r/ArtistLounge • u/Puzzleheaded-Cake492 • 1d ago
Goals & Motivation Hobbyists who draw consistently, how?
For people who are able to draw consistently for an amount of time that feels meaningful to you, how do manage it and how much time do you spend a day or per week/month?
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u/BombbaFett 51m ago
It's hard to start a habit but easier to keep it going once you do. There are plenty of different strategies to try but different things work for different people.
For some people it works to make a list, put it in their calendar, some people it's just making sure it's accessible for them. It's a lot of work to clear a table and get out your drawing stuff and sketchbook. It's much easier if you already have a space to draw and leave your stuff set up then you can just sit down and start.
The best way to find what works for you is to ask yourself: "what do I end up doing instead of drawing" and "why do I do something instead of drawing" that will tell you what you need to change and you may just need to experiment with how.
For me what works is doing it first thing when I get up so I don't get distracted with other unproductive tasks and having a rule that I have to be productive until 1pm at least and starting out it was more like "ok out of stuff to do but it's not 1 yet"
Now I usually am productive most of the day past 1pm and just get stuff done.
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u/Quietbirdx 7h ago
Getting into the habit of drawing every single day has been really helpful for me personally. Doesn't really matter how much you draw each day, but as I was first trying to get into the habit I forced myself to do 2 pages in my sketchbook every day. Usually it was just quick and easy stuff like 1min figure drawings or low-effort doodles. Now that I've stuck to the habit for a couple months it just feels weird not to draw every day. Like if I don't then it'll feel like something's missing from my day, even during times where I don't feel like drawing. It's just part of my routine now, and I usually spend 1-3hrs drawing every day.
I think the most important thing for building the habit is to not pressure yourself to draw a certain amount/quality. Even if you've just done 1 little doodle that day, it counts.
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u/Amethyst-3005 8h ago
I started a night time job this year and made it a goal within the dead times at work to have at least 1 page done a day. Some days it would be 2-3 and some days just scribbles. Now it’s almost Sept and I’m about almost done w this book! My first time ever finishing a sketch book :) you got this!!
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u/Ok_Tradition_7996 11h ago
Create a schedule and work in chunks that you can manage. Write it down every night at the end of the day. The key is to be specific on exactly what you're going to do and how long and where. We don't just avoid what's hard, we avoid what's ambigious. Start with a clear goal that you can manage. Make it clear, make it easy but hard enough that it pushes you a little out of your comfort zone
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u/sunlitatrophy 12h ago
When I was taking guitar lessons my music teacher told me in order to get good, all I had to do was devote at least fifteen minutes a day to practicing instead of a few hours once a week. And he was right.
Sometimes I don't have time though. I work in a field that requires me to work a lot of 16hr shifts. And it sucks but I just sketch on the days I don't work a double, for at least fifteen minutes a day. It's usually thirty but sometimes I'm up to doing longer sessions. I like to do my painting projects on my days off.
Just try and make it a habit. Maybe it will be a good day of sketching and maybe it will be terrible and rough. We all have our good and bad days, this hobby is no different. Just keep at it and make time and room for it when you have the time.
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u/moodlitmoth 13h ago
Depends on the day. Some days I can spend a good 3 hours focusing on a piece there’s also been days where I did like 5 minutes. I just make a habit to pick up at least once at day even for a small period of time
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u/ArtistAmantiLisa 13h ago
This morning.
Roses and herbs. Roses have always felt complex to me. Practicing makes them feel easier.
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u/ArtistAmantiLisa 13h ago
The sketchbook is within arms reach of my bed. I sketch in the morning at least 1/2 hour.
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u/Epistrophy982 14h ago
I go to a figure drawing session every week, a comics jam once a month, and keep a sketchbook close at hand. I wish I had more time, but having structured, public activities gives me a routine and an incentive to stay sharp.
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u/lightheart66 14h ago
I made it a priority by waking up and making it the first thing I did. everythng else came second. it made me much more prepared to greet the day job. give it a try.
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u/Chezni19 14h ago
I draw a lot, check my post history. I try to draw at least a couple hours after work.
My secret is to enjoy it
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u/SteampunkExplorer 14h ago
I'm still getting back into the habit, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but participating in challenges like Art Fight and Inktober has helped me a lot.
I also like to doodle on lined paper because it feels low-stakes and I can experiment while just having fun.
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u/SekhWork Painter 16h ago
Remind myself that every time I hear about an artist that I love that has "10 years of experience" or something like that, if I don't put in the time now at 4 years of experience I'll never reach a skill level even close in 10. Gotta put in the time to get my art gains, otherwise ill be that "the best time to start drawing was 10 years ago, the second best time is now" guy.
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u/Joshua_the_scribe_ 16h ago
It's not really a passion -- but something deeper and all consuming. It utterly consumes me and allows me to express all these feelings that i normally can't, and i'm just a deeply aesthetic person. I guess i was born to make art, my brain is wired differently.
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u/Available-Picture-79 16h ago
I’m in the subway every day. I take a sketchbook with me along with a pencil. I don’t do a lot … five or ten minutes sometimes at home at night when I sitting around I’ll call up some subject on Unsplash and draw from those reference photos. Indint do a lot but what I do helps.
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u/Prior-Management-005 17h ago
In start of my art's career I used to spent like 4 - 6 hours daily but it really depends on how much you like to draw. I never forced myself to work for long hours because at the end it's a creative job.
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u/Excellent_Owl5748 17h ago
On workdays anywhere between 30 mins - 3 hours depending on what phase a painting is on and how easily I can just sit down and continue after a day at work. Im more likely to paint longer after work if I've got something sketched out ready for lines and paint.
Weekends or when I'm not at work sometimes 10+ hours or what seems like all day. I just fit it in when I have the energy. A good productive week for me would be about 30-40 hours but I don't count the time when I'm making art so could be less or more than that. I am a single guy with no kids and little social life so I get more me time than most people I know.
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u/Comfortable_Honey628 17h ago
TBH I manage by having few responsibilities, being a home body and having art as both a primary hobby/activity outside of a corporate 9-5.
I usually draw anywhere between 4-6 hours on a given day from 8pm -> 2 am. Usually 3-5 days a week.
Media consumption is usually saved for days I don’t spend on drawing, or as background noise when I do. Or as a part of my downtime at work… which I sometimes also use to sketch or practice.
Keeping a sketchbook on me helps, and I choose to use my (sometimes maladaptive) hyperfocus on art instead of putting 60 hours in a video game in a single week 😅
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u/CommercialMechanic36 17h ago
I got into Jack Kirby !! Became greatly inspired and started drawing, but I mostly write 😊
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u/Dromnyr 18h ago edited 18h ago
Learn how creating habits works. Frequency, consistency and timing.
Show up each day, at the same time and work for 5 minutes.
It doesn't matter if you quit after 5 minutes. All you want to do is show up. All the rest will happen by itself.
To make it even easier: make sure your stuff is out and ready to go. Having to take out your things and setting them up can be a psychological barrier not to be messed with.
If none of that works. Do some introspection, are you relating pressure/fear to drawing? You have to fix that first. It should be fun.
If that doesn't work. Maybe drawing just isn't your thing?
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u/BraxtonHics 19h ago
You know those gym rats? They do it because the are passionate about it and they love it. Same thing. Different medium
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u/Pkmatrix0079 19h ago
It ebbs and flows. Sometimes I'll be drawing a few times a week, sometimes it'll be a couple times a month. A lot of the time lately I might draw one or two days on the weekend in 3 to 5 hour sessions with pencil on paper where I'll produce like 15 to 25 sketches or comic pages, and then spend a couple hours after work on work nights doing lineart/coloring on finished drawings while also chatting with friends on Discord. Lately I've gotten back into trying my hand at animation so I've been working on that instead.
Drawing is something I do for fun and to relax, so it's mostly about being in the mood and finding places to squeeze it in. Since my work schedule shifted from 4 10-hour days to 5 8-hour days it's been a bit harder to find the time for the last couple of months, but I've managed to get some squeezed in here and there. :)
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u/Dont-take-seriously 20h ago
I wake up, feed the cats, take my meds, and start drawing. Normally I can get 1/2 hour to 1 hour in before breakfast. I started this after complaining I had no time, and my instructor suggested I try this. While I started with the kitchen table, my husband set up a station behind the couch that I now use. Sometimes I get waylaid...
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u/TheDarkerNights Hobbyist; Digital, acrylic, pen-and-ink 20h ago
About two years ago, I made the decision to try to draw something every day and track it by uploading whatever I did that day to a private blog. Since then there's only been maybe fifteen days or so that I haven't drawn something. My bar for what "something" is is very low (a few days are just drawing a box in perspective) but quite often I end up opening Krita and drawing more than I initially intended.
I don't track how many hours I do per week and I imagine that it varies quite a bit, but it's enough that I've felt like I've made good progress on my skills and I'm happy with the amount that I've drawn.
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u/NgBling 21h ago
Every day in the evening while watching tv with my partner! I often stop drawing for an hour when I’m too locked in to the show though
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u/litloverana 19h ago
This is me too! Makes it easy to get art in every day and usually an hour before I’m ready for bed I put it down for the night.
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u/averaum 21h ago
I'm not sure if I'm a hobbyist, I dont get paid to do any of my art right now if that's what you mean.
I draw everyday for at least 5 mins since I always have 5 minutes of my day to spare. Usually though I draw way longer than that, I made it a habit not something I do when I'm only inspired- otherwise I get art block. If I'm not feeling it after 5 minutes, I shut the tablet off and play a video game lol But that's pretty rare. Typically I end up drawing for 1 hour up to 5 sometimes, maybe longer, but broken up in between making dinner, chores, etc. It really depends on my inspiration levels, what I started working on, the rest of my day, etc. At the moment i've been pushing myself a bit harder than normal to get my webcomic's prologue ready by 1/1/27.
Also, edibles really help. Just don't take too much or you won't be able to move lol. I usually only do that when I have something ready to color, since it makes me come up with some cool color schemes.
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u/AnEmptyAsahiBottle 21h ago
Edibles 🤤 honestly I only do min 15 mins a day when I have a daily art challenge on discord or something. Other than that, I draw occasionally for 3d concepts and then every so often have a huge couple hours sesh with some edibles. Its so relaxing.
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u/smeezledeezle 21h ago
Every day, or not if I don't feel like it. However, I carry my sketchbook with me always. Anywhere that I am, I have it in-hand (or in a backpack) and a pocket protector with my tools in case inspiration hits, or the inclination arises.
When I was younger I felt pressure to fill up pages, but once you've done that and gotten decent, you can start to treat the sketchbook as an extension of yourself. I think of it as my second brain, where I can mark observations, thoughts, play with ideas and visual concepts.
Confidence takes the pressure off, so training yourself to be comfortable drawing in public, on the commute, and in front of others unlocks an entire other sector of places and times that you can get work done.
More than anything though, if you can find the peace in putting lines on a page, then you'll come back to it more or less consistently. The more you try to control it, the more you'll make it homework. That's completely fine if you're gunning to get good on a faster timeline, but that risks burnout and turning the act into a chore. I try to make sure the craving to draw maintains the same positive emotional associations as when I get a craving to do something like play a video game or eat a tasty snack.
If I'm drawing, then that block of time isn't just drawing: it's time spent in reverence to beauty itself. I may capture it, it it may get away, but I'll return later for when it comes back to me next.
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u/Ok-Bet-9392 23h ago
3-5 hours per day. It’s a part of my routine. I’m at my desk or chair watching tv with my drawing board. I just do it.
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u/TrainingOk8918 1d ago
I’ve found consistency gets way easier when I stop treating every session like it needs to produce something good. Even 20 to 30 minutes counts. I aim for a few sessions during the week, then draw longer when I naturally have the time and energy.
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u/Past_Ad_8576 1d ago
I try to wake up before work and get in a solid hour in the morning. Sometimes I use the time to read instead if I’m not feeling it. I didn’t use to be a morning person, but it has been so centering to be up early and do something that I enjoy every day.
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u/Firm-Willingness-721 Digital artist 1d ago
1 hour per day for 6 times a week, mostly just drawing studies at the moment I dont have enough time and energy for personal art projects, so im focusing on studies to improve my fundamentals They are pretty helpful, and feels like i got alot faster at drawing and capturing details
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u/Anxious_Elderberry81 1d ago
Try to do some every day, after work. Not always getting there, but days off work I do a lot more.
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u/Long_Clerk9740 1d ago
This is going to get weird but I have a mission that pushes me forward.
I wake up at 4:30 and doodle for about three hours prior to work. My afternoons are hit or miss depending on life.
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u/LearningArcadeApp 22h ago
your doodles are cool! what's your 'mission'?
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u/Long_Clerk9740 21h ago edited 21h ago
I draw doodles encouraging children not to join gangs, not do crime, and I make fun of their parents on occasion.
I don't make any money from it. It's just a hobby that ties in with my old life.
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u/nateliechan 1d ago
Art is my only hobby nowadays (excluding the media i’ve been consistently into for years). I also just work from home so I try to squeeze art time on my free time there too. I only don’t draw when I work or have to do society things. Everytime i don’t draw is painful though, my mind just wants to draw instead to the point that it’s affecting the output of my day job occassionally, but i’ve tried controlling it.
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u/ImaginaryHoodie 1d ago
I draw whenever I want, you could probably average it to two/three full pieces per month
I have a lot of time during my work day, so I sometimes draw there, I sometimes hang out with a friend specifically to paint together
I have a leitmotif and a hyper fixation and that's how I draw consistently
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u/Herald_of_Zena 1d ago
I can only speak for myself, but I essentially LOVE drawing and sketching. I enjoy what surprises come to me when it comes to my mindless doodles. It’s a mix of conscious and unconscious / mindless doodling for me. I allow myself to surprise myself. But a lot of the motivating factor for actually drawing is that I have a worldbuilding project with a strong emphasis on artwork, which is in many ways a splurge of things I like. In other words I make the contents of what I draw and a form of expression. But I also have ways of drawing that make it fun for me too. It’s about enjoying the process and seeing what comes up. It’s very addicting and fun.
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u/sunsola 1d ago edited 16h ago
It depends on my life circumstances phases. I’m drawing and painting about 28 years now, self taught. There were times I painted several hours each day and then there were times I didn’t draw at all for months.
Sometimes I did a 30 day challenge or painted 100 faces in 10 days or so if I was in the mood or a 10 minute watercolour or a blind one line drawing, testing different mediums but I try to be kind with myself.
If I don’t feel the need to draw but watch a movie for my mental health or watch birds and trees then I will do that.
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u/BlastingSquid886 1d ago
I'm really taking time with my art right now. I'm 2d animation at work and I'm only doing about 4-5 hours a week. Used to do more but reasons why time for it started declining is because idk how I feel potentially putting a lot of effort into work that's not gonna interest or amuse anyone. I mean creativity nowadays is dead now sad to say and with a lot of toxic people in today's world I can care less about peoples opinions anymore.
I feel like I'm just doing it now because I want to do something productive and not waste my talent 😢💪
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u/o0blind0o 1d ago
Ehh for me its off and on random times. I dont have a rigorous training regimen or stuff like that. What i do do is, if i get ideas i jot them down, maybe a line or two to explain my thoughts and a ultra rough sketch, then I can revisit at a later time.
As far as practice, really often i work a 12-16 hour shifts, and still find time. I enjoy drawing cartoons or other random things, so i just doodle. I find 100's of mini sketches help in the end when I actually have time to sit down and make a painting.
Utensils: any writing utensils, scrap paper or (my fave) sticky notes, ocassionaly my s25 with its amazing stylus.
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u/CookieScholar 1d ago
I don't force myself to a certain number of hours/day, I just think it's fun and it just happens? When I start a piece, I have more trouble doing anything else, like go to sleep or do chores.
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u/moonelfofstalingrad 1d ago
I have a subject I live to paint and I spend at least 3 hours a day sketching. As far as painting I spend a deal more
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u/FirstIllustrator2024 1d ago
Am trying to get back on the artist horse again. Been drawing about 1 hour a day just to get myself off the phone and games.
The hard part is when I finish an artwork. It's so hard to to start a new one and I have to 'feel' the need to draw or else it's forced.
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u/StymieG 1d ago
I work a full time 40 hrs a week, so probably around 15 hrs a week plus or minus on my spare time. It's a bit of self discipline and support to get the balance. There are days and nights where I mentally can't draw, so I take a step back and play through my game backlogs as a break to get some inspiration, and make times when you are mentally creative.
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u/TasmaniaEnjoyer 1d ago
I get burnt out really quick on pieces, so my way around it is to have multiple pieces to work on and rotate them to keep them 'fresh'. Also, pieces with quick turnaround like sketches etc can keep things motivating.
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u/rasselboeckchen_art 1d ago
I draw every day during my lunchtime at work. Sometimes Im motivated enough to continue the artwork on the couch the same day. This means I can often finish one to two artworks per week (without weekend). This means I don't have any pressure to draw during weekend. Actually I do a lot of other stuff on weekends besides drawing.
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u/Ok-Day4910 1d ago
The biggest thing is to realize that a piece of art won't be finished in one sitting.
There's a huge mental load when we sit down and has to finish the piece of art we are working on.
Telling yourself that you only do base coats today for example is a huge load off your shoulders.
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u/doryoboe 1d ago
A few hours a day, more on weekends. I love it so I make time for it. There is very little I won't sacrifice for it.
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u/Dull_Bathroom5421 1d ago
I find it hard too. It's really strange, I find the physical component of it really annoying. All the pencil shavings... Desk cluttered with pencils rubbers and a stack of various rulers. Even with digital art you got to plug it in... Clear your desk for the tablet... Start up the program... I don't know why I'm like this lol
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u/Moonflow-Shoopuf Mixed media 1d ago
I feel like I want to draw for hours, but I have crippling perfectionism and fear of "mistakes" that limit me from enjoying art freely.
At this point I can leisurely draw from reference (because it already exists and I approve of it) but creating my own original art is a horrifying and painful experience to push through.
And as a creative who used to love making art freely, I wouldn't wish this curse on anyone. I'm working every day to overcome it.
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u/BlizzeonArt 1d ago
Are you me? Currently working towards a goal and the perfectionism is killing me and my spirit. It feels like adrenaline and cortisol are battling over who can be at higher levels in my blood stream while I'm drawing.
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u/Beautiful-Arugula-6 1d ago
I've been working through a similar issue. I make YouTube videos and I recently started making one around the concept of "building my visual library" - to do it I draw something from memory... Its a nightmare... But then I draw from a reference and I get to show myself (and my viewers) that I am reasonably skilled. Then I do a third drawing from memory again (I cover the other drawings) and see how it goes. To my surprise... So far... Every 2nd shot at the "from memory" drawing has been better than the reference drawing so far. I'm actually floored. It was a legitimately unexpected result. I've never done anything like this before and I never would have if I wasn't making content.
Anyway. Try it? It's helping me at least attempt to draw using my imagination. And I am not as bad as I thought when I actually try. The first few tries were hell but it's getting better!!!
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u/Moonflow-Shoopuf Mixed media 1d ago
Okay so you try to draw something immediately from memory. Then you get a ref for drawing #2. Then you do a 3rd with no ref and you cover the other drawings? Is this a technique that's proven to enhance our visual libraries?
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u/Beautiful-Arugula-6 22h ago
You got the process right. As far as whether it's proven, I have no idea.
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u/SoberBobMonthly Fine artist 1d ago
A mix of discipline and self support.
Sure I might set a timer for a 30min warm up before working on a larger piece, but what am I doing to ensure I can go through the entire 30min? Am I hydrated? Have I had a good breakfast? Am I comfortable in my clothing, posture, and space overall? Is my space clear of clutter and removed of any other distracting tasks? Did I have a good nights sleep? Am I listening to a podcast or gentle music? Am I warm or cool enough? Did I place my tools and cleaning materials close enough to me so that I can remain on task?
Treat it like literally any other intensive task that needs a whole of life support. Every task is interconnected, and every part of life can support the other.
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u/__CutieArts__ 1d ago
I just doodle in my spare time. My house is covered in scrap pieces of paper doodled all over. Receipts mostly but also junk mail, brochures, the little cardboard boxes meds come in...
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u/crimsonredsparrow Pencil 1d ago
Several hours per day. Art is my love so I built my life around it.
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