A Guide to start sketching in only 10-Minutes a Day
How to become a Ten Minute Artist (Ver 0.1)
I’ve written about the benefits of this practice, here’s how to get started!
This guide offers a simple, effective way to integrate sketching into your routine, effortlessly. By linking sketching to an existing habit, creativity becomes a natural part of your day. Whether with morning coffee or a lunch break, find your moment to express yourself.
Transform everyday moments into artistic adventures, starting now.
Block out 10 minutes to Sketch Daily.
The easiest way to start this habit is to slot it into an existing habit.
This guide is designed to seamlessly integrate sketching into your daily routine. Making the time for this new habit by blocking it into your calendar is the most important part of building a creative habit. Create a backup session for days when you miss your ideal session.
For example, Draw with your morning coffee, but if you miss it, draw during lunch (or before bed)
Decide now:
In your sketchbook write a declaration of your new habit.
Something like this:
I Adam Ming, will fill a spread in my sketchbook daily while I drink my morning coffee.
In the event I miss this morning appointment, I will fill a spread while I eat my midday meal.
Then put the sketchbook next to the coffee machine. Do your version of this.
Sketching Equipment.
All you need is a sketchbook and something to draw with.
Ideally, these will fit into your pocket. But if you start to collect additional gear, you might consider a small ‘go bag’.
I use a Bellroy sling bag that fits a medium-sized sketchbook. However, I recommend a small sketchbook if you’re starting. Something with a hardcover.
One of my favorite drawing books for beginners1 came with 3 drawing instruments.
A Red Pencil
A Black Drawing Pen
A Black Watercolour Pencil
You can get a lot of mileage out of those materials.
The red pen provides a pop of color, and the watercolor pencils allow for quick washes and fills. The pen provides a simple strong line that ties the other materials together.
It’s a good idea to limit your drawing materials when starting so that you can get to know them more intimately. But feel free to have guests materials whenever you like.
My recommended sketchbook kit would include:
Sling Bag
Sharpener
A Red Pencil
A Blackwing Pencil
Small Hardcover Sketchbook
Loaded brush pen for washes
An Artliner out Brush Sign pen
Techniques and Setups: Drawing from Experience
Start with a Frame: This helps in planning your composition. You can try different frame dimensions for different subjects. When you need to do a really quick sketch you can draw a tiny frame and just do a tiny sketch.
Combine Text with Sketches: Add narrative depth to your sketches. Or start with a journal entry and illustrate that. Social media text posts can be a great source of sketching inspiration.
Experiment with Styles: From quick doodles to drawings from life, explore various sketching approaches.
What to draw ?!
Make a list of 10 - 100 things you like to draw and write them in your sketchbook. When stumped draw from this list of subjects. Combine 2 or 3 subjects for really unique outcomes.
Another approach is to split your spread into 4 sections, and fill each section with doodles based on the letter of an alphabet.2
Exercise: 8 Minute Draw
This exercise was introduced by Ivan Brunette in the book ‘Cartooning’.
Use a timer.
Draw a subject for 4 minutes.
Draw it again for 2 minutes.
Draw it again for 1 minute
Draw in again in 5 seconds.
This exercise will produce really interesting gestures, and train you to draw and see quickly. Use it as often as you like.
Dispatches and Community:
Draw the subjects and do the exercise as often as you like.
I will email you more ideas each week for subjects and exercises. In the end, the point is for you to stick to building this habit. Starting January 1st, 2024, I will post gallery threads on X and Threads for you to share your work and meet other Ten Minute Artists.
Leave a comment with your questions and I will develop and expand this guide accordingly.
Drawing daily will change your life.
You will spend as little as 10 minutes. But your brain will package new ideas each day once it gets used to having a place to play with them. The goal is not perfection but documentation and reference.
Anyone can benefit from this practice of paying attention and focusing on creating.
Drawing for the Artistically Undiscovered
Inspired by Jarrett Lerner
Hi Adam, you inspired me to sketch daily and I'm happy to report that I'm currently on Day 44/44! I've explored everything you mentioned above, especially trying out different media. The sketch book allows me to disconnect from the screens and draw with a pencil, which I have always loved.
I am planning to join this 10 minutes challenge, mostly on Procreate, sometimes on paper. I have my procreate sketchbook all set up with a paper texture overlay and a centre gutter indicated to give real sketchbook feel. Let's see howany spreads I can create!!! Thankyou for the wonderful challenge