Drawing with Confidence: Conclusion
Your drawing journey continues
Image by Kelly Sikkema
Drawing with Confidence is a free online art course. Develop your drawing skills through playful exercises and thoughtful experimentation. Overcome barriers to self-expression and embrace the joy of mark making.
Conclusion — Key concepts we’ll explore:
Review your work and reflect on your growth
Consider areas of interest and the next steps to continue building your drawing skills
Get resources and discover ways to stay inspired
Congratulations on completing Drawing with Confidence.
What began as tentative marks on paper has evolved into a personal artistic practice equipped with fundamental skills and—most importantly—the confidence to continue developing your unique visual voice.
Before looking ahead, take a moment to acknowledge how far you’ve come:
Celebrate Your Progress
Gather all the drawings you’ve created throughout this series. Arrange them chronologically and notice the progression in your technical skills, observational abilities, and expressive qualities.
Reflect on Your Growth
In your sketchbook, respond to these prompts:
What drawing techniques feel most natural to you now that were challenging at the beginning?
Which exercise or concept created the biggest breakthrough moment for you?
How has your relationship with the creative process changed?
What aspects of drawing still challenge you, and how might you approach them differently now?
Share Your Work
Sharing your art—even when you feel vulnerable—accelerates growth and builds confidence. Consider taking one of these steps:
Document your process, not just finished pieces—many viewers connect with seeing the creative journey
Create a social media account or website dedicated to your drawing journey
Participate in hashtag challenges like #drawingwithconfidence #sketchbookskool or #drawingchallenge
Confidence Boost
Sharing your art means offering the world a glimpse of your inner landscape, an act that requires genuine courage. When hesitation strikes about letting others see your work, remember that vulnerability is not weakness but the source of meaningful connection. Your unique perspective is precisely what makes your art worth sharing. Trust that by revealing your artistic voice, you create space for others to recognise something of themselves in your expression. Being seen isn’t just about exposure, it’s about participation in the ongoing human conversation that art has sustained across centuries. Now’s your time to join in.
Image by Joyce Hankins
How to Keep Going as an Artist
The most successful artists maintain momentum through intentional practice. Create a sustainable drawing practice with these steps:
Set Realistic Rhythms
Consistency matters more than duration. Consider:
Daily Micro-Sessions: Even 10 to 15 minutes of focused drawing daily builds skills more effectively than occasional marathon sessions. I like to do mine in the morning (after writing my morning pages) or in the afternoon with a cup of tea.
Weekly Deep Dives: Schedule 1 to 2 longer sessions (60 to 90 minutes) weekly to explore more complex projects
Monthly Challenges: Select a theme or technique to explore for an entire month
Your Personal Creativity Commitment
Use this sample contract to imagine and commit to your ideal rhythm.
Date: ___________________
In the coming months, I commit to nurturing my drawing practice by:
I will draw _______ times per week for at least _______ minutes.
The pathway I’m most excited to explore is: _______________________________
My first post-course project will be: ____________________________________
I will share my work by: ______________________________________________
When I face creative blocks, I will: _____________________________________
Signature: ___________________________________________________________
Consider Your Areas of Interest
Based on your experience in this course, which directions most excite you?
Observational Mastery: Deepening your ability to see and represent the world accurately
Expressive Development: Using drawing as an emotional and personal expression
Narrative Focus: Developing sequential art, character design, and visual storytelling
Conceptual Exploration: Using drawing as a thinking tool to explore and develop ideas
Technical Specialisation: Mastering specific media or techniques (ink work, coloured pencil, digital drawing, etc.)
Choose one to two pathways to focus your continued practice, knowing you can always expand or shift direction later.
Nurturing Your Creative Mindset
As you continue your drawing practice, remember that every artist—from beginners to masters—experiences plateaus and breakthroughs. When progress feels slow:
Return to fundamentals for renewed confidence
Try a completely different medium or approach
Study the work of artists you admire with analytical eyes
Take a brief, intentional break to refresh your perspective
Image by Phil Hearing
Artist Resources
Books About Drawing
Drawing Projects: An Exploration of the Language of Drawing by Mick Maslen and Jack Southern
The Sketchbook Project World Tour by Steven Peterman and Sara Elands Peterman
Drawing in the Present Tense by Roger Malbert, Claire Gilman
Drawing Type: An Introduction to Illustrating Letterforms by Alex Fowkes
The Natural Way to Draw by Kimon Nicolaides
Ways of Drawing: Artists’ Perspectives and Practices edited by Julian Bell, Julia Balchin, and Claudia Tobin
Creative Challenges to Join
Inktober: October drawing challenge with daily prompts
100 Day Project: Self-directed themed drawing project
Finding Inspiration Everywhere
Develop the habit of collecting visual inspiration:
Keep a ‘swipe file’ or mood board of images that move you
Visit museums and galleries with a sketchbook
Study the world around you with artist’s eyes
Follow artists whose work resonates with you
Closing Thoughts
Drawing is both a skill and a way of experiencing the world. The confidence you’ve developed isn’t just about making better pictures. It’s about seeing more deeply, thinking visually, and expressing your unique perspective.
Remember that even the most accomplished artists continue learning throughout their lives. Each drawing teaches something new, each challenge overcome builds resilience, and each moment of creative flow connects you to the long tradition of human visual expression.
Your final assignment is simply this: draw something tomorrow, the day after that, and the day after that. The journey continues with each mark you make.
Thank you for embarking on this journey of visual discovery and creative confidence. Your drawing practice is a gift to yourself and a world that needs your unique vision. Keep drawing, keep seeing, keep sharing.
To stay in touch, connect with me on Instagram: @francescasciandra. Sign-up to my newsletter to receive updates and course announcements.
Drawing with Confidence
