This advice comes from my personal experiences as a Colored Pencil beginner and this is what I would tell my past self.
To come up with this list, I spent some time looking back at my earliest drawings and notes that I made in an effort to remember what I struggled with and what questions I had.
Hopefully, it will help you!
And Challenge Yourself While You’re At It
I love drawing botanicals.
Big, bright flowers bursting with color. Peaches hanging gracefully from a branch. Pumpkins, pears, lilies, magnolias, and leaves that twist and turn just right. I’m drawn to white backgrounds, clean lines, and crisp contrast. That’s my happy place.
But maybe your passion is landscapes or portraits, wildlife or birds, or even abstract forms. The subject doesn’t matter as much as how it makes you feel—because let’s be honest, you’re far more likely to stick with it if you’re inspired by what you’re drawing. This is supposed to be fun, after all.
You’re not alone. A lot of beginner drawing exercises can feel… well, a little dull. And while they absolutely have their place (we all need to build skills!), it’s okay to want more.
So once you’ve completed a few foundational pieces, I say: go for something harder. Pick a subject that excites you. Something that challenges you just enough to spark that creative fire. Push your limits a little. It’s often the tougher projects—the ones that make you think, “Can I really pull this off?”—that end up pulling you in the most.
Tony Robbins said, “People aren’t lazy, they just don’t have goals that inspire them.” And honestly, I’ve found that to be true with art, too.
I was nervous about this poppy drawing—it was one of the first projects that felt like a real stretch. I remember thinking, Can I actually make this work?
I design my beginner drawing projects to be more than just practice—they’re stand-alone pieces you can be proud of. Clean, strong, and satisfying to complete. (I’ll show you a few below.)
These projects are designed to build confidence while producing something you can be proud to hang on the wall. Simple doesn’t mean boring—it means focused.
And once you’ve built that solid foundation, you’ll be ready to explore more complex, detail-rich compositions with confidence. Even if you’re not 100% sure you’re ready—especially if you’re not sure. Because that’s where growth happens. That’s where the magic lives.