Posted by Julia Reed
1 month ago

How do you all actually get better at drawing when you feel stuck?

I practice most nights but my sketches look the same month after month. I have 30 minutes a day and access to paper and a basic tablet. What should I focus on to break the plateau and see measurable improvement? This has been on my mind for a while and I'd love some real-world experiences. Time-wise I can commit a few hours a week and not a full overhaul. For context, I live with a roommate and we share most things. I'm mid-way through a busy season and trying to be realistic about my energy. I've already tried a couple of the obvious things, but the results were mixed. For context, I live with a roommate and we share most things.

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Ayden Wood avatar
Ayden Wood 21 rep
1 month ago
Top Answer

I've been there with drawing plateaus, and what helped me break through was shifting from mindless sketching to targeted practice. Instead of just drawing whatever, pick one skill to focus on each session, like gesture drawing for 30 minutes using quickposes.com for timed references. That site lets you set sessions to match your time, and it forced me to capture movement better, which made my figures less stiff after a couple weeks.

Another thing is analyzing your work critically. After a sketch, compare it to a pro's version of the same subject, say a Disney animator's gesture, and note what's different in line quality or proportions. I did this with my tablet by layering my drawing over a reference in a simple app like Procreate, highlighting mismatches. Sharing a space with a roommate might limit privacy, but you could do quiet reviews during off-hours. Over time, this built my eye for improvement without needing hours daily.

Finally, mix in variety to keep it fresh, like one day on hands from photos, another on shading techniques. I committed to two focused hours a week plus daily 30s, and saw real progress in a month. If energy's low, start with what excites you to build momentum.

Sam Ionescu avatar
Sam Ionescu 18 rep
1 month ago

With kids climbing all over me and deadlines looming, I zeroed in on gesture sketches and bam, my art leveled up quick.

George Patel avatar
George Patel 86 rep
1 month ago

Plateaus happen because you're repeating mistakes. Break it by analyzing pro artwork and copying techniques directly. Focus on one skill per session, like proportions or lighting. Track what works without overthinking. Improvement comes from consistent tweaks, not more hours. Stick to references to avoid bad habits.

Ember King avatar
Ember King 🥉 138 rep
1 month ago

Pick one skill weekly, 20-minute drills, and roast yesterday's lines between kid chaos.

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