What Is the Hardest Thing to Draw? (Our List of Hard Stuff to Draw + Tips)

What is the hardest thing to draw? While many artists struggle with different drawings, most will say below are some of the more hard stuff to draw:

hands
faces
feet
figures
hair
fabric
…and horses

In this post, we have included over 20+ of the hardest things to draw plus detailed tips on how to draw them more accurately.

Link: Check out our post here on how to draw faces

Last Note: All drawings and art in this post is my own (unless specifically credited to an artist)

Hard Stuff to Draw – Highlights and Key Takeaways

The hardest thing to draw is hands followed by faces, feet, and figures.

All of these involve certain aspects and skills in drawing that many struggle with such as:
- perspective
- proportion
- shading
- texture
For some general tips on how to draw these we recommend:
- starting with basic structures first
- work light and loose
- only put in details once your are happy with the structure
- and practice…lots and lots of practice
Lastly, if you are attempting to draw one of these hard stuff to draw on this list, we recommend always using reference images and checking out the tips for each

1. Hands

Why Are Hands Hard to Draw?

sketch of hands for an oil painting by me

If we could poll nearly every aspiring drawer or artist, I can guarantee majority of them would say hands are the hardest thing to draw.

Why is that?…Drawing hands involves:

replicating a complex structure
perfect placement of small objects (fingers)
a deep understanding of perspective
ability to replicate foreshortening*
excellent and detailed shading

If you make the fingers too thin, too thick, or curve where they aren’t suppose to, your eyes will immediately notice something is off.

When it comes to structure, a hand is not a plain surface. It comes with numerous intricate details such as wrinkles, creases, and distinct segments related to each joint. The positioning of the hand plays another major role. A closed fist to an open palm, each position alters the visual representation significantly.

Side note: It’s interesting to note that even professional or skilled artists often find hands challenging. So if you struggle with them as well you’re not alone!

Is the Hand the Hardest Thing to Draw?

In my survey of 150 artists, 42% cited hands as the most challenging subject. With the majority vote, hands are likely the hardest thing to draw.

But an equally significant portion admitted to struggling more with faces primarily due to its dynamic expressions and features (which we have listed as our number 2 hardest thing to draw).

How to Draw Hands: Quick Guide and Tips

If I was to put together a practical guide for drawing hands, I would include the below:

use reference images for all your hand sketches and drawings
make it a point to draw 1 hand in a different position every day for a month
do a combination of light structure sketches of the hand as well as more detailed drawings

Some specific areas that I struggle with that I make it a point to focus on are:

shape and position of finger nails
thickness of fingers
length of fingers
size of palm

As a beginners’ guide, it would definitely be beneficial to break down the hand into simple geometric shapes initially, giving an overall structure. This step allows an artist to focus on the placement of the elements and their sizes relative to each other without getting lost in the details.

(For instance, a cylinder can represent the lower palm, while more extended, thinner cylinders can represent fingers.)

Moving deeper into the guide, remember that drawing hands requires careful attention to detail. It’s essential to represent the various folds, creases, and unique details seen in every hand to make the sketch more realistic. However, one crucial tip is to not overcomplicate the hands by adding too many lines, as this may lead to the hands looking aged or overly intense.

2. Portraits and Faces

Why Are Faces Hard to Draw?

Faces are hard to draw because they involve:

drawing intricate and detailed facial features
perfect placement of those features
detailed shading across the face

To put it simply, drawing faces is hard due to their high variability and the intricate interplay of their individual features. These features – the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears – not only differ widely from individual to individual but also need to align correctly with each other to depict a realistic face.

In most cases, proportions and placement of facial features are the culprits behind botched attempts at sketching faces.

For example, often learners draw eyes that are too high on the head or a mouth that is too wide for the face or ears that are too large.

Tips on How to Draw a Face

Tips for how to draw a face will vary widely depending on the artist and style of the portrait. The tips below are ones that specifically helped me along my continued art journey.

Link: For a longer and more detailed guide check out our post here: How to Draw a Face Step by Step

How to Draw a Face Top Tips:

Use a reference image
Start with a loose shape of the head and hairline
Next focus on the brow and eye placement (try to get these a close to your reference image as possible*)
Then using the eye placement as a guide work down the face to the nose, mouth, then ears
Continually go back and check your proportions and placement and don’t be afraid to erase parts or start over entirely

Starting with proportions, keep in mind that the human face is typically divided into thirds vertically. The distance from the top of the forehead to the eyebrows, from the eyebrows to the nose, and the nose to the chin, are roughly equal. On a side note, the placement of features within these divisions significantly impacts the appearance of the face being drawn. For instance, eyes typically sit in the middle of the face and half a face width apart.

Moving on to depth, remember that a face is not a flat surface; it’s made up of curves and angles that lend it depth and realism. Don’t compromise on shading the dips and crests properly–along the bridge of the nose, under the cheekbones, or around the eyelids, for example. The shadows create a sense of depth and make the drawing look more realistic.

Lastly, the features, which are roughly defined by shapes like the almond-shaped eyes or the heart-shaped lips, usually require a lot of attention to detail. Eyebrows, eyelashes, and even the shape and size of the nostrils and ears are crucial details that can unconsciously signal to us whether a face looks “natural”.

If you stumble in achieving symmetry for both sides of the face, consider using grid lines or a mirror image reflecting technique.

How Do You Capture Likeness?

A correct portrayal of likeness involves two key factors: observation and understanding of the subject’s basic structure.

Details in the facial features as well as proportions and placement will accurately depict likeness

The first and most crucial aspect is observation. This requires keen attention to the small nuances of your subject, from facial characteristics to body proportions and postures. For example, a person may have a particular way of squinting their eyes or a unique dimple that appears only when they laugh. Capturing these distinct attributes will significantly contribute to achieving a convincing likeness.

Understanding the structure of your subject, on the other hand, means having a general idea of the anatomy. For humans, this might include understanding how to draw the human face accurately, including the position of the eyes, nose, and mouth. Take note of the way certain features, such as the cheekbones or jawline, can shape or contour the face. A firm grasp of such structural nuances will enhance the accuracy and depth of your sketches, breathing life into them.

The Challenges of Drawing Realistic Portraits

Realistic portraits are extremely difficult as I’m sure any artist can attest to but are also one of the most captivating things you can draw.

Portraits come to realism with:

excellent placement
detailed shading of face and features

If the face doesn’t look realist to you then I guarantee once of those two things are not accurate.

As always, I recommend starting with the eyes and measure the distance between them to make sure they are accurate, compare their sizes, compare their height. If the eyes are accurate the battle is 75% won already.

Why Is Drawing a Child’s Face so Hard?

Drawing a child’s face is hard because their head shape and structure is very different than an adult’s face.

A child or toddler’s face is more round and less angular. I definitely struggled with drawing my nephew’s portrait when I was asked to by my sister. It was the first time I attempted to draw a child’s face, and I found it very challenging.

Why Is a Self Portrait Hard to Draw?

Drawing self-portraits is another task than many artists struggle with.

The main trick with self-portraits is that they require a high level of detail and precise rendering of your own image. This may seem daunting or even intimidating to beginning artists.

The initial challenge is to overcome the self-awareness barrier. While drawing oneself, we tend to be more critical and aim for a high degree of accuracy. This self-imposed pressure often results in a stiff, restricted approach to the drawing process. Each mistake is magnified, leading to frustration. Secondly, unlike other subjects, you are working with a mirror image when you draw a self-portrait. This reversal of images contains a series of minute details that are easy to miss if you are not careful.

Another interesting obstacle of self-portraits is the emotional element. Drawing oneself can be a profoundly introspective process, often resulting in emotional discomfort. Acknowledging one’s own likeness in a drawing can evoke a variety of emotions and subconscious self-evaluations. These complex feelings can often seep into the process of drawing, making it much harder to detach and objectively capture the drawing’s physical aspects.

3. Feet

Why Are Feet Hard to Draw?

Working out why feet are hard to draw is a question that puzzles many budding artists. Just like hands, one primary reason is the inherent complexity of feet structure.

With about 26 bones, 33 joints, and over a hundred muscles and ligaments, the human foot is an architectural marvel that is tricky to replicate on paper.

Remember that the foot isn’t a single, solid object, but a complex assembly of segments moving in relation to each other. Getting the orientation, proportions, and alignment of these segments can be a daunting task. Not to mention, the appearance of feet can vary significantly depending on the viewing angle, body posture, and shoe type.

Drawing a foot is not just capturing its shape; it often involves shading, texturing, and adding details like wrinkles and veins. These nuances rely heavily on your skills of observation, understanding of anatomy, and mastery of drawing techniques. As an artist, be aware that these circumstances can make feet a real challenge to draw accurately.

Tips on How to Draw Feet

One of the keys to overcome the challenge of drawing feet is practice and understanding the basic structure. Start by studying the anatomy of the foot and its various parts. Remember, every foot has a unique shape, proportion, and characterization.

Some things to consider are:

angle of feet and toes
shape and size of foot, heel, and toes
proportion of foot

It’s beneficial to break down the complex shape of the foot into simpler geometric shapes. Consider the heel as a rounded block, the midfoot as an extended arch shape, and the forefoot and toes as a combination of smaller cylinders or rounded shapes. Use these elementary forms to lay down the primary structure of the foot, and then gradually add more details.

Referencing is incredibly useful when learning to draw feet. Use a variety of sources for observing different foot forms, positions, and angles. These can include photographs, live models, or even your own feet. Accuracy in sizing and proportion can be achieved by using grid methods or even tracing techniques to get the hang of complex foot shapes initially.

4. People

Why Are People Hard to Draw?

I’d personally rank people and figures up next to hands, feet, and faces as some of the hardest things to draw.

Human anatomy and figures are very difficult to draw but very rewarding. Drawing figures comes easier to me than faces, but I find them both to be my preferred subjects.

Undeniably, drawing people is a challenge for many artists. The reason behind its notoriety can be attributed mainly to complex anatomy, variety in shapes, and depth of emotional expression.

Each human body is unique, with variations in physical attributes spanning across height, build, skin color, and facial features. Suppose an artist doesn’t render these distinct aspects correctly. In that case, the emerged portrayal can appear distorted or caricature-like, distancing it from a lifelike representation.

Tips on How to Draw Figures

Some tips on how to draw figures are:

start with a loose shape of the figure (gesture drawing is good for practicing this*)
try to choose one feature to measure the rest of your drawing
- I like to start with the shoulder shape and size and work down the body to achieve somewhat accurate proportion

If you proportions don’t look right consider the below:

is the head shape/size accurate to the body
is the limb length/size accurate
is the torso too long or too short

In the initial stages of figure drawing, focus on mastering proportions.

Understanding the general proportions of a human body—like how many heads tall an average person is, or how the elbow aligns with the waist—can serve as a helpful guide. This won’t get you a perfect figure, but it sets the foundation upon which you can start building details.

How Hard Is It to Learn to Draw Anatomy?

Learning to draw anatomy is challenging but not impossible. Anyone can learn with enough time and practice.

In fact I felt more satisfied with my anatomy drawings at ~2 years of practice.

Initially, it may be overwhelming since our bodies have complex structures, with a myriad of muscles, bones, and joints working in harmony to create our unique human form. This complexity, however, can be simplified in art by using a system of basic shapes and forms to compose the overall figure.

5. Gesture Drawing

Why Is Gesture Drawing Hard?

Gesture drawing is similar to figure draw, but it is meant to capture a gesture or body in motion.

Gesture drawing is also a great way to practice for a more finished figure or anatomy drawing.

Link: See our full guide on gesture drawing here

Gesture drawing is hard because you are attempting to show movement in a two dimensional image. Some tips for gesture drawing are:

focus on a single line connect the movement of the body
try to understand how the shoulders and hips are placed (since they are some of the largest skeletal structures

With its focus on motion and the overall feel of the figure, artists often grapple with an internal tug-of-war between detail and replication speed. Another obstacle lies in breaking down complex subjects into their basic elements, like lines and shapes.

A key obstacle is our human propensity to get caught up in details. However, gesture drawing isn’t about detail – it’s about capturing the overall movement and position of a body in motion.

Tips on How to Do Gesture Drawings

Some tips on how to do gesture drawings are:

set a time limit for each gesture drawing (ie. 5 minutes/10 minutes/15 minutes)
don’t focus on details
focus on the largest muscles and bone structures
lastly, don’t worry about perfection – the goal is to just capture a general movement

To understand movement, focus on the subject’s line of action. This invisible line runs along the subject’s spine, serving as a useful guide in determining your subject’s posture and movement direction. Concentrate on this invisible line, allowing it to guide your initial strokes, as this can provide a strong structure for your gesture drawing.

Lastly, keep your strokes fluid and energetic. Try to maintain a constant motion while drawing, continually moving to the next part of the subject’s body without lifting your pencil excessively. This organic technique captures the liveliness and dynamism that are hallmarks of successful gesture drawings.

6. Hair

Why Is Hair Hard to Draw?

In progress portrait of Lucian Freud by me

Hair is hard to draw because it requires you to breakdown large chunks of hair in shades and smaller objects then add in details such as single strands of hair, highlights, darker shading.

For me hair is the most time consuming part of a portrait drawing, but when done right is one of the most alluring parts.

Here’s the deal: The human eye sees hair as a whole rather than individual strands. However, the temptation to draw every single strand often leads to a stiff and unrealistic representation.

An interesting thing to remember is that hair, composed of numerous tiny fibers, reflects light in different directions and at varying levels of intensity. This characteristic explains the shiny, reflective quality hair often has, especially in well-lit conditions. Light bouncing off hair creates a kaleidoscope of shades and tones, making it significantly harder to depict accurately.

Additionally, capturing the volume of hair can be especially difficult because hair isn’t rigid; it moves, flows, and adjusts according to the motion of the head and the power of the wind. This factor makes a two-dimensional representation of a three-dimensional object like hair even more challenging to do, especially without making it appear flat and lifeless.

Tips on How to Draw Realistic Hair

Some tips on how to draw realistic hair:

draw the hair as if you were drawing placement of facial features (ie. don’t draw strands or shades that aren’t place correctly based on your reference image)
- try to shade it exactly as you see it in your reference image*

First, sketch the general form of the hair, following its contour around the head and how it flows from the scalp. During this stage, rather than focusing on individual strands, think of the hair as a whole, taking note of the various volumes and directions it takes.

Once you’ve established the basic form, the next crucial step involves shading. This is where observing light effects comes in handy. Consider where the light sources are and how these affect the hair’s appearance; remember, hair is highly reflective and will showcase a mixture of shadows, mid-tones, and bright highlights depending on the light direction and intensity.

Handling hair in chunks or sections rather than individual strands can significantly simplify the whole process. Studying and drawing these sections accurately can give the illusion of fullness and texture without requiring meticulous detailing of each strand. Keep in mind, adding too many details can backfire, making hair look stiff and overworked instead of natural and soft. It’s advisable to strike a balance between detailed sections and implied texture to give hair a realistic appearance.

7. Eyes (How to Draw the Second Eye Perfectly)

Why Are Eyes Hard to Draw?

In progress sketch of Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star

Eyes are another difficult feature to draw accurately that artists frequently struggle with (I know I’m not the only one who struggles with drawing the second eye as good as the first one).

Eyes are complex structures
in any drawing you can guarantee the first thing that any viewer will be drawn to is the eyes.
If the eye placement and size isn’t accurate then the whole portrait will be off

Link: To see our full post with tips on How to Draw Eyes take a look here

See the image below – often eyes aren’t perfectly straight and one is higher or lower than the other

Why Is It Hard to Draw the Second Eye Accurate?

A lot of drawers including myself will spend so much time getting that first eye perfect and then struggle to draw the second eye.

This is likely due to placement, size, and detail of the second eye in comparison to the first one

To avoid struggling to draw the second eye, I strongly recommend drawing the basic shape and placement of both eyes first – before adding any detail.

When I draw portrait, I will often move the placement of the eyes several times before finally finding a somewhat accurate spot

What Are Some Tips for Drawing Eyes?

Some tips for drawing eyes in the correct placement are to compare eyes against each other by considering the below questions:

*Is one eyebrow longer or wider than the other? do they have different angles or shapes?
*Does the top of the eye match the top of the eye on the other?
*Are the eyes level?
*Does the bottom of the eyes line up?
How does the shape of each eye’s eye lid differ?

8. Ears

Why Are Ears Hard to Draw?

Drawing ears are hard because of their intricate structure. They have cartilage and soft tissue all requiring intricate and detailed shading to make ears look accurate.

This complex form can be definitely daunting to interpret and reproduce artistically. Additionally, ears are often overlooked during observational studies so ears are usually less practiced when compared to eyes, noses and mouths.

Tips on How to Draw Ears

Some tips on how to draw ears are:

again, use detailed reference images
start with the overall shape
then lightly outline and darken areas
as always do not go into specific shading or detail until you are happy with the form

By identify the key structures such as the helix (outer rim), antihelix (inner Y-shaped fold), concha (cavity of the ear), and earlobe you can then begin by adding in their general shape

Initially, the ear may be simplified as a teardrop or kidney bean shape. Once you are comfortable with this, you can begin to incorporate the curves and lines that make up the more elaborate details.

With ears be aware that not all edges of the ear are defined by hard lines; some transitions are more seamless, and this subtlety can be conveyed through shading rather than hard outlines.

Remember to consider the perspective of the ear in relation to the head. How the ear appears will largely depend on the head’s angle and position. In a frontal view, only a small part of the ear might be visible, while a side view exposes the intricate inner folds of the ear.

9. Noses

Why Are Noses Hard to Draw?

Noses like ears are difficult because they require soft lines and shading to show a 3 dimensional image instead of hard lines and outlines.

Link: check out our guide on How to Draw a Nose from Different Angles here

We have all drawn noses like this before:

The nose is made up of multiple depths and angles, intersecting each other to form a focal point on a person’s face. Furthermore, a nose does not have defined outlines or edges, making it tricky to capture accurately on paper.

Capturing the essence of a nose involves mastering the subtle art of shading and blending, which is crucial for understanding its structure’s complexity. For instance, from a fontal view, the nose’s bridge can be seen as a pyramid, and the nasal tip is more like three small balls.

So lets get into some basic tips on how to draw a nose…

Tips on How to Draw Noses

When drawing a nose, the biggest tip we can give is to focus on shade and not hard lines.

While drawing, keep the light source in mind. Depending on the direction of light, the shading on the nose will vary to give it a realistic, three-dimensional effect.

Practice drawing noses from multiple angles
make sure your really hart the darkest areas and make them dark (like inside the nostrils)
next try to replicate any highlight on the nose by using an eraser to make a highlight mark

As always practice…a lot! Sketching noses from various references will allow you to familiarize yourself with different nose shapes and nuances, adding to your artistic arsenal.

10. Mouth

Why Is a Mouth Hard to Draw?

So the mouth, while maybe not as common as eyes, is actually quite difficult to draw.

The shape of the mouth actually effects the overall appearance and likeness of a portation.

Plus if you are drawing exposed teeth you’ll find it even more challenging to make them look accurate and less like a toothless witch.

the mouth is more than just a line
you will have to use detailed shading to show the structure of the lips
finally, you will also have to add details to the lips to portray texture accurately

Our eyes will also automatically gauge the slightest distortions in proportion. If the mouth or lips are too large or too small, the slightest discrepancy can lead to the face appearing disoriented.

Tips on How to Draw a Mouth

Some tips on how to draw a mouth are:

do not simply outline the lips and mouth
- rather use shading to separate the mouth and lips from the rest of the face
look at the lightest and darkest parts of the mouth
- where the lips split will likely be the darkest
- highlights on the lips (depending on angle) will be the lightest
lastly focus on the size and length of the mouth when compared to the rest of the face*

As always use reference images for practice

One advantage of sketching from reference images is the depth of understanding it provides about the structural outline. Start by drawing rough outlines of the lips, marking the corners, recognizing the cupids bow and then gradually progressing to minute details like the play of light and shade.

The next essential tip revolves around the usage of values to create volume and depth. Notice that the upper lip is generally darker since it is less exposed to light, while the lower lip often reflects more light due to its protruding structure. Gradient shading will bring more realism to your drawing.

11. Skulls

Why Are Skulls Hard to Draw?

Skulls are another fun object to draw, but they can definitely be challenging since their shape and structure is more subtle with less angles and hard lines.

Using a hard lines instead of shading or making certain structures too large or too small will make your skull look unrealistic or disproportionate

The first primary challenge is the complexity of the skull’s structure itself. With its multifaceted forms and intricate shapes, the skull can be tricky to represent accurately. Uneven curves and unequal proportions can make a skull appear distorted or asymmetrical.

The struggle intensifies when it comes to adding detail. The various parts— eye sockets, nasal cavity, cheekbones, mandibles, sutures, and more— each require precise detailing, and any misjudgment or miscalculation can lead to an unconvincing result.

Tips on How to Draw a Skull

When it comes to drawing a skull, where should one begin? The first tip I’d like to share is: start with the basics.

Begin by sketching a simple oval or egg-like shape to represent the cranium
- as always, keep your initial lines faint, as they will be erased or refined over time
Moving forward, divide your initial shape into sections, corresponding to the main regions of the skull; for instance, the cranium, the facial structure, and the lower jaw.
Again, drawing such references are key and can help in maintaining the precise proportions when you add details later on.

Lastly, focus on the details but proceed slowly. Do not rush and take your time to accurately depict the skull’s features.

12. Fabric (Like Clothe, Drapery, or Leather)

Why Is Fabric Hard to Draw?

Drawing fabric is another hard task due to the variety of patterns, textures, and shapes it can form, but when done slowly and accurately it can look very three dimensional.

Every fold, crease, and movement in fabric can result in an entirely different look. The primary factor that complicates the process is the sheer dynamics of fabric. Its flexible nature allows it to generate a multitude of intricate folds and textures, presented through an array of light and shadow effects.

A secondary hurdle could be the perception of depth in the fabric folds. These depressions and elevations call for meticulous attention to detail and precise shading to create a sense of depth and volume. Inaccuracies in this aspect can make the material appear flat and static, stripping away its inherent fluidity and movement.

Tips on How to Draw Fabric

Some tips on how to draw fabric are:

as always start with the general shape
add light shading to denote large chunks that are lighter or darker
then work slowly by trying to add detail and shading exactly as it shows in your reference image
lastly consider using 3d modeling apps if you are open to not drawing freehand (as many do)

Notice how it wrinkles and folds around different objects. This analysis helps develop an intuitive sense of how material behaves, enabling you to translate it onto paper more accurately.

Next, practice the play of light and shadow within the fabric folds. Starting with a grayscale can simplify this process. Focus on capturing the varying levels of light and darkness in every nook and cranny. Remember, it’s the darkest darks juxtaposed with the lightest lights that provide volume and depth.

13. Mechanical Objects like Bikes

Why Are Mechanical Objects Hard to Draw?

The intricate world of mechanical objects are rife with exact lines and unyielding symmetry and unforgiving highlights. This exactness is what creates an air of complexity around mechanical subjects. Unlike organic forms that allow a certain level of artistic liberation, contraptions made by humans demand a meticulous approach.

Another interesting challenge is capturing the nuances of reflective metallic surfaces. A mirror-like finish reflects its surrounding landscapes – an indirect task of not only drawing the object but also its environment.

Finally, mechanical objects are complex amalgams of smaller components. Each part needs to be accurately represented to maintain the overall authenticity of the drawing. A car, for example, is more than its outline. The tiniest wheel spoke, the rims, the headlights – all contribute to the final sketch.

Tips on How to Draw Mechanical Objects

Some tips on how to draw mechanical objects are:

use a ruler as much as possible
break down the object into simple shapes
unlike noses or eyes focus on solid outlines of the object to give it a definitive shape.

One fundamental tip is to break the mechanical object into simpler geometric shapes. For example, if you are sketching a car, try to view it as a combination of rectangular boxes and cylindrical wheels. Deconstructing the complicated object into foundational elements will allow you to create an accurate initial sketch, without becoming overwhelmed by the intricacies.

Similarly, being aware of the principles of perspective is vital. Since mechanical objects have rigid lines and definitive shapes, even a minor distortion in angle or alignment becomes noticeable. Therefore, having a grasp on one, two, and three-point perspectives can dramatically improve your mechanical sketches. Additionally, using a source of light and strategically placed shadows can add depth to your drawing, making the object look three-dimensional.

14. Automotive Objects (Like Cars)

Why Are Cars Hard to Draw?

Cars are regarded as another challenging subject to draw due to their intricate architecture and perfect symmetry (much like mechanical objects).

First and foremost, cars embody a system of complex mechanical details and glossy textures that need to be accurately represented to create a realistic sketch. This meticulousness demands an elevated level of precision and patience from the artist.

Secondly, the perfect symmetrical structure of a car can be quite tricky to capture. Any minor disparity can affect the overall proportions and outlook of the sketch drastically, causing it to appear misshapen or unrealistic.

Along with symmetry, the artist must also correctly depict the play of light and reflections on the car’s shiny surface. This aspect can be dexterous as it involves understanding different reflective patterns, shadows, and the impact of the surrounding environment.

Tips on How to Draw Cars

Some tips on how to draw cars are:

consider the perspecptive
start with the overall shape
breakdown the size and proportions by using wheels
- for example how many wheel lengths are between each wheel)
draw light and loose initially then go into trying to reach proper proportions

Initially, familiarize yourself with different types of cars, their parts, and how they fit together. Do a bit of research and refer to various car blueprints, photographs, or models available on the internet or in books.

Kick-start your drawing with light guidelines to chalk out the car’s primary form and symmetry. It’s essential to get the overall shape of the car correct in these initial stages. Focus on the body’s basic geometric structure before delving into smaller details. The car body can be divided into basic shapes like cylinders, boxes, and spheres depending upon the design. For instance, the wheels can be approximated as cylinders.

Once you have the basic sketch ready, shift your focus to adding minute details such as the windshields, doors, headlights, grills, and the logo. Remember, each car is unique with its specific design elements and features. Your keen observation of these details can add authenticity to your sketch.

The final step would be, shading, highlighting, and adding reflections. Understanding and accurately portraying the way different parts of the car reflect light conditions plays an instrumental role in nailing the image. Strive for varied tones to show contrast between glossy and matte surfaces, distinct car parts, and surfaces that are in light or shadow.

15. Structural or Architectural Drawings

Why Are Buildings Hard to Draw?

Following the trend of man-made objects, architectural draws are also extremely challenging.

While I can definitely appreciate the drawings of Edward hopper depicting city life through his detailed structural drawings, I do not personally find drawing structures as alluring as the human figure so I haven’t spent too much time drawing them.

Drawing buildings can be complex due to their intricate geometry and design. A major challenge can lie in staying faithful to the perspective, which means maintaining accurate dimensions and angles while bringing out the structure’s unique character. It’s not just about perfect rectangles or straight lines; typical buildings often consist of the complex interplay between different shapes and forms.

Also, buildings are seeped in light and shade; the way these two elements interact can really define the depth and vibe of the structure. Capturing this interplay of light and shadow is not always easy and presents another layer of complexity for artists.

Tips on How to Draw Buildings

Here are some tips and strategies to simplify drawing buildings.

start with basic structure and complete it first..
- ..before diving into details
use a rule to get accurate and straight lines
keep in mind perspective and how it often requires parallel and straight lines.
then work on adding in details with highlights and darker shades

Additionally, when it comes to implementing perspective, keep in mind that all parallel lines converge at a singular point in the distance, known as the vanishing point. You need to maintain this principle while drawing different building parts to keep the structure’s proportion and orientation intact.

16. Animals (Horses!)

Why Are Horses Hard to Draw?

Some animals are hard to draw and for many horses are some of the more challenging.

Link: See our post here on Easy to Draw Animals with guides (and one on how to draw a horse)

Unlike humans, who have relatively simple outer body frames, horses possess intricate muscle structures and proportions. Their body design varies greatly from front to rear, creating a distinct challenge in capturing the different curves and angles accurately. Coupling this with the vast body sizes and lengths, depicting proportionate horse figures is indeed quite intimidating.

To provide context, think of how challenging it is to draw a person walking or running, precisely capturing the shift in body weight and synchronization of different body parts. Now, magnify that intricacy by four – taking into account the four legs of a horse – and you get a clear idea of the level of difficulty involved in sketching moving horses.

Tips on How to Draw Horses

Here are some tips for drawing a horse:

start with a simple and loose outline
try to be aware of size and proportion
- with specific awareness to the size of the body and head compared to the legs
as always reference photos are key!

Start with a simple sketch of a horses outline and skeletal system. This builds a basic framework for the body and helps you understand the horse’s structural foundation. It’s like creating the blueprint of a building before erecting it.

Take a good amount of time comparing the size and length of the horses body and legs.

Lastly, don’t try to make the head too angular or too rounded. A horses head is actually a subtly shape that can easily be draw disproportionately.

Challenges in Drawing Fur and Feathers

When drawing animals another challenge is drawing fur and feathers.

Much like human hair, fur and feathers require specific detail that highlights certain sections as dark or lighter as well as inviduals sections of hair or feathers.

Just like human hair you should:

start with large chunks that are different shades
then based off your reference image begin adding detail to those shades

Note, in both cases—the fur and the feathers—are a test of patience, as both require considerable layers of shading to gain that realistic texture and depth.

17. Water

Why Is Water Hard to Draw?

Drawing by Easy Art Time – Drawing School on Youtube

Water embodies fluidity, transparency, and dynamism – attributes that challenge even the most seasoned artists.

It’s translucent and always in motion, whether it’s a small babbling brook or a large undulating ocean, with light, shadows, and reflections dancing across its surface.

To illustrate the transparency of water involves capturing what’s underneath the surface while simultaneously depicting its reflective nature. This demands meticulous visual study and a clear understanding of light physics.

Tips on How to Draw Water

Here’s a pro-tip to start us off: treat water like any other subject.

Begin by observing its form, lighting, and textures. Also, remember to observe its surroundings because water’s appearance heavily depends on its environmental context.

Begin by sketching lightly, trying to capture the most noticeable shapes and movements.
Then, bring in the shadows and highlights.
Water tends to be darkest in its deepest parts and its transparency is often implied by the way it reflects its surroundings and allows objects beneath its surface to be seen.

18 .Flowers

Why Are Flowers Hard to Draw?

Flowers are hard to draw primarily due to their intricate nature and variety. Each type of flower owns its unique set of features, which when unobserved correctly, can misrepresent its kind and jeopardize the authenticity of the artwork.

Link: Our guide on How to Draw Flowers for beginners here

The first and foremost challenge lies in capturing the diversity.

For instance, a rose, with its tightly packed petals unfolding rhythmically, has its uniqueness contrasting with the sunflower which sports a broad face prominently portraying seed patterns.

Another challenging aspect is the play of light and shadows within the folds of the petals. Light can fall diffusely on the flower, resulting in subtle shades and tones. Capturing these nuances is tough but critical as it adds realism to the sketch.

Tips on How to Draw Flowers

One of the most fundamental tips while drawing flowers is to start with simple forms – just like our guide above goes over.

A flower can be broken down into simple forms quite easily.

Begin by breaking the flower into basic shapes- circles, ovals, or even triangles. This approach simplifies the complex and layered nature of flowers. To illustrate, the center of a daisy can be a circle, the petals can be extended triangles, etc.

Secondly, focus not only on the front view but make an effort to study the side view and backside of flowers as well. This wider perspective can equip you to draw flowers from any angle and keep your artwork realistic and dynamic.

Do not shy away from using references. Studying real flowers or high-quality photographs can significantly improve your observation skills and gather valuable insights regarding the positioning, overlapping, and directionality of petals. Remember, the specificity of details matters when capturing the essence of different flowers.

19. Glass (Reflective and Transparent Surfaces)

Reflective and Transparent Surfaces

Any shiny metallic object, a glass vase, or a water droplet, all have one thing in common – they feature reflective or transparent surfaces, and they can be notoriously difficult to draw. Why? It’s because these surfaces do not possess a color or form of their own but mirror the surrounding environment’s various colors and shapes.

Drawing realistic reflective surfaces requires artists to shift their normal way of observing things. Instead of focusing on drawing the object itself, artists need to focus on drawing the reflections that appear on the surface of the object.

Meanwhile, depicting transparent objects, like a glass or plastic material, involves tackling the challenge of capturing both the transparency of the material and the reflections on the material.

Why Is Glass Hard to Draw?

Glass is hard to draw due to the complex characteristics that define glass—its transparency, reflective nature, and its ability to distort what is seen through it.

Unlike solid opaque objects, glass isn’t defined by its edges or surfaces, but by the way it modifies the appearance of what’s behind it. Add to this the variable light reflections and refractions on its surface, and you have an object that defies simple representation techniques.

Tips on How to Draw Glass

Drawing glass involves a lot of observational skill, patience, and understanding of light. Nonetheless, there are helpful tips that artists can employ to master this challenge. Let’s delve into some.

The first tip is to change your perspective.
- Instead of seeing glass as an object you need to outline, view it as an entity defined by the reflected and refracted light it interacts with.
- Pay close attention to the way light changes when passing through glass and how it impacts the colors and shapes behind it.

Secondly, it’s essential to start with the right mindset at hand—trying to draw every little detail can be overwhelming.
- Instead, focus on capturing the essential highlights, shadows and reflections that define the glass’s form.

Lastly, practicing drawing from reference images can be immensely beneficial.
- Begin with simple shapes and progressively take on more complex glass forms.
- Remember, even in realism, art is an interpretation.

20. Anime

Why Is Drawing Anime So Hard?

Drawing anime can be hard too. Anime requires a specific style and specific characteristics to be present in order to properly represent the style and medium.

Link: See our guide on How to Draw Anime here

The anime art form can be quite hard to master because of its unique blend of realism and stylization.

One of the main hurdles is acquainting yourself with the exaggerated visual language of anime, which often deviates drastically from real-world proportions and lighting. For instance, anime faces are characterized by overly large, expressive eyes and an array of hair styles defying gravity, which can be quite challenging for rookies to master.

Another potential pitfall is the unrealistic body proportions, where characters’ bodies are often elongated and exaggerated. This is a shift from conventional figure drawing practices that prioritize anatomical accuracy, and might seem disconcerting initially.

Tips on Drawing Anime

Here are some key tips to help you draw anime:

Pay close attention to popular anime series and mangas to familiarize yourself with the common stylistic elements discernable in characters.
- Focus on how anime artists exaggerate certain facial features like anime eyes, and the way they employ stylized lighting and shading techniques.
Following that, get back to basics by brushing up on your basic drawing skills. Even though anime involves a degree of stylization, a solid grounding in the fundamentals of drawing, such as perspective, anatomy, and shading, will significantly help you in stylizing your artwork accurately and creatively.

Remember, the aim is not to create an exact replica, but to understand and incorporate the conventions of anime into your drawings.

21. Life Drawings

Why Is Drawing from Life Hard?

Drawing from life can be quite difficult if you haven’t practiced it much.

Instead of drawing from imagination or from reference images drawing from life has its own challenges.

Some common drawings from life are done with:

a still life setup (of fruit or any other object
a live nude model
or plein air

What Is Drawing from Life Called?

Drawing from life, in the world of artistry, is referred to as observational drawing. This method of drawing focuses primarily on the detailed observation of the subject in the real world as the artist attempts to replicate it on their platform.

Consider going to a park and sketching the scenery that you see – that’s observational drawing. It challenges artists to depict subjects realistically, including texture, depth, lighting, and other attributes that may be ignored or abstracted in non-realistic styles.

Observational drawing acts as a basis for most artistic endeavors. It trains the artist to see the world as it exists, allowing them to pick up on minute details. This emphasis on detail enables them to effectively depict both simple and complex subjects. With practice, artists can capture the intricacies of life accurately, bringing their work closer to the realm of realism.

What is Plein Air?

Plein Air is a popular style of painting that involves creating artwork outdoors in the natural light while observing the landscape or subject directly.

The term comes from the French phrase “en plein air,” meaning “in the open air.”

Plein Air presents artists with the challenge of working with constantly changing natural lighting, a contrast to the controlled environment of a studio.

However, plein air can be challenging due to outdoor elements such as changing weather conditions, shifting light, and unexpected disruptions. Despite these confounding factors, the payoff for artists is worth it. By directly immersing themselves in the environment, the artist can acquire a deeper understanding of the subject, enabling them to represent it with greater authenticity on their canvas.

22. Drawing from Memory

Is It Hard to Draw From Imagination?

Drawing from the imagination can be challenging because it incorporates an entirely different skill set compared to observational drawing or reference material drawing.

Drawing from memory requires you to conceptualize an image in your mind and bring it to life on paper.

When I first got into art, I was surprised that almost every great artist uses reference images. I guess I just thought these artists were so great that they just pulled out immaculate, detailed drawings and paintings directly from their imagination…this is a massive misconception that many have.

When drawing from the imagination, you need to rely on your visual library – the accumulated mental stockpile of objects, figures, and elements you’ve studied and observed over time. Expanding this visual library through extensive practice and observation is essential.

I don’t recommend drawing from imagination for any beginner or more advanced artists.

Why Is Drawing from Memory Hard?

Drawing from memory can be challenging due to our brain’s mechanism for storing visuals. If I was to try to draw a portrait from memory, it would look like a 10 year old drew it.

That’s why I use reference images as much as possible for detailed drawings.

We simply don’t register every minute detail of what we see. Instead, our brains tend to simplify and categorize information to manage the world around us. Consequently, when we try to draw from memory, we often sketch generalized ‘symbolic’ images of an object, involving broad details and omitting specifics.

Should You Always Use Reference Images?

For detailed drawings and artwork, yes, you should always use a reference image.

However, if you are doing an abstract artwork you can rely more on creativity and imagination. You’d be surprised that even more creative works are often done through a combination of reference images.

Reference images can be a powerful tool to enhance your observation skills, understand the basic forms and structures, and achieve accurate proportions. They also offer a valuable means to study everything from complex anatomy to tricky lighting conditions.

Is It Okay to Trace in Art?

In the realm of art, tracing is a practice that elicits much debate. Is it okay to trace in art? Yes, it is perfectly acceptable as long as you are not trying to pass off your artwork as done freehand. Plus it also has plagiarism implications too if using someone elses work for tracing.

In general, I would not recommend tracing to any beginner artist – since true growth happens when creating your own drawings from your own reference images.

There’s also been many debates of great artists throughout time secretly using tracing often in the form of reflections to get more accurate proportions and depictions.

Tracing is generally viewed as a helpful tool utilized during the early stages of learning and can function as a stepping stone toward freehand drawing. It can be immensely beneficial when employed as a learning technique, particularly for beginners who are aiming to understand perspectives, proportions, and general anatomy.

Side note: although tracing is an effective learning tool, it has its ethical considerations when used outside the learning context. Tracing and then passing it off as original artwork falls into the realm of plagiarism, especially when the source is an existing artwork or photograph.

What Are the Drawing Skills You Should Learn to Draw Harder Subjects and Objects?

1. The Challenge of Accurate Perspective

Perspective is used to represent depth and spatial relations accurately. However, maintaining accurate perspective in a drawing can be a daunting task for artists, primarily because of the complexity it adds to the process.

Link: Check out our post on What Is Perspective here explained with examples

To start, an understanding of the fundamental principles of perspective is essential. This includes the concepts of horizon line, vanishing points, and how objects appear smaller when they are farther from the viewer. Knowing how these elements interact is key to representing a scene accurately from a specific viewpoint.

In terms of architectural, mechanical, or automotive drawings if is your drawing is not done inline with the correct perspective it will immediately be noticeable.

2. Proportions

Proportions refer to the relative size of different parts of your subject.

For instance, if you’re drawing a human face, understanding the general rules of facial proportions—like the fact that eyes are usually positioned halfway between the top of the head and the chin—can immensely improve the realism of your sketches.

Link: See our breakdown of Facial Proportions here

Proportions not being correct is usually on of the most common reasons why your portrait doesn’t look accurate and doesn’t accurately capture likeness.

3. Placement

Drawing with correct placement, much like proportion, plays a crucial role in achieving a realistic depiction.

Placement refers to the accurate positioning of different elements of the subject relative to each other.

An understanding of placement is pivotal when illustrating multiple objects in a scene or various features in a face. For instance, the placement of an eye too high on a face can affect the overall realism and harmony of the piece.

4. Anatomy

Following along challeneges and skills associated with the human figure and face is anatomy.

By studying anatomy, you can more accurately produce figures, gestures, and faces.

When I first got into figure drawing, I worked through several art books on human anatomy that were extremely benificial.

Like other skills, learning anatomy begins with observation: studying real-life humans or animals, anatomy books or even taking life drawing classes. Start with basic shapes to represent different parts, gradually advancing to detailed anatomy.

While hands and faces are often considered the most difficult due to their complexity and expressiveness, don’t overlook the importance of other parts.

A good grasp of overall human or animal anatomy will provide a framework that will greatly improve your drawing, especially when drawing from memory or imagination.

5. Foreshortening

Foreshortening image from Love Life Drawing on Youtbue

Foreshortening, a technique closely related to perspective and usually used with anatomy or figure drawings, often translates into a puzzle for artists.

Foreshortening in art refers to the technique of portraying an object or a figure in such a way that it appears to recede into the background.

In essence, it deals with depicting objects or people at an angle to create an illusion of depth.

Drawing the human figure in a convincing foreshortened perspective can be particularly intimidating. Imagine trying to draw a figure stretched out, with their feet significantly closer to your viewpoint than their head. Without foreshortening, the resulting figure would appear disproportionately elongated.

6. Textures

Drawing recognizable textures is another challenging but necessary skill for harder subjects like human hair, certain facial features like the mouth, and fabric.

Textures give your audience an idea of how the subject might feel if it was tangible. For example, drawing the rough texture of a tree bark, the shiny surface of a glass, or the fluffy fur of a dog requires distinct techniques and skills.

Textures are best achieved by using a combination of different strokes and appropriate shading techniques.

Techniques for Drawing Realistic Textures

When it comes to drawing, textures can add an engaging level of depth and reality. This part will provide beneficial tactics on accounting for textures.

The first significant aspect to note, different textures demand different techniques.

Smooth textures like glass or metal, require a lot of precise shading to capture their reflective properties.
In contrast, rough textures, such as bark or concrete, demand a more stippling approach, using dots or small marks to create the illusion of a rough surface.

Using visual references when attempting to portray a realistic texture is an advantage. Photos can provide an in-depth look at how light and shadow interact with different textures. Also, studying the textures in person can provide haptic information that can be quite beneficial.

7. Light and Shadow

The last crucial skill is understanding light and shadow, closely linked with shading but having its own significance.

It involves comprehending how light behaves—how it hits an object, reflects, refracts, or gets absorbed—leading to the formation of shadows, mid-tones, and highlights.

One should be able to identify the light source in a scene, predict how the light would interact with the drawn objects, and represent those light-shadow effects accurately on paper.

Keep in mind that light can dramatically affect the mood of your drawing: intense shadows can heighten drama and intensity, while soft light brings gentleness and calm.