72 subjects

Intermediate Drawing Ideas

Three subjects per press, each a step past easy, with the one new thing it asks of you.

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A cow lying in a field, side onA long box body folded down, the legs tucked under, the head raised.
A person walking awayThe back, one leg forward, the arm on the other side swinging.
A shoebox with the lid half offTwo boxes in one perspective. The lid's lip throws a thin shadow.

Next step Scenes in perspective More animals to draw

All 72 subjects

Shading one object 12

A bar of soap, wet on a dish A rounded block with one bright wet highlight and a soft reflection below.
A bread roll on a board A soft dome. Keep the crust edges firm and the top highlight wide and gentle.
A cardboard tube stood on its end A cylinder with three tones: lit side, middle, shadow side, and a dark hole on top.
A clay flowerpot, empty A tapered cylinder with a rim. The inside is darker at the back than the front.
A folded towel on a chair seat Soft folds with gentle tone, not hard lines. Each fold has a lit top and shaded underside.
A lemon next to its own shadow Draw the shadow as carefully as the lemon. It tells the viewer where the light is.
A pear lying on its side An uneven form. Shade along the curve, darker where it turns away from the light.
A pinecone lit from above Lit tips, dark gaps. Shade the gaps first and leave the tips as paper.
A plain white mug on a dark table The step up: light against dark. The mug's shadow side is still lighter than the table.
A tennis ball lit by a desk lamp The step up: a cast shadow and a core shadow on one round form. Keep the seam as a curve.
An egg standing in an egg cup Two forms, one on the other. The egg's shadow falls into the cup's rim.
An onion with its papery skin A round form with lines running from root to tip. Loose skin catches light at the edges.

Ellipses and round things 12

A bicycle wheel lying flat One big ellipse with spokes running to a small ellipse in the middle.
A bowl of fruit seen from a little above The bowl's rim is an ellipse; each fruit sits inside it, overlapping.
A cake stand with a dome lid A tall stem, a flat plate and a glass dome: three ellipses on one centre line.
A candle in a jar, lit The jar's ellipses top and bottom, the flame reflected on the glass.
A hat on a table, brim up The brim is a wide ellipse and the crown sits inside it.
A jar with its lid off beside it Two ellipses at different tilts: the jar's mouth and the lid lying flat.
A kettle with its handle over the top A round body, the arched handle and the spout lining up on one centre line.
A kitchen clock on the wall at an angle A circle turned into an ellipse; the numbers squash on the far side.
A reel of thread on its end Two ellipses, the thread wound between them in fine curved lines.
A saucepan with a long handle The handle points toward you, so it shortens. The pan's rim is an ellipse.
A stack of three plates Three ellipses of the same width, each a little lower. The edges show as thin bands.
A teapot from the side, lid on Ellipses for the lid and base, a spout and handle that line up across the body.

Boxes and perspective 12

A beach hut with its roof overhang A simple house shape in two-point perspective; the overhang throws a shadow band.
A bookcase seen from the side The shelves recede. Only the front edges of the books show.
A bus shelter from across the street A box of glass and metal. Draw the bench inside through the glass.
A chest of drawers with one drawer open One-point perspective: the open drawer's lines run back to the same point.
A dice showing three faces A cube in two-point perspective with the dots squashed on the side faces.
A parcel tied with string, seen from a corner A box in two-point perspective; the string follows each face round the corners.
A piano keyboard seen at an angle Keys shrink as they go back. The black keys sit as small boxes on top.
A shoebox with the lid half off Two boxes in one perspective. The lid's lip throws a thin shadow.
A table with a cloth half on A box shape under a draped cloth. The cloth hangs straight at the corners.
A toolbox with its trays folded out Box shapes stepping outward in perspective, each tray a shallow box.
A wardrobe with one door ajar Two tall doors in perspective, one swung out at an angle, its edge a thin box.
A wooden stool from the front Four legs splayed, a round seat as an ellipse, the rungs lining up.

People and animals 12

A cat sitting, seen from the side An upright bean with a head on top. The tail wraps round the feet.
A child reaching up for something Stretched arm, heels lifted, the head tilted back.
A cow lying in a field, side on A long box body folded down, the legs tucked under, the head raised.
A dog lying down, head on paws A long low shape; the front legs stretch out under the chin.
A duck on water An oval body, a short neck, a flat reflection below.
A face from the front with its features placed Eyes halfway down the head, the nose halfway between eyes and chin.
A person sitting in a chair, side on Hips level with the knees, back against the chair, feet flat.
A person walking away The back, one leg forward, the arm on the other side swinging.
A rabbit side on, ears back A pear-shaped body, a round head, the ears lying flat along the back.
A sleeping baby's face Round cheeks, closed eyes as curves, a small nose. Very little line.
A small bird on a branch A teardrop body, a round head, feet gripping the branch.
Your own hand resting flat on a table Draw the outline of the fingers, then the knuckle bumps and the shadow under the palm.

Texture 12

A basket of wool balls Each ball a sphere with curved lines wrapping round it.
A cork board with pins Speckled surface, round pins with a highlight each.
A doormat with bristles Short upright lines across a rectangle, one edge frayed.
A fluffy towel Short marks in every direction; no hard edges.
A knitted scarf lying in loops Rows of small V shapes following each loop.
A leaf with a bite out of it The veins stop at the bite's ragged edge.
A log pile, cut ends facing you Circles of different sizes stacked; each end has rings and a crack.
A pineapple's skin A diamond grid that curves round the fruit, a spike in each diamond.
A sheep's fleece Curly clumps drawn as soft loops, darker between them.
A stone wall with mortar lines Irregular stones, each with a lit top and a shadow under it.
A straw hat's woven brim A pattern that follows the curve, getting smaller on the far side.
A wooden fence with its grain Long lines along each plank, knots as small ovals.

Small scenes 12

A bedside lamp on a small table Bright round the lamp, the table top lit, the wall behind fading into shadow.
A bench beside a pond The bench in perspective and its reflection broken by ripples.
A boat tied to a jetty The jetty's planks recede. The rope sags between post and boat.
A cat on a windowsill looking out The cat's shape against the light from the window.
A cup of tea beside an open book Two objects that overlap. Decide which is in front before you start.
A deckchair on a lawn A folding frame at an angle with the fabric sagging between the bars.
A kitchen sink with a tap and a window The window and sink line up; the tap reflects the window.
A lamp post in the rain at dusk Rain streaks crossing the glow; a bright reflection on the wet ground below.
A path leading to a gate The path narrows as it goes back. The gate is smaller than it would be close up.
A small house on a hill The hill's curve and the house sitting level on top of it.
A window with a plant and the view beyond Two distances: the sill close and sharp, the view outside simpler and lighter.
Wellington boots on a doorstep Two tall boots, one fallen over, the step as a flat box under them.

How it works

Past circles and cups, not yet at crumpled foil: 72 intermediate drawing ideas, each asking one new thing, such as a cast shadow, an ellipse or a box in perspective. Choose a group.

Read the full guide

One new skill at a time

Shading one object holds 12 single things under one light, such as a tennis ball lit by a desk lamp. Ellipses and round things holds 12 more, such as a teapot from the side, lid on. Work through a group and each drawing adds one step.

Medium drawing ideas with a whole scene

Small scenes holds 12 with two distances or two overlapping things: a window with a plant and the view beyond, a boat tied to a jetty. Decide what sits in front before you draw a line.

Draw each subject twice: once fast for the shapes, once slowly for the tone.
Use one lamp and switch the others off. A single light makes the shadows easy to read.

Questions and answers

What counts as intermediate drawing?

Past simple shapes but short of full challenges: one object with its shadow, ellipses that stay round, a box in two-point perspective, an animal in a plain pose. Hard things to draw is the next step.

Which group should I start with?

Shading one object. A pear lying on its side or a lemon next to its own shadow teaches light and form, and every other group builds on them.

How is this different from simple drawing ideas?

Simple drawing ideas break each subject into basic shapes. These keep the shapes and add one new demand: tone, perspective, texture or a pose.