drawing or learning how to draw something that I don’t find interesting. I, for example, don’t particularly like drawing landscapes and for now, I don’t feel like I need to get better at it.
Personally, I just try to avoid drawing things in the last bucket altogether. But for others reasons on the list, I have compiled a list of things that I find helpful in making the whole process of learning and creating art a bit more enjoyable.
So how do we make drawing more enjoyable?
To make drawing more fun, you may try:
- Adding interesting elements to a subject you find boring.
- Challenge yourself with some drawing prompts.
- Plan to draw somewhere other than where you normally draw.
- Improvise with new art styles and drawing tools.
- Start an art project.
- Art jam with art buddies.
- Find drawing references from life.
Tip 1 Add interesting elements to a subject you find boring.
Can’t get yourself to draw flowers, try drawing flowers in a portrait if you generally like to draw faces. Don’t feel like practicing drawing hands, try drawing a hand holding onto something you find interesting like your favorite musical instrument.
Honestly, there will always be some things you don’t particularly like drawing but would help you become a better all-round artist if you can learn how to draw them better. By incorporating interesting elements to such subjects may make drawing them more fun to you.
Tip 2 Challenge yourself with some drawing prompts.
Art challenges like the Inktober is a great way to feel excited about creating art because you get to draw based on the suggested art prompts that inspire new ideas to fuel your creativity. You also get to see and learn from the submissions of so many other artists in the community which I think makes the drawing process a lot more enjoyable.
Here are some of my favorite art challenges:
Tip 3 Plan to draw somewhere other than where you normally draw.
If, like me, you’re used to drawing at home or workplace, it can be great to head outdoors for some sketching for a change. Here are some fun ideas for drawing away from the comfort of your couch:
- Visit a museum, statue garden, or art gallery and do live sketch studies.
- Take your sketchbook along with you when you plan to spend a day outdoors like visiting a park, going shopping, zoo, a rural suburb, or a beach (if you’re lucky).
- Go on a hike and draw plants, trees, people, birds, or anything else that gets you intrigued along the way.
But if like me you’re too lazy for doing anything above, you can always settle for drawing in a cafe or any other place where you don’t usually draw for a change of scenery.
Tip 4 Improvise with new art styles and drawing tools
Trying out new art styles that appeal to you can give you an interesting angle to approach your drawings if you’re not feeling particularly inspired to draw the way you normally do. If you’re interested in experimenting with different art styles, here’s an article that explains what I have learned so far about finding your own drawing style.
Switching to different art mediums and drawing tools can also give you some fun ideas to experiment with.
I usually prefer drawing traditionally in sketchbooks because I enjoy the tactile feel that I get by drawing on paper. But occasionally, I like to switch things up by drawing on Procreate on my iPad where I’m able to able to experiment and mess around with all sorts of different colors and brushes without worrying about the cost of art materials that I might use up.
Tip 5 Start an art project.
I am amazed at people who, unlike me, can sustain their interest in a hobby for a long time without worrying how it fits into their grand plan of life simply because it makes them happy. And I honestly think that reason alone should be enough for any of us to enjoy the process of learning and creating art.
Unlike those people who get intrinsic satisfaction from doing hobbies purely for the sake of leisure, I personally enjoy doing things that accomplish a challenging project that somehow aligns with my life goals, whether that is about getting fit, having a fulfilling career, or providing financial stability to my family.
If drawing doesn’t excite you like it did before, I think art projects can give you a fresh sense of purpose and direction when it comes to creating and learning art.
Here are some fun ideas for art projects that can inspire you to draw:
- Start an art blog or Youtube channel about drawing.
- Design a comic book.
- Build your art portfolio.
- Create a visual novel.
- Hold an art show.
- Illustrate a children’s book.
- Do decorative artwork for your home.
- Attempt the 100 Heads Challenge.
- Start an art journal.
Tip 6 Art jam with art buddies.
Although I personally prefer to draw alone, but I know quite a few people who seem to love the idea of group drawing because it helps them share ideas with others and it makes learning art more bearable.
Here are some ideas for a group drawing session:
- Join a local urban sketchers club that meets up regularly to draw the city life.
- Organize weekly or monthly art meetups to hang out with your art friends and draw together, show off your recent artworks, and discuss everything art over a cup of your favorite coffee.
- Attend a drawing workshop.
Tip 7 Draw from life.
If like me, many of you lazy people also use Pinterest to get your drawing references then trying to draw from life can be a refreshing experience.
I think just the act of looking around your house for objects to compose your very own still-life scene, or collecting specimens from nature for your botanical illustrations, or simply asking someone to be your muse for your portrait drawing session just makes the whole drawing process more interesting and the art more meaningful.
So stop being lazy on your couch and find yourself a muse or grab a bunch of fruits, vegetables, flowers, or whatever you find interesting and try to draw your next masterpiece from life!