I've been through my own version of a drawing bootcamp more times than I can count. Every time I felt stuck, rusty, or just wanted to level up, I'd throw myself into a season of daily, messy, imperfect sketching. No fancy materials, no pressure to make “good art” — just the commitment to show up, observe, and draw what I saw. If you're thinking about giving yourself a personal drawing bootcamp, or just want a fresh start with your sketching habits, you're in the right place.
In this post, I'll walk you through how I approach a drawing bootcamp: focusing on observation, drawing big shapes first, embracing imperfections, and keeping it expressive and real. I'll be honest about what helped me, what I struggled with, and what eventually made the biggest difference.
Key Points
- Focus on big shapes first, then work toward the smaller details.
- Embrace imperfections and messy lines — they bring your drawings to life.
- Commit to daily, pressure-free sketching to build momentum and confidence.
Why a Drawing Bootcamp Works
When I fall into a rut, it's rarely because I forget how to draw. It's because I start overthinking it. I pressure myself to make “perfect” work instead of simply observing and responding. A drawing bootcamp resets all of that. By committing to daily drawing without judgment, I get my hand and eye working together again, naturally.
When I did my first real drawing bootcamp, it wasn't because I wanted a beautiful portfolio. It was because I realized I was scared to start sketching at all. If that sounds familiar, know you're not alone. Many people deal with this fear, something I talk about more in art phobia.
If you're interested in learning more about observational drawing, I have a whole section on nature journaling and urban sketching that taps into similar skills.
Setting Up Your Drawing Bootcamp
You don't need a strict curriculum to make this work. In fact, keeping it loose is half the point. Here's how I usually set up a personal drawing bootcamp for myself.
Choose Simple Materials
I used to think I needed the perfect pencil, the perfect sketchbook, the perfect environment. It turns out, all I really needed was something to draw with and something to draw on. Some of my best breakthroughs happened with a cheap ballpoint pen and a beat-up notebook.
These days, I naturally gravitate toward a classic BIC ballpoint pen. It's what I use in my sketchbook, when I'm nature journaling, and even for professional storyboard clients. There's something about the feel of a BIC pen on paper that helps me stay loose and expressive. It's simple, reliable, and honestly, it forces me to focus on the drawing itself instead of fussing with materials.
You could even experiment with different surfaces like drawing on black paper or using colored pencils on black paper.
If you want ideas for easy setups, check out sketchbook tips for beginners.
Pick a Daily Commitment
I usually set a minimum like “one sketch a day.” Sometimes I ended up sketching for an hour. Other days, I barely managed a quick coffee cup drawing. Both were wins. The important part is showing up, even when you don't feel inspired.
In my experience, it's more powerful to have a “low bar” commitment. Instead of “I'll fill 10 pages a day,” go with “I'll make one drawing.” Once you're moving, it's easier to keep going.
You can find a lot of inspiration for your daily sketching in simple daily drawing prompts.
Focus on Observing Big Shapes
When I start a drawing, I squint at the subject and try to see the big shapes first. Not the eyelashes, not the little folds of fabric — just the basic structure. I mentally map out the largest forms, lightly sketch them, and then I start layering in smaller shapes.
This was a huge breakthrough for me. It made complex subjects feel simple and manageable. If you want a deeper dive into building scenes this way, how to draw a scene and sketching scenes are great places to start.
How to Stay Expressive and Avoid Perfectionism
One of the biggest traps in a drawing bootcamp is tightening up too much. You want to stay loose, free, and a little bit messy. At first, this felt wrong to me. I thought messy drawings meant I wasn't improving. But actually, messy, energetic drawings helped me build much better skills over time.
Embrace Messy Lines
When I gave myself permission to let my lines be “wrong,” my drawings got so much better. Messy, searching lines have energy. They show your thought process. I dive deeper into this idea in messy drawings.
One tip that helped me was to use a pen instead of a pencil. Without the option to erase, I stayed committed to every line I put down. If you want a nudge in that direction, I recommend exploring drawing with ballpoint pen techniques.
Draw Imperfections
Every single artist I've admired — from da Vinci to contemporary illustrators — made imperfect drawings. There's a kind of beauty that only comes from the human hand, not from mechanical precision. I wrote more about this philosophy in drawing is imperfect.
If you catch yourself getting frustrated with wobbly lines or proportions that feel “off,” remind yourself: that's part of the story you're telling.
What to Draw During Your Bootcamp
You can draw literally anything. But if you're like me, it helps to have a loose structure or a list of ideas to keep you moving forward.
Here are a few things I like to sketch:
- Everyday objects: mugs, shoes, books
- Scenes around the house or neighborhood
- Wildlife sketching, even from photos
- Seasonal challenges like December drawing or September drawing
- Random ideas pulled from random themes to draw
When I feel stuck, I sometimes follow simple step-by-steps like how to draw a fish or how to draw a sunflower.
If you're more interested in imaginative sketching, you might enjoy browsing drawing themes for students or easy ideas for drawing.
How Long Should Your Drawing Bootcamp Last?
I usually plan for 30 days, but honestly, even 7 to 14 days can change everything. The important thing is to commit to a stretch of time that feels challenging but doable.
If you want to keep going after your initial bootcamp, you might enjoy tackling a sketchbook challenge or following monthly themes like topics for drawing.
And if you ever want a little more structure or community, I offer online sketching courses that guide you through similar challenges with a little more support.
Final Tips for a Successful Drawing Bootcamp
After doing several of these personal drawing bootcamps, here are a few final lessons I've learned the hard way:
- Draw first thing if you can. When I wait until evening, it's too easy to skip.
- Keep a “no pressure” mindset. Remember: this is practice, not performance.
- Celebrate messy pages. A filled, imperfect page is better than a blank, “perfect” one.
If you ever want extra encouragement, sketch quotes always boost my motivation.
And if you're curious about keeping your drawings organized long-term, I talk about that in how to store drawings and how to preserve a pencil drawing.
Most importantly, have fun with it. Drawing is meant to be an adventure, not a chore.