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Start a sketchbook with what you have

Three small exercises for building a habit of drawing.

Keep the first page ordinary

A pencil and a few sheets of paper are enough. Draw something within reach: your keys, a cup, or your shoe. Put the date beside it. This page is a record of looking, not a test.

Try three short drawings

Draw the object once in a minute, once without lifting your pencil, and once using only light and dark shapes. Set the drawings next to one another. Notice what each approach helped you see.

Return to one subject

Draw the same object another day, from a different angle or in different light. Add a sentence about what you noticed. A sketchbook can include unfinished drawings, lists, color tests, and questions.

Explore the paintings.

Explore the NICE Gallery

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