Want to learn to draw? Don't start with a pencil. How to Draw #10

5:24 "Don't strive for perfection, reach for knowledge." Golden words. Thank you, Danny.

I’d never given this much thought before. Don’t erase your past. Profound on so many levels. I’ve been drawing with a pencil in one hand and an eraser in the other - just as you described, probably in more areas of my life than just paper. That changes tomorrow.

For some reason i compared this to relationships. Living together is drawing with pencil, but marriage is drawing with pen. Too many people treat marriage like it's drawing with pencil, instead of finding ways to solve the issues together and working with what they have already marked on the paper of their lives

This is so true. I started sketching with pens but when I switched to pencil, I was erasing wayyyyyyy way way more than I drew and I felt like I never got anywhere.

This inspired me to do a 30-day pen only challenge. I always draw a lot of unnecessary lines, and I've always wanted to change that.

I'm 62, and I only started drawing/sketching 1½ years ago. I heard this advice of using ink about a year ago while watching Karen Rice. It completely changed me, for the same reasons you state in your great video. My confidence has gone through the roof! I was so scared to draw people; now I purposely draw them quite often, sometimes in a restaurant or coffee shop, or doctor's waiting room. Wherever, really. I love your videos, Danny. You deliver great advice in a very personal, interesting, sincere manner. It's as if you are talking directly to me. Thank you.

You are a great instructor and I appreciate your ability to encourage students to apply a positive mindset to their mistakes. I Appreciate the time and effort you take to make art more accessible to everyone and you do so with a well thought out and patient manner.

As an intimidated, sketchy-line maker with pencils, I needed to hear this.

Thanks so much. Your "motivational" videos are outstanding at targeting us budding artists. I've now watched several and they are very insightful and helpful. I'm going to stop procrastinating and take my Lamy and sketchbook to the local coffee establishment tomorrow morning.

I love these lessons and as I think about them as I was drawing with pencil I was doing all those things you described. When I started the LTD series, the pen scared the fool out of me. Now it is my friend and it does make me slow down to commit to my next line or shape. Thanks so much for these thoughts behind the actions it makes the learning stick for me. I have always needed the why behind things.

I never used pen until after the pandemic when it was difficult to get pencils... any pencils. My pencils rarely ever had any erasers. I never used them anyway. I often made my own pencils by charring the end of sticks. Yep, my childhood seldom provided such a luxury as a #2 pencil. And, it I did have one, I left in the teachers desk to keep the other kids from stealing it from me. So, at home, I made my own stick pencils and did my homework with them. I'm still getting used to pens, and am experimenting with the newer Sharpie gel pens and a fountain pen I got for Christmas.

I found your channel yesterday & the saying “when the student is ready the teacher will come” or something like that lol, I’ve always been creative, was a pianist growing up, family were all art orientated, & although I was very creative I couldn’t paint or draw for the life of me. Then 18yrs ago I suffered a terrible crisis & an art friend sat me down in front of a canvas & paints as therapy. I did it for ages suddenly realising I could if I just practiced, but sketching was always something I simply thought I couldn’t grasp. That’s until now, finding this channel has opened my eyes to all possibilities & I am racing out to buy a sketchbook & pen not pencil, today. I look forward to following the channel.

“Don’t strive for perfection; reach for knowledge”. Succinct words of wisdom. Thank you for this reminder! 😊

Thank you for this. I am in my 50’s and a beginner. The problem I seem to have with advice from artists is that they teach you to draw like them, not just to draw. This is not a criticism - they can’t help it - what else can anyone do really? There does not seem to be a lot of advice to help people find their own style and level. Your advice here is one of those pieces of gold - not teaching someone to draw like you, but teaching us to find our own way. I hope this makes sense. Your type of help is why I subbed to your channel. I am very grateful to you. 🙏💝 My pen attempts are currently awful! 🤷🏼‍♀️🤓 But I can absolutely see the value and am continuing. 🙂

Danny! I have been learning from you since your earliest books & videos & THIS IS YOUR BEST LESSON yet for me. Thank you so very much!

An inspiring video. My 7 year old daughter draws with confidence and is completely fearless with regards to the outcome of her work. It's amazing how as adults we tend to lose this ability. A pen is a great idea! 👏

I took that leap because i wanted freedom from perfection. Started using pens, crayons, oil pastels, sharpies, anything i couldnt erase. It doesnt take long to stop being scared of mistakes. In fact, i quite like the odd glaring mistake line...reminds me that im human. The main thing, if you are after accuracy is learning to vary your pressure. Lightest pressure to rough in initial shapes. Light for contours. Heavy for corrections and final drawing. The lighter lines give it cool history when the drawing is complete. Using non-erasables gave me a surprising confidence that i could pick up any media and be ok.

thank you so much! you dont know how much i looked for you and your smurt and kinde lessons! thank you thank you thank you! Tamar from Israel

Excellent video. Thank you.

I used to use pencil to do those square doodles, wanting each square to look polished (erase and redraw). This year I bought an extra fine fountain pen for it. I don’t get rid off anything except scrap paper for color testing. Every piece is my effort and journey.