Do this everyday in 2026 to improve your drawing skills

Summary

In this video, professional illustrator Kab introduces a transformative three-step drawing exercise to help artists improve their skills and develop their personal style. The process begins with breaking objects down into basic 3D shapes (Volume), then explores the design of shapes on the page for visual interest (Shape Design), and finally challenges the artist to draw from imagination to solidify their style. Kab emphasizes the importance of practice, self-critique, and allowing mistakes to lead to growth, making this a valuable exercise for both beginners and pros alike.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace mistakes: Accepting errors is essential for growth. Use a ball pen to encourage moving on from mistakes and avoid perfectionism.
• 😀 Start with simple objects: Choose basic items to draw, especially if you're a beginner, to make the exercise easier and more effective.
• 😀 Focus on volume: Begin by breaking down objects into simple 3D shapes (spheres, cones, cubes) to avoid flatness in your drawings.
• 😀 Practice perspective: Understanding how objects exist in space through volumes is key to drawing in perspective and making objects appear realistic.
• 😀 Keep it simple: Don't worry about making the first drawing perfect. Treat it like a warm-up, and don't expect to finish every sketch.
• 😀 Use shape design: After focusing on volumes, shift to exploring how shapes interact with each other on the page to make your drawing more interesting.
• 😀 Design for clarity: Think about how different shapes (angular vs. round) work together and how you can make the silhouette clearer and more dynamic.
• 😀 Use negative space: Explore how shapes form around the object and experiment with rotations to discover new perspectives and compositions.
• 😀 Find your style through practice: As you refine your shapes and design choices, you'll start noticing differences that contribute to your unique artistic style.
• 😀 Reflect on improvements and weaknesses: After each practice, note what you liked and disliked about your drawings, focusing on areas to improve for next time.
• 😀 Consistent practice leads to progress: The more you repeat this exercise, the faster you'll improve, and the closer you'll get to developing your own style.

Q & A

Why is it important to draw with a ballpoint pen in this exercise?

Drawing with a ballpoint pen encourages you to accept mistakes as part of the learning process. Since you can’t erase, you’re forced to move on from errors and embrace imperfections, which is key to improving your drawing skills.

Why should I avoid drawing faces or human bodies during the first part of the exercise?

Faces and human bodies can be complex and challenging, especially for beginners. The goal of this exercise is to focus on simple objects, which helps you build foundational skills in volume and shape design before tackling more complicated subjects.

What’s the main goal of the first page focusing on volume?

The purpose of focusing on volume is to understand the 3D shapes that make up objects. If you don’t grasp how to break objects into basic volumes like spheres, cones, and cubes, your drawings will lack depth and perspective.

How can I make my drawings more dynamic after understanding volumes?

Once you understand volume, the next step is to focus on shapes. This involves experimenting with how shapes interact on the page—using contrasts, overlaps, and negative space to create more visually interesting compositions.

What is 'shape design' and how does it improve my art?

Shape design is about thinking of how the shapes in your drawing interact with each other on the page, rather than focusing on how they exist in space. It helps you move away from strict accuracy and allows you to explore more creative, aesthetically appealing compositions.

Why should I focus on imagination in the third part of the exercise?

The third step encourages you to draw from memory and imagination to see how well you can apply the techniques you’ve learned. It helps you discover your personal style, as you start to make creative decisions and changes to your drawings without worrying about accuracy.

What does it mean to find my 'style' during the third page?

Your style emerges when you make small, intentional changes to your drawings, like altering proportions or experimenting with shapes. The third page is where you realize how you prefer to draw, and the differences between your reference and your drawing reflect your unique artistic choices.

What should I do if I notice things I don't like about my drawings?

Write down what you don’t like—whether it’s proportion, perspective, or silhouette. This list highlights areas where you can improve next time and gives you a clear direction for your practice.

How does this exercise help me develop my own artistic style?

By combining volume and shape design with drawing from imagination, this exercise helps you make decisions based on what appeals to you. Over time, these decisions build into your personal style, and you’ll start recognizing patterns in the choices you make while drawing.

What should I do if I feel stuck or unsure during this exercise?

If you’re feeling stuck, don’t worry—it’s part of the process. Keep practicing and give yourself room to make mistakes. Also, consider watching other educational videos or reading up on techniques to get new perspectives and inspire your progress.