How I Taught Myself to Draw in Less Than a Year (for Free)
- Alli Dunlop
- Dec 12, 2025
- 4 min read
I used to think that drawing was something other people just knew how to do. The "talented" people, the "naturally gifted". More times than I can count, I thought to myself, "I really wish I were someone who could draw". For too long, I was too scared to try.
But then I picked up an iPad. And I realized something kind of amazing: with the right tools, the right mindset, and the right (free!) resources, you don’t have to be born with talent. You just have to be willing to try.
So if you’ve ever said, “I could never do that,” I’m here to tell you… Yes, you absolutely can. You just have to want to. I'm not attempting to write this guide from a place of expertise, but to bring you along with my journey, and maybe inspire you to begin your own artistic journey as well!
This post is part one of my favorite beginner-friendly drawing resources — all totally free. First up: faces, hair, and starting on bodies.
Procreate Made Me Believe I Could Do It
All of these tutorials are useful whether you are using traditional media or working digitally. That being said, almost everything I learned was using Procreate on the iPad. Working digitally removed a lot of mental barriers I had personally held, that prevented me from just starting.
If you’re intimidated by traditional drawing or you’ve never really tried before, Procreate makes it feel less scary. You get to experiment without pressure, thanks to features like the undo button, layers, and the ability to rotate/reshape/adjust things without starting over.
The speed at which you can improve when using digital tools is honestly kind of magic. So even if you’ve never considered digital illustration before, I highly recommend giving it a try. It might just be the thing that helps you get started.
It is a $12 one-time fee to download the app, so while not free, you are not locked into any kind of subscription commitment.
Want Proof? Here’s My Before and After
As cringey as it feels to put this out there, this is my first drawing (created while following the first linked resource below!).
A year later? She had so much more texture, dimension, movement, and personality. And while I still have so much to learn, I see growth, which has given me the confidence to keep going.
December 2024 vs October 2025
My Favorite Free Drawing Tutorials (Part I)
Here’s what you really came for: the actual tutorials that helped me get there. These are beginner-friendly, clear, and packed with helpful tips. The last one? It’s my favorite of all.
How I Draw FACES – Step by Step (YouTube) by Bobbo Andonova
A great starting point. This video walks you important elements of facial structure, and front view, profile, and ¾ view. It’s short, clear, and packed with smart tips that helped me understand facial proportions.
How to Age Cartoon Faces (YouTube) by Genevive's Design Studio
This one’s short and sweet, but gave me some serious “aha!” moments. It shows how to adjust head shape and facial features to reflect age — from baby to adult to elderly. Simple shifts, big impact.
How to Draw Heads with the Andrew Loomis Method (Article)
This article dives deeper and is a bit more technical, but if you’re a visual or spatial thinker like me, it’s a game-changer. It helped me finally “see” the 3D form in my mind’s eye so I could draw it more confidently on the page.
How to Draw Hair (YouTube) by Artzxmel
Hair is hard. This video helped it feel a little more doable. It breaks down texture, flow, and shape, and walks you through curls, braids, and waves step-by-step without making it overwhelming.
5 Tips for Drawing Hair (YouTube) by DrawnbyYannan
Still struggling? (Same 🙋🏻♀️) This quick tutorial helped me understand how to build dimension using shadows, highlights, and texture. It’s short and easy to follow.
People Skills Series by Bardot Brush (YouTube Playlist)
This is the one I keep coming back to. Lisa Bardot’s People Skills series covers bodies, faces, hands, feet — everything. It goes beyond the basics and teaches you the “rules” so you can break them on purpose. It takes a little more time to work through, but it’s absolutely worth it. It’s what helped me move from copying to creating.
Final Thought: You Don’t Need Talent. You Need Curiosity.
So if you’re looking at other people’s art thinking, “I wish I could do that,” I want you to know: you can. Start small. Use free resources. Let it be messy and imperfect at first.
I’ll be sharing Part II soon. But if this gave you a nudge to pick up your pencil — digital or otherwise — that’s already a win.
You’ve got this. 💛
Alli
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