1-Year Drawing Study Guide (Weekly Breakdown to Reach Intermediate Level)
Month 1: Drawing Foundations (Lines, Shapes, Observation)
Goal: Build hand control, observation skills, and basic understanding of form.
Tools:
● Pencil, sketchbook
● Digital: Procreate, Krita, or Medibang
Resources:
● YouTube: Drawabox (Lesson 1)
● Book: Keys to Drawing by Bert Dodson
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Line control drills, ghosting lines, shapes
● Week 2: Ellipses, basic forms (cubes, cylinders, spheres)
● Week 3: Observation sketches (cups, books, shoes)
● Week 4: Gesture drawing (30s to 2min poses)
Month 2: Perspective + Forms
Goal: Understand how to draw 3D space and complex forms.
Resources:
● YouTube: Drawabox (Lesson 2–3), ModernDayJames
● Book: Perspective Made Easy by Ernest Norling
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: 1-point perspective drills (rooms, hallways)
● Week 2: 2-point perspective (boxes, buildings)
● Week 3: Combining forms (stacking, rotating)
● Week 4: Draw simple objects in perspective
Month 3: Still Life + Light & Shadow
Goal: Render 3D objects with shading.
Resources:
● YouTube: Proko (Shading Basics)
● Book: How to Draw What You See by Rudy De Reyna
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Still life sketches (apple, mug, bottle)
● Week 2: Light logic (core shadows, cast shadows)
● Week 3: Value scales + shading techniques (hatching, blending)
● Week 4: 2 shaded still life studies
Month 4: Basic Anatomy (Simplified)
Goal: Begin understanding the human figure in motion.
Resources:
● YouTube: Proko (Figure Drawing Series)
● Book: Figure Drawing for All It's Worth by Andrew Loomis
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Proportions of the human body
● Week 2: Gesture drawing (2–5 min poses)
● Week 3: Simple mannequin figures
● Week 4: Reference figure drawing (SketchDaily, Line of Action)
Month 5: Heads and Faces
Goal: Learn facial structure and drawing expressions.
Resources:
● YouTube: Proko (Portrait Series)
● Book: Drawing the Head and Hands by Andrew Loomis
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Head proportions (Loomis method)
● Week 2: Features (eyes, nose, mouth)
● Week 3: Expressions and angles (3/4, side view)
● Week 4: Portraits from reference
Month 6: Hands and Feet + Clothing
Goal: Tackle common challenges and start basic design.
Resources:
● YouTube: Sycra, Ethan Becker (gesture/structure)
● Book: Morpho: Hands and Feet by Michel Lauricella
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Hand poses from reference
● Week 2: Feet studies + shoes
● Week 3: Clothing folds (hanging, tight, bending)
● Week 4: Draw full figures with clothes
Month 7: Character Drawing Start
Goal: Apply anatomy to creative characters.
Resources:
● YouTube: Ahmed Aldoori, MikeyMegaMega
● Prompt site: CharacterDesignReferences.com
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Character shape design (silhouettes)
● Week 2: Drawing poses with dynamic gestures
● Week 3: Expressions and emotion
● Week 4: Design 1 original character
Month 8: Color and Painting Basics
Goal: Understand color theory and start painting.
Resources:
● YouTube: Marco Bucci, Paintable
● Book: Color and Light by James Gurney
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Color wheel and warm vs cool
● Week 2: Simple object painting (apple, cube)
● Week 3: Study from master paintings (pick 1 or 2)
● Week 4: Paint your own still life
Month 9: Composition and Storytelling
Goal: Create stronger illustrations with purpose.
Resources:
● YouTube: Sinix Design, Ethan Becker
● Book: Framed Ink by Marcos Mateu-Mestre
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Thumbnail sketching for ideas
● Week 2: Rule of thirds, focal points
● Week 3: Telling a story with 1 image
● Week 4: Create 2 small narrative illustrations
Month 10: Style Exploration + Projects
Goal: Explore various art styles and media.
Resources:
● Study from: Artists you admire (Pinterest, ArtStation)
● Try: Ink, markers, watercolors (if possible)
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Copy 3 artists’ works (for study)
● Week 2: Mix styles + create 3 new characters
● Week 3: Explore new media (or brush sets)
● Week 4: Make a 1-page comic or story concept
Month 11: Portfolio Building & Revision
Goal: Polish best works and organize progress.
Resources:
● Use feedback (Discord servers, Reddit: r/learnart)
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Pick 5 best drawings to improve
● Week 2: Redraw or enhance them
● Week 3: Add 2 original new finished pieces
● Week 4: Organize portfolio (digital folder, or Instagram/ArtStation)
Month 12: Reflection & Final Challenge
Goal: Celebrate progress and challenge yourself.
Weekly Breakdown:
● Week 1: Choose 1 topic to deep dive
● Week 2: Study and draw that subject daily
● Week 3: Final illustration (your best work yet!)
● Week 4: Self-reflection journal + next-year plan
