Drawing Templates

Drawing templates are patterns that serve as a guide to follow. You might notice that I refer to them throughout my site as outlines.

As a matter of fact, drawing outlines are like a profile or the border of one or more objects with no detail.

They look very boring and are sometimes unrecognizable as to what they represent.

Contour lines form the individual shape of one or more objects and include basic details.

They show form but don't indicate texture or color.

On almost all of the outlines I've included on my site, I've always put in a little bit of detail.

I do that to show you how to progress with the drawing. I guess I should be calling them contour lines.

It's a bad habit of mine to name them incorrectly but I need to warn you now that I'll probably continue to call them outlines!

Butterfly Drawing Template

A butterfly template is very popular.

Everybody loves to draw butterflies.

Here I have done the template, then copied it again and added the pattern to its wings.

Of course, you can design the pattern for the wings yourself to make it more interesting and fun.

Flower Drawing Template

You'll notice when you copy your outline that it's not going to be exactly the same. Don't get frustrated by that. So long as your copy looks like your subject, carry on.

Have a look at the difference between my outlines and the drawings.

The subtle changes shouldn't worry you, so long as you get a good likeness you should be happy with that.

This flower template was selected for its simple lines.

A lot of flower varieties would be easy to do as an outline.

Once you have been drawing for a while you will be able to recognize what you are capable of drawing and what would represent a challenge.

Rabbit Template

Here is a drawing template of a rabbit.

In the example on the right you can see how to use quick strokes to transform the template into a drawing.

Template For A Bird

The bird drawing template was very easy.

Only a few strokes were required to turn the outline into a simple drawing.

Practice Drawing Until You Drop

These are the types of exercises you need to do as steady practice.

I'm hoping you learn a lot from this page on drawing templates.

Copy the drawing outlines and practice doing them until you get a good likeness.

Then, progress onto doing another outline and add in some detail. You will end up with a very decent drawing.

I should have practiced drawing these contour lines several times and I would've ended up with better drawings. In most cases, these were done on the first attempt.

The rabbit outline had the highest degree of difficulty.

Get out your paper and pencils and start right now to enjoy your drawing adventure.

Subscribe to the free newsletter, Sketchy News, to learn extra drawing tips and how to have fun with new techniques. Become a part of this learn-to-draw community by entering your details here ...