Difficulty: easy

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Under The Sea

Inspired by: photo by Francisco Davids

Today, we are drawing lily pads. But not in the way you might think. We won’t draw them from above, like in a Monet painting, floating gently on the water. This month’s category is taking us somewhere else: under the surface.

We will draw the view from below, with stems reaching up toward the light and lily pads showing only their undersides.

Find a comfy corner, play some relaxing music, and let’s draw.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: There is no legal definition of how lily pads must be drawn. So we will just go with the flow. No sketch today. Take your pen and draw the leaves one at a time. Some are heart-shaped, some are not. Some have folds. Some are at odd angles. Have fun with the shapes.

All the leaves from this step are completely underwater. They do not float on the surface. That means water currents are bending them, so they have more curved shapes. The ones floating on the surface will be flatter.

Step 2: The leaves we drew are the ones closest to us. Now let’s draw some farther away. These leaves are floating on the surface, so they do not have folds and have simpler circle or heart shapes. Draw them in the top part of the paper.

Step 3: Let’s draw stems for the first group of leaves. For each leaf, add two close lines that make a stem. Make them wavy.

If the leaf is heart-shaped, the stem usually starts in the notch.

Step 4: Add stems to the background leaves. Draw each of those stems with one line. They are also wavy, but a bit more subtle.

Step 5: Draw even more background floating leaves. This group is even farther away. That means the shapes are even simpler, mostly ellipses. The stems are less wavy and only indicated. They do not go all the way to the bottom of the page.

Draw these behind and below the existing background leaves. Use less pressure while drawing them.

Step 6: Next are the veins in the closest leaves. All the veins on a leaf start from the same point: the stem. They go in all directions from there. No need to draw them on the folded parts.

Step 7: Now add veins to the biggest background leaves. Use less pressure for this. Make sure they start from the stems as well.

Not all background leaves need veins because they are farther away, and we cannot see that much detail.

Step 8: Even though we used less pressure for the background leaves, all the lines still look kind of the same. So let’s make the closest leaves stand out.

Trace over their outer edges with a bit more hand pressure. Do not trace the vein lines.

Step 9: To make them stand out even more, take your pencil and shade them completely. You can shade the stems if they are thick enough, or skip them.

Step 10: Now let’s add some shadows. With a little more pressure, shade just a few parts of a leaf: the part where a fold creates a shadow, near the stems, or wherever you like. Don’t overdo it.

Step 11: To finish, let’s add even more background leaves. These will be the farthest away, so we will draw them with a pencil. Make them the smallest so far and use very little pressure. Draw them around the middle of the page.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

This drawing is a bit unusual, and I am not sure everyone will be able to tell what we drew. But that is not the only reason we draw. If it makes sense to us, then it is a success.

This one is all about simplifying. We started with the closest leaves, the ones with all the little details. But as the leaves move farther away, they lose those details. The shapes become simpler and softer, until eventually they are just little hints of objects.

And somehow, it still works. We see the closest leaves clearly, and our imagination does the rest.

When you finish this drawing, you can show it to a friend and ask if they can tell what it is. If they can, wonderful. If not, you have made a tiny mystery drawing. Either way, I hope you had fun making it. Let me know how it turns out.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: medium

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Under The Sea

Inspired by: photo by Elsa Puga

August is already here! So we’re starting a new drawing category. This month, we’re going under the sea. Think tropical fish, coral reefs, crabs, starfish, seaweed, seashells, and jellyfish. As a bonus, this August has five Sundays, so we’ll have an extra drawing to look forward to.

This week we’re drawing a seashell. Its swirly shape, rough and smooth textures, and sharp points are what give this drawing its character.

This is one of those drawings that looks harder than it actually is. We’ll start slow and easy, then add details as we go.

Put on your favorite summer playlist, and let’s draw.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: Take your pencil, and let's first map out the sketch. Near the top of the page, draw three ellipses for the swirly top of the shell.

Step 2: Add several vertical lines for the main body of the shell.

Step 3: Take your pen and trace the lines of the shell's body.

Step 4: Add another line for one of the folds. Let it follow the shape of the shell. This part is very pointy and rough, so make the line wobbly. The top has one large point, while the rest is made of many smaller ones.

Step 5: Draw the next two points behind the first one.

Step 6: Now trace the swirly top of the shell. Make all the lines wobbly. Add two dashed lines across the bottom two ellipses. They mark the change in the surface of the shell.

Step 7: Add another vertical line next to the opening of the shell. Make sure to add a small pointed section near the top.

Step 8: Now add some vertical lines to the top part to show its texture. Each wobbly line represents one of the pointed ridges of the shell.

At this point, it is clearly a seashell. You can stop here, add more details or shading on your own, or follow the next steps to make it a little more detailed.

Step 9: Let's add a pattern to the outside of the shell. Draw diagonal wobbly lines above the points. Below them, add slightly curved horizontal lines. Draw all of these lines with a very light touch.

Step 10: Add a few scratch marks to the top of the smooth part of the shell. Keep them short and light.

Step 11: Now let's add texture to the top of the shell. Draw columns of little smile-shaped lines around the lines we already added. These lines suggest the raised ridges of the shell. Leave a small gap between each column. Draw them only up to the dashed line, and only on the bottom two ellipses.

Step 12: Now we'll draw the indented parts of the texture. Add little sad-shaped lines in the gaps between the columns of smile lines. Draw them only on the bottom ellipse.

Step 13: The last part of the texture is a few wavy lines. Add them above the dashed lines on all three ellipses.

With that, all the pen details are finished. You can stop here or continue with the next steps to add shading and give the drawing more depth.

Step 14: Take your pencil, and let's add the shading. The light comes from the left side of the page, so the right sides of the top section will be in shadow, as well as the right side of the shell's body. Shade the opening of the shell and the edges of the smooth section too. Fill all of these areas with an even tone.

Step 15: Now shade every other texture line on the body of the shell.

Step 16: On the top part, shade the columns of the sad-shaped lines. Also add shadows to the right of the texture lines on the body, just above the pointed ridges.

Step 17: Add another layer of darker shading inside the opening of the shell. This will make it look deeper.

Step 18: For the final touches, take your pen and retrace just a few lines with a bit more pressure. This will make them stand out. Go over all the pointed ridges on the body, the vertical lines on the right side of the top section, and just the upper-right edge of the smooth part. Don't overdo it. Just a few darker lines here and there will make the drawing feel more finished.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

The finished drawing looks intimidating, but if you look at the steps, they are much simpler. This is a great example of building a drawing from the main shapes and gradually adding more and more detail.

Trust the process and just start. I have included two natural stopping points, so you can finish early if it starts to feel like too much. But don’t let the finished drawing scare you away from giving it a try.

As I said, this drawing looks harder than it is. Think of it as one of those drawings you’d love to be able to say, “I drew that.” Give it a try!

I hope you’ll draw this one,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: medium

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Travel Essentials

Imagine you are packing for a short trip and your mom is calling from the other room: “Honey, have you packed…” How would she finish that sentence?

I know mine always reminds me of an extra pair of socks. Winter or summer, long trip or short one, an extra pair somehow always feels necessary. So that is what we are drawing today: a soft little pair of socks.

Settle into a cozy corner, grab your favorite drink, and let’s start.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: We will draw two socks, one on top of the other. First, let’s draw their silhouettes. Start with a line that goes at an angle, over the heel, and all the way to the toes. Place it near the right edge of the paper.

Step 2: Draw the same line for the second sock, just above it and a bit tilted. Then add a second line, from the tip of the toes to the ankle. The top of this sock is folded. Add the top of the bottom sock as well. This one is regular.

Step 3: Add the folded cuff of the upper sock. Draw an ellipse for the opening. Add a line from the bottom of the ellipse to the left, where the fold starts.

Step 4: Take your pen and trace the sketch. Leave out the tops for now. Add some folds near the toes and heels.

Step 5: With very light lines, add more fold lines all over. Avoid the area above the ankles.

Step 6: Add the ribbed knit pattern from the ankle to the top of the socks. Draw the lines lightly, and make them as parallel as possible.

The lines on the bottom sock are just vertical. On the top sock, they follow its tilt. They go in three directions: diagonal to the right from the ankle to the fold, diagonal to the left from the fold to the top, and almost vertical on the inner side.

Step 7: Now add the tops of the socks. They are made of little arches, like small rainbow shapes. Each one goes from one knit pattern line to the next.

Step 8: To add some details, let’s add two stripes near the top. To draw them, use the same little arch lines from the previous step. One stripe has two such lines. Then leave some space and draw another two lines for the next stripe.

The last thing to add is the seam lines. They are on the heels and near the toes. Each one is just a line made of many little dashes.

Step 9: Take your pencil, and let’s first add some color. The stripes and heels are a different color, so let’s go over them in pencil. Use an even, light tone.

Step 10: Now let’s add some shading. We already added the colored parts with pencil, so to avoid mixing them up, we will add the shading in a darker tone.

Add shading around the toes and all the bigger folds. Add it inside the opening of the top sock and below the folded cuff. Add the shadow that the top sock casts on the bottom one.

You can also add shadows to the colored heels. Just make sure the shadow is in a darker tone.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

I think this was my first time drawing socks. The hardest part for me was the toe area. Like, how is it even supposed to look? I took a bunch of socks from my drawer and tried to arrange them so the toe part would look drawable. I did not succeed once. Conclusion: sock toes will look weird no matter how you draw them. So no stress.

A pair of socks is such a random thing to draw, but this one turned out surprisingly nice. It shows that almost anything can be worth drawing if you look at it long enough.

Wishing you a cozy day,

Yours in ink and paper

P.S. Could you do me a favor and share this with a friend? Just forward this email and say something like:

“Hey, these socks look smelly, so naturally I thought of you. Wanna draw together?”

And if you’re the friend... first of all, rude. Second, welcome! You should probably subscribe and draw with us every week.

Subscribe now

Difficulty: easy

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Travel Essentials

Today, we are drawing another thing we really should not forget when traveling: a phone charger. The longer the trip, the more things we pack that need charging: a phone, a laptop, headphones, another phone, a smartwatch, a camera, Bluetooth speakers. Then there is a power bank or two for charging on the go. Even cars have charging cables now.

To avoid overpacking, we are drawing just one. Small, useful, and very easy to lose. Let’s start.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: This drawing is 30% charger block and 70% cable. First, let’s map that in. Draw a rectangle for the charger block and two circles below it for the cable loops.

Step 2: Now let’s turn the rectangle into a charger block. It consists of one big rectangle and one smaller, flatter rectangle. We see only two sides of the larger rectangle, so draw the vertical lines curving outward.

The smaller one is simple to draw. Add two lines sticking out from it to represent the pins that go into the wall outlet.

Step 3: Now, outside of the original rectangle we drew, let’s add the smaller part that connects to the cable. It looks like one small rectangle and an even smaller tube.

Step 4: Next is the connector, the part that connects to the phone. Place it somewhere in the middle between the two circles we drew for the cable. It looks like a flattened tube.

Then add another line for the part of the cable that goes from the connector toward the back of the charger block.

Step 5: To finish the connector, add a small rectangle at one end and a small tube at the other.

Step 6: Take your pen and trace the charger block. The two pins that go into the outlet have rounded tips. I also made the tips thicker than the rest of the pins, but that is optional. You can just draw the pins as straight tubes and then add a line that marks the tip.

Trace the connector as well.

Step 7: Now we are turning the circles into cable. First, draw the part of the cable that starts at the connector. Draw it until it reaches the top part of the smaller circle.

Draw the smaller cable loop. Keep in mind that one part of it goes under, and one part goes over the cable starting at the connector.

Step 8: Draw the rest of the cable. Trace over the larger circle. Then add the final part of the cable. It connects to the cable part that starts at the connector and goes behind the charger block.

Step 9: For finishing touches, add light horizontal lines on the edges of the rectangles of the charger block and on the tips of the pins.

On the side of the charger block, add wiggly lines to represent the safety, electrical, and product markings. No one knows what they mean anyway, so there is no need to make them too detailed. Mine are just triangles and squares with extra lines and dots. Draw as many as you have space for.

Step 10: Take your pencil and add shadows. Shade the sides of the charger block and the connector.

Step 11: The light is coming from the top-left side of the paper, so shade each right and bottom side you find on the cable.

Step 12: Now add the shadows that the charger is casting on the ground. These shadows are very sharp and should be drawn as solid shapes. This is not the type of shadow that gradually disappears.

Add the shadow cast by the charger block. Because of the angle of the light, the shadow does not look like a rectangle. It looks more like a triangle.

Also add the shadow that the largest rectangle casts onto the smaller one on its right.

Then add the shadow of the connector. This one looks like the connector and the part of the cable next to it. Make sure that the cable and its shadow do not touch. That is because the cable is not touching the ground there.

Step 13: Add the rest of the shadows cast by the cable. They are all on the sides where we already drew shadows on the cable.

The cable is very light, so it lifts off the ground in many places. That is why the shadows on the ground mostly do not touch the cable. They only touch in places where the cable is touching the ground.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

There are two things I want you to notice in this drawing.

The first is the thickness of the cable. A real cable has the same thickness along its whole length. But that is not the case in my drawing. One reason is perspective. The lower part of the drawing is closest to the viewer, so that part of the cable should look slightly larger. But the main reason is just because I like it that way. I think a perfectly even cable would be a little boring to draw and a little boring to look at. This way, it is thinner here, thicker there, wobbly in the middle. Fun.

The second thing is the shadows. They really do take the drawing to another level. When some shadows touch the cable and others sit slightly away from it, they help explain where the cable rests on the ground and where it lifts a little. Just like the cable, the shadows do not need to be perfect. They can be a little uneven too.

Finding all the little places where a shadow might be was my favorite part of this drawing. What was your favorite part? Let me know, just reply to this email.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: easy

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Travel Essentials

Inspired by: photo by Rylee Yi

This week, we are drawing an object I personally forget most often when packing for a trip: a claw clip. Which is unfortunate, because five minutes into summer heat, it suddenly becomes the most important object in the world.

I love having one with me during summer trips, so I can put my hair up when it gets too hot and, as always, a hair tie is nowhere to be found.

Claw clips are simple little things and easy to draw. The little teeth may look tricky, but we will simplify them, so this is going to be a gentle one.

Play some relaxing music, settle into a quiet corner, and let’s draw.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: First, let’s draw the biggest parts of the claw clip: the teeth area and one handle, the part you press.

For the teeth area, draw a very wide V, and then another one below it. The handle is just a circular shape near the base of the upper V.

Step 2: The handle is not a perfect circle. It is bent and curved at the top, so let’s make its final shape with one wobbly line. Then double that line to create the body of the handle.

Do the same with the top line of the claw body, which is the upper line of the teeth area.

Step 3: Let’s tackle the teeth now. Draw vertical lines to fill the entire teeth area. The space between two lines will become one tooth, so keep the lines spaced out and as even as you can.

Step 4: Add the bottom handle. Simply draw two circles behind the top handle.

Step 5: Now let’s connect the handles. We need to add the metal spring and the parts that hold it.

First, let’s add the spring holders. Think of them like adding ears to a bear drawing. Only this time, the bear is our bottom handle. Add the ears as two upside-down U shapes. Make sure they touch the upper handle.

The spring is just a tube shape. Keep in mind that it should sit exactly between its two holders.

Step 6: Take your pen, and let’s trace what we have. Trace everything except the teeth area.

Step 7: Add half-circle lines to the spring to create its texture. Then add details to the spring holders. Add one line that follows the shape of each holder to make them look more 3D.

Add a dot in the middle of each holder for the pin that holds the spring. Add another line toward the top handle to suggest a second little pin mechanism.

Step 8: To better show the shape of the claw body, let’s add some texture to it. Add light lines near the left edges of the handles.

Step 9: Time for the teeth. We will draw them one by one. They are interlocked, with one coming from the top and the next one coming from the bottom. We need to keep that in mind so we do not mix the order.

We already have little spaces for each tooth. To draw them, we will make U shapes, slightly curved to the right. They should take up as much space as possible, but make sure they do not go outside their little spaces.

The first tooth comes from the top arm of the claw. The second one comes from the bottom, as an upside-down U shape. Then again from the top arm, and so on.

Take your time here. This part looks harder than it is.

Step 10: Now let’s connect the teeth to the arms of the claw. First, add the line for the bottom arm. Make sure it does not touch any of the teeth. Then, above that, add a second line for the other side of the bottom arm. This one goes behind the teeth.

We already have a pencil line for the missing part of the top arm. Just trace over it, connecting it to each tooth attached to it.

Step 11: Just like we added texture lines to the handles, we will add them to the teeth and arms. Add light lines to the left sides of the teeth.

If you have space, you can add one line near the bottom edge of the top arm. I didn’t add it to the bottom arm, because there was no space.

Step 12: Let’s add a bit of shading. Shade the empty spaces between the teeth, the parts that are not actually the claw. Then lightly shade the entire bottom handle.

Finally, shade the ground where the claw is touching it.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

This drawing has a lot of repeated parts: teeth, arms, handles. That can have a relaxing effect: doing the same simple thing over and over. Let yourself slow down with it. One line, then another. Enjoy the process.

If you feel like sharing, send me your finished drawing. I would love to see it. You can reply to this letter, just like replying to any other email, or DM me on Instagram.

Stay mindful,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: hard

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Travel Essentials

Inspired by: photo by cottonbro studio

This is the first letter of July, and that means we are switching to a new category. This month, we will draw travel essentials: some of the little things that end up on our packing lists. Four cozy little objects, four small travel moments. Let’s start with the first one.

When it comes to packing for travel, the first question that always pops into my mind is: wait… do I know where my suitcase is? Luckily, I don’t have to go looking for it right now. I can just draw it from a picture.

The one we will draw is overstuffed, with a few clothes sticking out, which feels like a very familiar situation. The good news is that we do not have to zip this one up. Let’s draw.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: Let’s start very simple: a basic rectangular box. This is going to be the entire drawing space, so make it big.

Step 2: Now let’s separate it into two parts: the lid and the base of the suitcase. They are not parallel. The lid is connected to the base on one side and more separated on the opposite side. So make the lid more tilted, especially the top-right corner.

Step 3: Take your pen, and let’s start turning this into a suitcase. Trace the lines of the lid, but make the corners rounded. Leave out the space where the wheels are going to be. Double the bottom line where the zipper is going to be.

Step 4: Now comes the hard part — the wheels. Wheels and their little supporting parts have very specific shapes, so this part can feel a bit awkward.

Think of them simply as pairs of little double-outlined circles connected with some weird shapes. I advise you not to care about them too much. Just draw what you can and leave it. Don’t overcorrect them or press your pen too hard. You can come back to them later and fix them.

The wheels are the trickiest part of this drawing, but also the least important. They are small, they will be colored black, and no one will inspect them too closely. Do your best and move on.

Step 5: Trace over the base of the suitcase and double the top line for the zipper. Leave empty spaces for the handle and the clothes sticking out.

Step 6: Draw the clothes sticking out from the suitcase. It is just a bunch of wavy lines and part of a sleeve or a sock.

Step 7: Draw the inner pocket of the suitcase. It is just two parallel lines. Then, above that, add some random lines to indicate the rest of the suitcase contents.

Step 8: To add the handle, first draw a sideways U shape with a longer top part. Then, from there, add two parallel curved lines. If they overlap with the clothes sticking out, make sure that parts of the handle are hidden. If they are not hidden by the clothes, add a matching sideways U shape for the end of the handle.

Step 9: Now we will add texture lines on the lid of the suitcase. First, take your pencil and draw a rectangular frame within which the texture is going to be. Leave a bit of space on each side, so it does not touch the edges or the wheels. Then draw two vertical lines inside the frame. The two inner lines, together with the left and right sides of the frame, give us four guide lines. Each guide line will become one texture line.

Step 10: Take your pen and draw the texture of the suitcase. Treat each pencil line like the middle of a texture line. With your pen, draw one line on each side of each pencil line.

Step 11: What is left is the most fun part — coloring. Color in both zipper lines and the handle. Then color the wheels.

While coloring, try to make your lines follow the shape you are coloring. You can make them completely black, or you can leave out some spaces. If you choose the second option, I recommend coloring the entire wheels in one even shade first, and then making the parts that roll on the ground even darker. That way, we will still have the feeling that they are wheels and not just random shapes.

Step 12: Add a horizontal line so our suitcase is not floating in space. Then, with your pencil, add a bit of shading. Make the inside of the suitcase darker, and add a shadow near the bottom part, where the suitcase is touching the ground.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

This drawing is a bit harder, mainly because of the wheels. That is why they are filled in black — to make them, and any little mistakes, less obvious. So don’t stress over them. They are just a small part of the drawing.

A simple way to make this easier is to draw the wheels in pencil first. That way, you can erase, adjust, and only trace them with a pen once you are happy with the shape.

This drawing may require a bit of courage, but it is just lines on paper. You can do it!

I hope July brings you calm moments and good little adventures,

Yours in ink and paper

P.S. Based on the drawings some of you sent me, I noticed that most of you draw in rectangular sketchbooks. So I am switching from square paper to rectangular paper as well. I will be using A6 paper: 10.5 × 14.8 cm, or 4.1 × 5.8 inches.

Difficulty: medium

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Summer Goodies

Inspired by: photo by Ralphs_Fotos

To finish June drawings in style, we are treating ourselves to an ice cream drawing, and maybe a real one, too. How does an ice cream cone with two scoops sound?

Find a cool corner, play some calm music, and let’s get started before it melts.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: First, draw the shapes for the scoops. Draw two larger circular shapes for the scoops and one smaller shape for the licked part. They are not perfect circles, so don’t stress over the shapes.

Step 2: Now draw a V for the cone. You can make it longer or narrower if you wish. A smaller cone will make the scoops appear larger — a bigger ice cream portion. A larger cone will make it look like more cone and less ice cream.

Add a pointed part to the smallest circle. It will show that this part has already been licked. Then add some circular lines to the biggest scoop.

Step 3: Take your pen and start tracing over the scoops. Keep the lines wobbly and imperfect. Scoops are not perfect balls. They have little dents and melty parts. Leave an empty spot on the lower line of the bottom scoop for the drip.

Step 4: Add many light lines inside the scoops to show the texture. Use as little pressure as possible while making those lines. Add the drip.

Step 5: Trace over the cone. Add the waffle pattern with two sets of parallel lines. Space them out so the pattern looks large.

Step 6: Build up the texture of the cone. Add short, light lines close to the existing crisscross lines. In each little diamond shape, add one light line along the top edge and one along the right edge. Make those lines short and light, just little indications. Don’t let them touch each other.

Step 7: Everything from here is optional. Your ice cream is already done. You can stop here if you are satisfied with the drawing, or you can stay a little longer and add a few more details.

I felt like mine looked too clean, so I added some scratchy lines. Just outline the two scoops and the cone with fast, short lines. Do not go over the cone’s waffle pattern or the lightest texture lines in the scoops.

Step 8: Then I felt like mine looked too flat, so I added some shadows. Take your pencil and very lightly draw a shadow near the right side of the cone and below the bottom scoop. There is no need to make it look complicated. Just shade part of the cone in one even tone. Ignore the waffle pattern for this part and shade right over it.

Step 9: In the same uniform tone, add shadows to the right sides of the scoops. Use the texture marks as the edges of the shadow areas. Don’t shade the drip.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

Ice cream is something we can all easily imagine, and there is no strict rule for how it must look. One scoop can be bigger than the other, one side can be more melted, one part can already be licked. It will still look like ice cream. So it is really hard to make a mistake with this one. Just relax and enjoy the process.

A drawing like this has a lot of charm, exactly because every version will be a little different. Send me a picture of your drawing if you feel like sharing. I would love to see how yours turned out.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: medium

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Summer Goodies

Badminton has always been one of those gentle summer games that my family and I could make as relaxed or as chaotic as we felt like. A few rackets, a little space, little to no wind, and this strange feathery thing flying through the air.

And that thing has a name: shuttlecock.

I don’t know about you, but this is exactly the kind of word I always almost remember. I know the object. I know the game. I can see it clearly. But the name? It takes a second.

This week, we are giving the little badminton mystery its sketchbook moment. Let’s draw a shuttlecock. Actually, let’s draw two: one fresh and upright and a fallen one that has clearly seen a few games.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: First, draw two circles. One goes at the top right, and the other goes at the bottom, a bit to the left.

If you somehow draw perfect circles on the first try, wonderful. But if you are like the rest of us, build them slowly with a few light lines until the general shape looks like a circle.

Step 2: Add the shapes for the skirts of our little feathery things. Notice how the lines go wider from the middle toward the end of the skirt.

Step 3: If you drew two perfect circles, skip this step. If not, gently half-erase them. The idea is to erase enough so the lines we add over them will not be interrupted, but still keep enough of the original circle so it can guide you.

Step 4: At the base of the top shuttle, add the lines for the black band that connects the tip and the skirt. The horizontal lines should be slightly curved. Add two vertical lines to hold them together.

Add the same band to the lower shuttle. Make its lines more curved, following the edge of the half-erased circle.

Step 5: Trace a line over both half-erased circles.

Step 6: Pause and check. The most important part of the drawing is done. Take a look and see if everything feels right. Do the angles look good? Is the tip the right size? Does the band below it follow the shape?

If everything looks good now, your final drawing will be good. If something is off, fix it now. It will be harder to fix later.

Step 7: Add one straight line in the center of each shuttle to represent the stem of a feather. Then add two curved lines in the top half of the skirt. These will become the thread bands that hold the feathers together. Make sure the ones on the bottom shuttle are more curved, especially near the edges.

Step 8: Add lines for the rest of the feather stems. Make sure they follow the curve of the skirt, getting wider in the lower half. The last feather stem should be near the edge of the skirt.

Step 9: Draw the basic shapes of the feathers on our new shuttle. They are overlapping, so decide which ones sit in front. No need to draw them on the fallen shuttle. That one is well-used, so it will not hold its form perfectly.

With this, our sketch is done. This is a good moment for a little break. Rest your eyes, shake out your hand, and come back when you feel ready. Then grab your pen, and let’s start the fun part.

Step 10: Trace the lines of the tip, the band, and the top of the feather stems.

Step 11: For each feather stem, add two more lines, one on each side of the line you already have. Make the new lines go all the way to the bottom. They do not need to be perfect. Draw them with multiple strokes.

Step 12: Trace the line for the thread band. Make a small upward-facing semicircle whenever the thread line meets a feather stem. Then repeat by adding a second line just below it. This will make the thread band thicker.

Step 13: Add the new feathers. Trace them lightly. Add a little split here and there for a bit of variety.

Step 14: Add the well-used feathers. They are mostly random lines. Leave one stem completely without feathers. Let another one have feathers only on one side.

Step 15: Now we are adding details. Fill in the bands near the tips, but do not fill them perfectly.

Add light lines near the edges of the feathers. Draw them from the outside toward the stem. Keep them parallel.

Step 16: Final little touches. Erase the sketch line near the feather base of the fallen shuttle.

Take your pencil again and draw some light lines where the shuttles touch the ground. They will act as shadows.

Add a small line on each tip to show its shape better. Then add the feather stems that are on the other side of the shuttle. Draw them as simple, thicker lines between the pen stems.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

This little drawing is a bit harder and has more steps, but the result is totally worth it. Once your sketch holds the structure of the shuttles well, you are 82.94% done.

If this drawing feels like too much today, you can draw just one shuttle. The new one is easier to draw, but the old one has more character. You can always add the other one later.

Did you find this one challenging? Are you proud of your result? Let me know.

If you feel like sharing, send me your finished drawing. I would love to celebrate your little accomplishment with you.

For the quiet pride of making something,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: easy

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Summer Goodies

Inspired by: my wish to go camping and a photo by Araz Yurtseven

Camping gear has become so advanced lately. Tents can be so luxurious that you would rather stay inside than explore the wilderness outside. But this week, we are going back to basics. A single piece of fabric hanging from a few branches. That is our tent.

If you can, go outside. Find a cozy spot in the shade. Play some forest sounds: birds, running water, wind in the foliage. Open your sketchbook and enjoy.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: First, let’s mark where our tent is going to hang. Usually, that would be clean, flat ground with a nice view. Today, it is four dots placed around the page.

The first dot marks the top of the tent. Place it in the middle of the page, near the top. The second dot marks the right edge of the tent. Place it lower down and close to the edge. The third one is near the center, but a bit to the left. The fourth one is on the left. Make it slightly higher than the second one. The last three dots should be about the same distance from the edge of the paper.

Step 2: Now let’s connect the dots. It is basically two inverted V’s. Make sure that the line connecting dots one and four is not a direct line between the two. It should drop more sharply near the first dot. That is because the fabric of the tent is hanging, and its weight is pulling the line down.

Step 3: Add the fabric lines that mark the open tent entrance. Then add the line marking the place where the tent meets the ground. That line should connect dots two and four. To make it easier, you can connect them all the way and then erase the part that is hidden by the front of the tent.

Step 4: Now include the sticks that are holding up the tent. Do not make them too straight. Ideally, the empty space above the sticks should be about the same as the space between the three bottom dots and the edge of the paper. Add the rope line connecting the tent to the sticks. And our sketch is done.

Step 5: Grab your pen and trace the tent. Leave out the lines at the top of the entrance for now.

Step 6: The fabric is folded at the top of the entrance. Draw it as shown in the picture, but don’t stress over it. Then add a few lines to represent the folds. Place them near the top and bottom of the tent. Keep these lines lighter and straighter.

Step 7: Add in more folds. Let the lines follow the flow of the fabric. Draw them with less pressure and faster strokes.

Step 8: Trace the sticks. Decide right away which one is in front and draw that one first. For the sticks, use more pressure and short strokes. Make each line straight, but change the angle slightly. That way, the small lines will not merge into one perfectly straight line.

Step 9: Add the rope and tie it to the sticks. Then add texture to the sticks with some very light lines. When drawing them, apply as little pressure as possible. With that, our little tent is done.

Step 10: If you are satisfied with your drawing, you can finish here. A simple tent is enough. But if you feel like staying in the forest a little longer, you can add a background. All the lines from here should be made with very little pressure. Keep your hand relaxed and your lines short. You can also draw the background in pencil if you prefer.

To place the tent in a forest, let’s add a line for the ground. Above that, add some wiggly lines to represent the bushes. Draw them with many short lines that do not touch each other.

Step 11: Draw vertical lines to represent tree trunks. Add more wiggly lines in the bushes. Keep them short and light.

Step 12: Add more wiggly lines near the top. They represent higher bushes or foliage from the trees. Texture the ground with some zigzag lines. Add more of them where the tent touches the ground to create a shadow effect. And you are done!

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

This drawing is all about the quality of the lines. They are slow and intentional. Fast and bold. Light and delicate. It is all about using the right type of line in the right place. You can add as much or as little as you like.

I recommend taking an extra piece of paper and placing it next to your main one. Then, whenever you need to draw a new type of line, use that extra paper to practice first. It will help relax your hand and make your lines more confident. Once you are happy with the style of your lines, you can switch to your main paper.

Individual lines are not important here. If one line goes weird, five more will come along and distract from it. So enjoy your lines. That is the most fun part.

This drawing was very relaxing for me. Especially the background. How did it feel for you? Was there a part where you just went into the zone, one line after another?

Reply to this email if you feel like sharing. I would really like to hear from you.

I hope you have a calm day,

Yours in ink and paper

Difficulty: easy to medium

Materials: pen and pencil

Monthly category: Summer Goodies

Inspired by: photo by Mai In May

June brings summer with it, so that will be our inspiration for this month’s category. With Summer Goodies, we will cover favorite little parts of summer that await us this month. So let’s start with the tastiest one.

I LOVE strawberries. Deciding between fresh ones or the ones in a cake is a real struggle. I won’t lie, eating them is more fun than drawing them, but here we are. If you can, find a few real strawberries to use as models. They can serve as a reward later. Play some relaxed summer music. Grab your sketchbook.

Settle In and Draw

Step 1: Let’s start with the strawberries themselves. Place them in the bottom-right corner of the page, not too close to the edges. Make them overlap. The one closer to us is bigger, so make it slightly longer. Smaller strawberries are usually more round, so apply that to the second one.

Step 2: Add stems as simple lines. Do not press your pencil too hard. If your hand feels stiff wiggle it a bit. Relax, this part will not ruin the drawing.

Step 3: Now add leaves, flowers and a baby strawberry. Draw leaf by leaf, no rush. Enjoy the process. This is all we need for a simple sketch.

Step 4: Now switch to pen. Start with leaves, tracing the pencil lines. Make sure to leave small empty spaces where the stems will come out from under the leaves.

Step 5: Trace flower petals and strawberries. This is your final chance to change their shape if you wish.

Step 6: Add in steams. Biggest strawberry is closest to us, so draw its stem first. Make steam parts closer to strawberries as thin as possible. It is okay if steam lines touch (it makes it more artsy). Parts near the top of page should be thicker.

Step 7: Strawberry seeds are next. Make them by drawing simple dashes. Be sure they are not too small. Start by drawing a row of dashes near the side of the strawberry. Follow its curve. Draw the next row of dashes next to it. Then start new row from opposite side of a strawberry, following that curve. Continue until the whole area is filled.

Step 8: It is time for finishing touches. Finish strawberry seeds. Add some random seeds mostly around the sides of each strawberry. Do not forget about baby strawberry. Add random lines in the middle of leaves to create texture.

Step 9 (optional): If it bothers you, you can erase pencil marks that are still visible. You want to avoid smudges. So be sure all pen lines are completely dry before doing so.

Gentle Tips for Easier Drawing

The two main strawberries are the most important part of this drawing. If you draw them nicely, everything else will follow. What you want to pay attention to is their shape, size — even bigger than mine would be fine — overlap, and seeds. They do not need to be perfect, but you do need to like them.

The good thing is that once you sketch your two strawberries, you can relax. Everything after that should feel like a vacation. So enjoy it.

Tell me if you had trouble drawing this one. Were there any hard parts? If you are feeling bold, send me your finished drawing. Reply to this email, and I will make sure to send a few words back. Or post it on socials, if that feels easier.

I hope to hear from you soon,

Yours in ink and paper