Start with a line.

Drawing is a way of looking closely. A pencil, ordinary paper and a few quiet minutes are enough for a useful practice session.

Look closely. Draw simply.

Three small exercises to try

Choose a mug or a leaf. Follow the edge with your eyes and draw slowly, paying more attention to the object than to the page.

Break an object into circles, rectangles and triangles. Sketch those lightly before adding smaller details.

Make one light, one middle and one dark patch. Use these three tones to describe a small object beside a window.

Keep the first marks light

Soft initial lines are easier to adjust. Add darker marks only when you are happy with the main shapes.

Draw the spaces between things

Look at the gap beside a handle or between two objects. These empty shapes can help you judge proportions.

Date your sketches

Keep ordinary practice pages as well as favourites. Looking back makes small changes in your observation easier to see.

A sketchbook is a place to practise, not to perform.