8 Simple Drawing Exercises to Relax Your Mind and Improve Your Skills
Sometimes the hardest part of drawing… is starting.
Not because you don’t want to draw, but because your mind feels busy, distracted, or tired.
The good news is you don’t need a big idea or lots of energy to begin.
You just need something simple.
Recently, I shared how I was facing burnout before I’d even sat down to draw. In this post, I’m sharing 10 exercises that have helped me regain my confidence and creativity and return to drawing for fun.
Starting Simply
When your mind feels overwhelmed, complex drawings can feel like too much. Starting with simple exercises can help ease your mind into it.
Starting simply:
removes decision fatigue
helps you settle into the moment
builds your skills over time
They’re not just “practice”, they’re a way back into drawing.
8 Drawing Exercises to Try
Continuous Line Drawing
Draw an object without lifting your pen from the page.Slow Shading Practice
Pick a basic shape and slowly build up light and shadow.Texture Study (Wood, Fabric, Stone)
Focus on how something feels, not how perfect it looks.Draw What’s on Your Desk
A few small objects are more than enough.One Object, Three Times
Draw the same thing quickly, slowly, and loosely.Simple Nature Study
Leaves, stones, or clouds; quiet, organic forms.Blind Contour Drawing
Look at your subject, not your paper, as you draw.Pattern Filling (Zen-Doodling)
Fill a shape with repetitive, calming patterns.
A Final Thought
You don’t need to create something impressive.
You just need to begin.
Even the simplest exercise can shift your mindset, and that’s where progress starts.
If you’d like an easy place to start, I’ve created a free set of sketchbook prompts designed for days exactly like this.
Download the Sketchbook Starter Prompts and pick just one to begin.
