A 30-Day Drawing Practice Plan for Beginners

Want to draw better but not sure where to start? A 30-day drawing practice plan gives you one small task each day, so you build skills in the right order without feeling lost. This Haanz Art Guide sets out a simple four-week plan for beginners, the few supplies you need, and tips to keep going until drawing becomes a habit.

How the plan works

Spend 20 to 30 minutes a day. Short, regular practice helps more than one long session a week. Each week has a theme: lines and shapes, shading, form and proportion, then real subjects. Date every page so you can see your progress at the end.

What you need

• A pencil set with several grades, such as the Nyoni Sketch Drawing Pencil Pack, 14 pcs. Or buy single Graphite Drawing Pencils in HB, 2B and 6B.
• A sketchbook just for this plan. The Mont Marte Sketch Book, 110gsm, 80 sheets, A5 has enough pages for the whole month and more.
• An eraser such as the Mont Marte Artist Eraser, Small, plus a Nyoni Sketch Eraser Pen for small highlights.
• Art Nation Paper Stumps, 3 pcs pack for smooth blending.
• A Sakura Pigma Micron 03 (0.35mm) for the ink days in week four.

Find more pencils and pads in Drawing Pencils and Drawing Papers For Pencil Drawings. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

Your 30-day drawing practice plan

Week 1: lines and shapes (days 1–7)

1. Fill a page with straight lines in every direction. Keep your wrist loose.
2. Draw curves, circles and spirals. Try to close each circle neatly.
3. Draw squares, triangles and ovals in different sizes.
4. Contour drawing: draw your hand slowly, looking at it more than the paper.
5. Draw five objects from your kitchen using only simple shapes.
6. Copy a simple photo using shapes first, then refine the lines.
7. Free day: draw anything you like using what you learned.

Week 2: shading (days 8–14)

8. Make a shading scale of six boxes, from white to the darkest black your pencils allow.
9. Practise hatching and cross-hatching in small squares.
10. Shade a sphere: highlight, mid-tone, core shadow and cast shadow.
11. Shade a cube and a cylinder with light coming from one side.
12. Blend smooth tones with a paper stump. Compare blended and unblended areas.
13. Draw and shade an egg on a plate, lit by a single lamp.
14. Free day: shade a fruit from your kitchen.

Week 3: form and proportion (days 15–21)

15. Draw a cup and a bottle. Check that both sides are even.
16. Draw a simple still life of three objects. Measure sizes with your pencil held at arm’s length.
17. Draw a basic face using guide lines for eyes, nose and mouth.
18. Draw a single eye in detail.
19. Draw your shoe from two different angles.
20. Draw a corner of your room with simple one-point perspective.
21. Free day: redo a drawing from week one and compare.

Week 4: real subjects (days 22–30)

22. Draw a potted plant or a leaf from life.
23. Draw a tree outside your home or school.
24. Draw a pet or an animal from a photo, starting with shapes.
25. Draw a quick sketch of a family member sitting still. Give yourself 10 minutes.
26. Ink day: draw a simple object directly with the fineliner, no pencil.
27. Draw a street scene or the view from a window.
28. Draw something with texture: a coconut, a brick wall or a woven basket.
29. Pick your favourite subject from this month and draw it again, bigger and more carefully.
30. Final day: draw your hand again, just like day four. Put both drawings side by side.

Tips to stick with the plan

• Draw at the same time each day, for example after school or after dinner.
• If you miss a day, do not restart. Simply continue from where you stopped.
• Do not erase too much. Rough lines show how you are learning.
• In humid weather, store your sketchbook in a dry place and keep a spare sheet under your hand to avoid smudging.
• Share your progress with a friend or family member for encouragement.

What to do after 30 days

Choose one area you enjoyed most, such as portraits, landscapes or ink, and spend the next month on it. Helpful next reads are Pencil Shading Techniques, Sketch Pad and Sketchbook Guide and Drawing Pencil Grades Explained.

Frequently asked questions

Can children follow this plan?

Yes. Children aged around nine and above can follow it with a parent or teacher. Younger children can do the shape days and skip the harder ones.

Which pencil grades do I really need?

HB for light sketching, 2B for general drawing and a soft grade such as 6B for dark shadows. A full set gives you more choice as you improve.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? Call / WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you put together a pencil and sketchbook kit for your 30 days.

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