That’s great!
You decided to start learning how to draw.
But you wonder how to draw anything you ever wanted?

Naturally,
you copy designers or artists you like,
but it is not easy to make good drawings as a beginner.

An unfair amount of your drawings may end up in the paper bin.
You wish you could progress better, but you just do not know how.
And that’s ok.

To succeed, I would like you to make a RESET of your mind,
So we can start with a solid base by “Learning how to learn drawing” following my 4-step method.

“Learn How to Learn” Drawing with no Experience

A. “Bad learning habit” as a kid

B. Reset your Mindset (to better learn)

C. How to Learn better with the “DRAW IT 4 TIMES TECHNIQUE”

I aim to demystify
the learning process by making it easy to learn drawing.

You get an effective learning strategy
using the “DRAW IT 4 TIMES” technique that fosters growth
while ensuring the journey remains fun!

Adopt the resilience of a baby!

Drawing parallels with a baby’s learning process may seem odd
but it offers valuable lessons – perseverance and resilience.

Babies don’t give up when they stumble;
they rise again until walking becomes second nature to them.

They are so resilient,
that no babies gave up trying to walk.

Similarly, beginners should embrace humility and understand
that immediate success in drawing is unrealistic.

It’s okay to fail.
Keep up and try again!

So many beginners give up at their first bad drawing,
convinced they will be BAD at drawing forever.

Avoid Copying “What You See”: Draw with Strategy

Beginners often copy a finished drawing
without knowing the steps involved to get there
– even though these sketching techniques are often simpler than you think.

In reality, copying isn’t equivalent to comprehending;
these are distinct skills with different impacts on your design and artistic development.

While striving for perfection may seem like an ideal goal,
it can limit creativity and hinder idea generation.

Instead, focus on understanding the essence of your subject
matter rather than mechanically reproducing it.

Another practical tip is to draw bigger sketches
which help in better focusing on basic movements and gestures further refining your skills.

D. The “Draw it 4 Times method”

“Learning how to learn” is essential to efficient skill acquisition in any field including drawing.
It involves breaking down complex tasks into manageable parts
which can then be practiced individually before integrating them together.

In terms of practical application, below are these four drawing stages:

STEP 1) Understanding through analysis:

At this stage focus on practicing without worrying about producing high-quality sketches.
Your goal here is to analyze, and identify the steps you need to perform to draw your subject.

When you draw something new,
pick up the drawing techniques you learned to set a sketching strategy.

Draw them as “Doodle visual notes”.

Think of the drawing fundamentals as a Big toolbox.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional sketcher,
this preparation step will be a tremendous help.

STEP 2) Assimilate your drawing strategy

Repeatedly practice various techniques t
ill you become comfortable drawing your product.

Since the analysis stage is acquired,
drawing your product becomes a lot easier now.

You start refining the proportions, and deliver neater sketches.
Make sure to draw bigger.

STEP 3) Mastering Sketching

Delve deeper into more advanced concepts like 3D drawings,
line weights, ground shadow etc., once basic techniques are mastered.

You may even skip some steps, such as drawing the symmetry axis.
Your drawings gain clarity by omitting drawing selective construction lines.
As for now, you can visualize these imaginary lines in your mind.

Your drawing is neat and shows quality lines.

STEP 4) Creating your unique sketching style

After gaining proficiency in fundamental techniques
explore personal stylistic preferences and develop your individual artistic voice as a Designer.

Make your imperfections beautiful!

“Draw it 4 Time” drawing demo

I add below an application of the “Draw it 4 Time” technique.
I took the USB HUB in front of me, and draw it. 🙂

The magic of learning the Product design sketching techniques
is you can see your product from one viewpoint.

Then, you can redraw them from any viewpoint of your choice.
You gain the ability to turn volumes in 3 dimensions in your mind!

You are not tied to drawing with references only.
Do that, and you will have the real freedom to draw your ideas from your imagination!

BONUS Exercise: Draw with Loose lines

Sketch random shapes
and overlay them repeatedly to foster a relaxed drawing style.

Drawing with loose line help you fight against Perfectionism,
and help you to better engage in a new drawing with enthusiasm instead of fear.

For those eager beginners wanting more guidance check out the Designer Starter Kit
aimed at helping novices grasp perspective drawing effectively.

SUM-UP: 16 ACTIONABLE STEPS

What to remember to “Learn better how to learn drawing”:

1. Begin your drawing journey with humility and perseverance,
   understanding that “immediate success is not given”.
2. Adopt a mindset similar to a baby learning new skills – continue without giving up despite challenges.
3. Learn the fundamentals of drawing instead of just copying other works;
   understand what makes each sketching technique unique and try to apply these learnings in your own own drawings.
4. Avoid overconfidence and trying to imitate professionals until you’ve grasped the basics of drawing.
5. Follow the four stages to learn drawing: Understand, Assimilate, Master, Freestyle!
6. Practice basic movements frequently and draw larger sketches for better focus on details.
7. Focus more on understanding the object you’re drawing rather than mechanically reproducing it.
8. Embrace mistakes as they are part of growth; use them as opportunities to refine your skills further.
9. Try freehand or freestyle drawings to express yourself creatively even if they end up imperfect.
10. Practice exercises like random shape drawings followed by repeating overlays to promote a relaxed drawing style.
11. Avoid being overly perfectionist; allow room for fun, imperfection which can fuel creativity process further.
12. When attempting new objects always draw multiple times till you feel comfortable with all aspects & details about it – remember initial attempts are meant for understanding so don’t worry about them being clumsy or imperfect.
13. Prepare well before sketching anything- know basic techniques well enough before proceeding further
14. Focus on efficiency & speed while sketching especially in collaborative settings where idea generation needs quick modifications & iterations based on feedbacks received
15. Develop your own individual style instead of just copying others’ works – customization is what makes each artwork unique
16. Remember, progress and fun should be the main goals while learning sketching techniques; don’t stress over imperfections or slow pace initially.