How to use this page as a 1 year course in pencil drawing. Choose the playlist containing the skill you want to learn.
For every 3 tutorials you watch and do, choose something to draw or paint from your own environment. Keep track of your own and watch your artistic skills soar in a couple of months of daily art! Maybe even in weeks you’ll be an expert.
Table of Contents: | Number of Videos in Playlist |
Pencil Sketch Portraits | over 90 videos |
Pencil Sketch Landscape | 200 videos |
Learning to use Colored Pencils | 20 videos |
Watercolor and Ink Sketching | over 20 videos |
Drawing Portraits (the easy way)
The following is actually a playlist of 76 portrait videos. The reason I like this style is because it’s kept simple without adding lots of layers of shading to make it hyper realistic. It’s simple enough for a beginner but yields a drawing of a professional.
After drawing your way through the whole list, you should be able to draw a portrait on your own (or even perhaps long before your reach the end of the playlist!)
Learn to do Simple Pencil Sketch Landscapes
Learning how to Use color Pencils, Blending, and Realistic Drawing.
Watercolor and Ink Sketches
Your Featured Art
Want your work featured at the bottom of this post? I’d love to see the FIRST piece of art work you create and then another one after you’ve improved!
It will also be motivating for others to join and succeed. Just send your art before and afters to stacy(at)trulymajestic.com with “Art before and after” in the subject line.
The Healing Power of Drawing: Boosting Creativity and Easing Stress
Drawing, often considered a simple act of putting pen to paper or brush to canvas, holds remarkable potential for our well-being. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or someone who doodles during meetings, engaging in drawing can have profound effects on both creativity and stress reduction. Let’s explore how this expressive activity can positively impact our minds and hearts.
1. Creativity Unleashed
The Imagination Playground
When you pick up that pencil, you’re not just creating lines and shapes; you’re unlocking the gates to your imagination. Drawing encourages divergent thinking, allowing your mind to explore multiple possibilities. As you sketch, your brain weaves connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, leading to fresh insights and novel solutions. It’s like an imagination playground where creativity runs wild.
Finding Your Artistic Identity
Through drawing, you discover your unique artistic voice. Whether it’s whimsical characters, abstract patterns, or intricate landscapes, each stroke reveals a part of you. This process of self-expression fosters self-awareness and helps you define your creative identity. As you experiment with different styles and techniques, you’ll uncover hidden talents and preferences.
2. Stress Relief in Every Stroke
Endorphins at Play
When you immerse yourself in drawing, your brain releases endorphins—those natural feel-good chemicals. These endorphins promote relaxation, ease anxiety, and reduce stress. It’s like a mini spa day for your mind! So, the next time you feel overwhelmed, grab your sketchbook and let the lines flow.
Mindfulness in Motion
Drawing demands focus. As you concentrate on shaping lines and shading surfaces, you enter a state of mindfulness. Worries fade into the background, and you become fully present in the act of creation. It’s a meditative journey where stress takes a back seat, and your inner artist emerges.
Art as Meditation
Creating art is akin to meditation. The repetitive motion of your hand across the paper soothes your nerves. Whether you’re meticulously detailing a portrait or playfully doodling, the rhythmic strokes calm your racing thoughts. Art becomes your sanctuary—a place where stress dissipates, leaving room for serenity.
3. Art Therapy: Beyond the Canvas
Healing Through Art
While not an official term, “drawing therapy” encapsulates the idea of using drawing as a coping mechanism. Art therapists guide individuals through this process, addressing emotions that words struggle to convey. Trauma, anxiety, and complex feelings find an outlet in the strokes of a pencil. Art therapy combines creativity with psychotherapy, bridging the gap between expression and healing.
Research-Backed Benefits
Numerous studies highlight the positive impact of art and drawing on mental health:
- Students experience more mindfulness and less test anxiety when coloring or free drawing.
- Heart rates decrease, and anxiety subsides after drawing to express negative thoughts.
- Art therapy sessions improve quality of life for those with anxiety disorders.
Remember, you don’t need an art therapist to reap the benefits. Grab your favorite tools—pencils, pastels, or digital brushes—and let your creativity flow. Whether you create intricate masterpieces or whimsical doodles, drawing is your passport to a calmer, more imaginative world.
So, the next time stress knocks on your door, invite it in for a cup of creativity.