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Drawing from your imagination may seem hard, as you cannot actually see what you are thinking of, but you are not alone. This wikiHow will show you how to draw from your imagination.

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  1. 1

    Think of an interesting subject that would look quite realistic. Perhaps you would like to draw an animal. If you are not sure which animal to choose, you could look up animals in an encyclopedia, to get some ideas. Or maybe you would like to draw a fantasy character. Again, if you are at a loss for what to draw, read some fairy tales, as these are rich in suggestions.

  2. 2

    Be inspired. If you don't have any ideas, look at other people's art for ideas. Look for things you might want to try, see what techniques they use, or just say, "I can do that!"

  3. 3

    Start with using basic shapes then start adding more detail.

  4. 4

    Do a rough draft. At first do your picture lightly with a pencil so you don't see the mistakes, and when you're happy with the picture, darken the lines or ink it.

  5. 5

    Draw every detail needed in your picture so you could see that it looks realistic. If your subject is a clown, be sure to draw some eyes and ears that look clownish. If your subject is a toaster, look at a toaster and try to zero in on the essential details, so that you can draw them. You will probably want slots for the bread, and some controls for turning on the toaster.

  6. 6

    Sketch in an environment. Think about what your character or other subject would inhabit. For example, if your subject is a cow, you could draw a barn, or a field. If your subject is a space alien, draw a distant planet. If your subject is a box of cereal, draw the breakfast table, or the inside of a kitchen cupboard.

  7. 7

    Put some clothes on your character. Perhaps a lovely dress for a princess, or a sports uniform for a ball player.

  8. 8

    Make a line in between the walls so there will be equal to three walls.

  9. 9

    Sign your name and write your age at the bottom and make it the size that it's not too big and not too small.

  10. 10

    Finished.

Add New Question

  • Question

    How can I improve my drawing skills?

    Community Answer

    If you're interested in learning to draw anything specific, like landscapes or horses, you can look for YouTube tutorials. This article may have some more useful tips for you: how to improve your drawing skills.

  • Question

    How can I get original drawing ideas? My imagination is clogged with Disney.

    Community Answer

    Start brainstorming on your own personal interests. If you, for instance, like sports, maybe drawing out your favorite team's logo is a good place to start generating ideas. From there, personalize it and add your own touches. As long as it's creative, then it's original.

  • Question

    What are some examples of imaginary drawings?

    Community Answer

    Aliens eating ice cream, giraffes dancing on rainbows, a ballerina dancing hip-hop on stage, etc. Even if the idea is crazy or absurd, if you like it, you should draw it!

  • Question

    How do I stay true to what I imagined?

    Community Answer

    Think of an exact image and do a sketch to help you remember. Draw everything you imagined in the sketch, but more detailed.

  • Question

    How can I help myself to not shade unnecessarily?

    Community Answer

    Try to make a point where light is coming in from. If the light is coming from the right, then the darker shading will be on the left. To not shade too dark and too much, try to find some good reference images on Google to further enhance your knowledge of how light is reflected.

  • Question

    I have too many ideas in my head but I don't know how to draw them. What can I do to draw them?

    Belle K.

    If you have many ideas and you aren't sure which one you want to draw or how to you can try what's called a thumbnail sketch. It is a very small low detailed sketch that gives you a loose idea of how you want to draw something without doing a full fledged drawing. If you do a bunch of thumbnail drawings you can figure out which ideas you like best and hopefully figure out which versions of the same idea you like best for a drawing.

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  • Not all art has to be realistic. If all you can draw at first are cartoons, then that's great. It's better than you could do before.

  • Listen to music while drawing. It'll sometimes get the juices flowing.

  • Don't eat while drawing; it disturbs your brain and can get your drawing messy or greasy.

  • If you're trying to draw in a different style but it just won't work, walk away for a while. Draw or do something else, forgetting about it, for a few days, weeks, even months. Then one day you'll just pick up a pencil or pen and draw it, easy as can be.

  • If you've got bits of photos, paper, and small craft supplies, you can add them on!

  • Draw a little bit every day. As you practice, you will become a better artist.

  • Draw what you like! Sketch! Practice! Never rush!

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Things You'll Need

  • A big piece of paper
  • Coloring pencils
  • Photos and colored paper

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