Loosen up in just 10 minutes!

3 sketchbook exercises you can do quickly

Your sketchbook doesn’t have to be a place for “finished” drawings. It’s a training ground — somewhere to practise, loosen up, and keep your hand and eye connected. If you’ve only got a few minutes spare, try one of these quick exercises:

1. Continuous line drawing
Pick a simple object — a mug, your glasses, a plant. Put your pen on the paper and don’t lift it until you’re done. Follow every curve and angle in one long, unbroken line. It will feel awkward, but you’ll capture surprising energy and character.

2. Tonal blocks
Choose something with clear light and shadow. Forget outlines — just use soft pencil or charcoal to block in the big shapes of dark and light. Aim for three tones: light, mid, dark. This helps you train your eye to see value quickly.

3. Blind contour
Look only at your subject, not your page, and slowly draw the edges as your eye travels. It’s not about accuracy — it’s about slowing down and really noticing what’s in front of you. The results are often strange but strangely alive.

Ten minutes a day with exercises like these keeps your hand in, stops you worrying about “results”, and builds confidence for bigger work.

we explore exercises like these every week in my drawing classes at the studio — a friendly, practical way to build your skills.