The Beginner Artist Trap: Watching vs. Doing
As a beginner artist — whether you’re working in traditional media or exploring digital abstractions — it’s easy to fall into a trap: constantly watching tutorials, gathering “inspiration”, curating toolkits, trying to understand the technique perfectly before you attempt it… and by that time you’ve spent hours consuming content and no time actually practicing.
You might recognize this feeling: that mixture of excitement and overwhelm, with a quiet whisper in the back of your mind saying, “I’m not ready yet. I need to learn one more thing first.” I think we’ve all been here when trying to learn a particular art technique or fundamental. I’ve done it before myself and might be tempted again because art is a lifelong learning process.
But the truth is: the most important thing you can do is make a start. Beginner-art will feel awkward, messy, imperfect — and that’s good. Remember, every artist starts this way. It means you’re beginning, you’re stretching your comfort zone, you’re creating something out of nothing. Perfection is not the goal in the early stages: growth is.
The Problem with Too Many Tutorials
Tutorials are fantastic! They open up new techniques, show you how others work and reveal what’s possible.
But they can become a crutch if you treat them as a prerequisite rather than a tool. You might ask: “Should I watch 10 more videos? Should I buy that course? Should I wait until I’m more confident?”
The danger: you end up in a loop of consume → wait → more consume — but no doing. Which leads to frustration, stagnation, or that feeling of “I know how to do it, but I haven’t done it yet”.
For beginners especially: there can be a perfection-expectation. You watch the tutorial, you want to “get it right” before even attempting. So you delay starting.
But in reality: the learning happens when you do. The trial, the mistakes, the messy sketches, the awkward attempts — those are the building blocks of improvement.
A Better Approach: Learn With Doing
Here are some guidelines to keep tutorial time productive:
Limit yourself to one or two trusted sources. Rather than jumping between 10-20 creators, pick one or two whose style and teaching you resonate with. This helps you avoid context-switching and keeps your learning consistent.
Set a clear intention for each session. Before you watch a tutorial, ask: What do I want to practice afterwards? For example: “I’ll watch a 20-minute video on gesture drawing, then I’ll spend 30 minutes doing 5-minute gesture sketches.”
Follow-through immediately. As soon as you finish watching, pick up your tool (pencil, tablet, whatever you use) and begin. Even if what you produce is messy, incomplete or not “good” — that’s totally fine. The goal is motion, not mastery.
Accept—and expect—the awkwardness. Embrace it, even! Beginner work will look rough. That’s okay, and it’s normal. It’s part of the process. The more you allow yourself to create without (excessive) self-critique, the more you’ll improve.
Balance watching and doing. A rough rule of thumb: for every 1 hour of tutorial watching, try to spend at least 2 hours practicing. Adjust as you like, but tilt the ratio toward doing.
Reflect after practicing. Ask: What worked? What didn’t? What will I try differently next time? This helps turn practice into learning, and learning into progress.
Putting It Into Your Routine (or Not!)
There’s no one-size-fits-all method when it comes to making art. Some artists thrive on structure and routine, while others (myself included) work best when creativity strikes in bursts of inspiration. The key is to find a rhythm that keeps you creating — whether that’s daily, weekly, or whenever an idea won’t let you sleep until you bring it to life.
If you’re someone who benefits from structure, a simple plan can help you stay consistent without overwhelm:
Monday: Watch one short tutorial (15–20 min) on a technique you’d like to try (like color blending or gesture drawing).
Tuesday: Practice for 30 minutes — apply what you learned while it’s still fresh.
Wednesday: Free sketch day — draw or paint whatever catches your eye, no rules.
Thursday: Watch another short tutorial that builds on what you learned earlier in the week.
Friday: Practice again and reflect: What worked? What would you like to explore next?
- Weekend: Free play.
But maybe you’re more of a spontaneous creator — the kind of artist who gets a sudden spark at 10 p.m. and just has to paint or open Procreate. That’s just as valid, and in many ways, it’s the heart of creativity. For those moments:
Keep your tools nearby. Leave a sketchbook, tablet, or even a few loose sheets of paper within reach so you can capture ideas the instant they appear.
Mix learning into the moment. If a tutorial sparks an idea halfway through, pause it and create right away. The best learning happens when inspiration and curiosity meet.
Reflect afterward. Even if your process is intuitive, take a few minutes after a session to note what you enjoyed or what techniques you’d like to explore more. Reflection helps spontaneous creativity evolve into steady progress.
Capture fleeting ideas. If inspiration floods in faster than you can create, jot down quick notes, sketches, or screenshots to revisit later. Those small sparks often become your best projects.
Whether your creativity flows through structure or spontaneity, the most important thing is to turn learning into doing. You don’t have to create at the same time every day — you just have to keep showing up for your art in whatever way feels natural to you.
Beginner-Friendly YouTube Channels to Start With
Proko — Focuses on drawing fundamentals, anatomy and figure. Great for beginners who want a strong base.
Circle Line Art School — Drawing tutorials for perspective, simple forms, beginner friendly.
Paint Coach — Traditional painting (oil/acrylic) tutorials that simplify the process for beginners.
Draw with Jazza — More stylised/cartoon character oriented, good if you lean into digital or stylised work. There’s actually quite a variety of creative content on this channel!
The Virtual Instructor — Covers variety of mediums (drawing, painting, etc), good for beginners wanting some breadth.
- Milan Art Institute — This is my personal favourite! Elli’s videos covering the elements of art and especially her videos on abstract art have been a huge help for me. They cover many topics that both beginners and more advanced artists will enjoy.
Conclusion: Watch Tutorials in Moderation, then go Create!
If you’ve ever felt paralysed by choice, by watching too many tutorials, by wanting to get it right the first time — you’re not alone. Many artists (beginners and experienced) have been there. The key shift: move from “I’ll watch until I’m ready” to “I’ll do now and improve as I go”.
Your early works will be rough. They’ll feel awkward. But they’re also priceless: they mark the beginning of your journey. And every line, every sketch, every colour choice (even the “wrong” ones) is a step forward.
So pick your tutorial, set your intention, and then pick up your tool and make something. That’s where the learning lives.
Further Reading and Resources
Fundamentals for Beginners
“Drawing Fundamentals: The Definitive Guide (2024)” — A long-form guide on the foundational drawing skills (line, shape, gesture, value, form, composition).
“Art for Beginners: How to Get Started” — Covers sketching, colour theory, drawing 3D shapes, rule of thirds, and more directed at beginners.
“The 6 Fundamentals of Art Every Good Artist Must Learn” — Outlines key principles such as anatomy, perspective, form & structure, lighting, colour and composition.
Exercises & Practice-Focused
“7 Beginner Drawing Exercises to Radically Improve Your Skills” — A blog post with concrete exercise ideas (lines, forms, negative space, shading) for beginners.
“Digital Drawing Exercises for Beginners” — Focuses on digital medium, offering structured exercises to build digital drawing confidence.
“The 15-Minutes-a-Day Drawing Exercise Routine (so easy but so effective!)” — Shows how short, daily practice sessions can help build skill over time.
Structured Learning Resources
Drawabox — A free, exercise-based curriculum focused on fundamentals (shape, perspective, form) often recommended for beginners.
“Drawing Fundamentals – School of Visual Storytelling” — Course that breaks down simplifying shapes, value, perspective and rendering, good for structured learning. (Course costs USD$20).
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