What are the effects of one-hour drawing sessions? The golden ratio of "two-hour drawing sessions + one hour of review" and the ultimate typing practice method for beginner illustrators to improve rapidly.

Have you ever tried a one-hour drawing challenge?

Until the beginning of this year, to be honest,That's impossible.That's what I was thinking.

I'm a slow artist, so finishing it in an hour is absolutely impossible.

but,"It's a shame to give up before even trying.I thought, "Why not give it a try?" and decided to try it.

To my surprise, it was quite fun, and I made many discoveries.

Following thatI also tried drawing in two hours and drawing with no time limit.I tried it, so I've put together a summary of my experience.

After trying various options, the one that suited me best was

"Two drawings + 1 hour (total 3 hours)"That was the style.

What are One-Hour Drawing, Two-Hour Drawing, and Unlimited Drawings?

What is a one-hour drawing?

One-hour drawing challenges are a "60-minute drawing competition."

Drawing isDraw a lineThis means that in a one-hour drawing challenge, the process includes everything from the rough sketch to the coloring.Complete one illustration in one hour.This is our goal.

Because time is limited, concentration increases, and the drawing speed naturally increases.

What is a two-draw?

Two-Draw isA practice method for completing an illustration in 2 hoursIs.

Since there's a little more time than in a one-hour drawing challenge, I can work on the line art and coloring more carefully.

「I need just a little more time."This is the perfect practice style for when you feel that way.

Unlimited

Unlimited isA style of drawing without worrying about time.Is.

You can spend 5 to 10 hours, or even longer, carefully drawing until you are satisfied.

It's perfect for when you want to focus on composition or draw in every detail.

[True Story] The effects and differences I discovered after trying out one-hour, two-hour, and unlimited drawing challenges.

After actually trying out three different practice methods, the one that suited me best was:"Two drawings + 1 hour (total 3 hours)"That was the style.

Next, I'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each practice method, and why I recommend the "two draws + 1 hour" method.

I hope this helps you find a practice style that suits you.

A thorough comparison of three practice methods I actually tried.

Advantages and disadvantages of one-hour drawing challenges

It gives you a real sense of accomplishment when you're drawing, and it's perfect for when you want to get a lot done.
I'm the type of person who spends a lot of time on line art, so realizing "this is something I want to be particular about" was a valuable takeaway for me.

I realized that being pressed for time often led me to create safe, unremarkable sketches and compositions.

My lines often ended up being messy.

Is drawing in one hour pointless? What are its real effects?

Have you ever tried a one-hour drawing challenge, only to find you don't have enough time and can't draw what you want, leaving you feeling discouraged and wondering, "Was this even worth it...?" I've felt that way several times myself.

But that's not because my drawing skills are poor, I just haven't yet grasped the essence of one-hour drawing challenges and the "effects you can gain" from them. That's it.

The original purpose of the one-hour drawing challenge was, To train your concentration to complete a drawing in a short amount of time.

It's like "muscle training for drawing," The goal is definitely not to "draw a good picture in one hour."

By repeatedly practicing using concentration,

• What aspects do you want to focus on?
• Where can I cut corners?
• You'll naturally start to see your own drawing habits.

This is the true effect of one-hour drawing exercises. Once you grasp this, one-hour drawing becomes more and more fun, and both the quality and speed of your work gradually improve.

Advantages and disadvantages of a two-hour time limit

Having just two hours made me feel more relaxed and allowed me to draw more carefully.
I feel like the quality has definitely improved compared to my one-hour drawings.

Advantages and disadvantages of unlimited (5-10 hours or more)

Since you can draw without worrying about time, it's perfect for when you want to pay attention to every detail.
You can fully bring to life your desire to "draw it this far!"

Sometimes I get so bogged down in details that I don't know where to stop.
It's a bit difficult to keep doing this every day.

The reason why "two drawings + 1 hour (total 3 hours)" was the best

Reason 1: It strikes the perfect balance between concentration and quality.

Apparently, a person's attention span is limited to about an hour.

but,Taking a break midway through can actually make it easier to maintain concentration.That's what they say.

this,Zeigarnik effectThat's what they say.

If you have the composition decided, you can quickly draw a rough sketch, and you can get to the line art in an hour (even if it's still in progress), and coloring can be done in just over an hour.

that's why,Two draws + 1 hour = 3 hoursIt was just right, and I was able to maintain a good level of concentration and quality.

Reason 2: You get both quantity and quality.

If you can spare three hours a day, you can easily complete one drawing in that time.

but,Three hours every day is quite difficult, isn't it?

In such cases,Try dividing it into 1 hour x 3 days.That's also an option.

If you take three days to complete one piece, you can continue without difficulty, and the quality won't suffer.

Reason 3: Easy to continue and easy to make into a habit

If it's just one hour a day, you can draw even in short bursts of free time. You can quickly start whenever you feel like drawing a little,Easy to make into a habitThat's the key point.

Before you know it, you're drawing one picture every three days, then two a week... your drawing pace naturally increases.

Time management and tips for maximizing the effectiveness of a two-draw + one-hour session.

You might think, "Three hours? Really?", but if you break it down into smaller segments, you can maintain your concentration and significantly improve the quality.
Here's the time allocation that I found worked best for me after actually trying it out.

My recommended time allocation example

• 0-60 minutes: Rough sketch and line art (work in progress is OK) This is the time to decide on the composition and start on the line art. It's okay to stop along the way!
• breakTake a little break. Rest your eyes and hands and refresh yourself. You can also continue tomorrow.

• 60-120 minutes: Primarily coloring (partial completion is OK)This is the time to layer colors, from the base color to the shadows. It's okay to stop midway through this stage as well.
• break(Light stretching, etc. You can also finish here.)

• 120-180 minutes: Finishing and fine-tuningAdd highlights, background, and fine details to finish!

With this distribution, you can maintain your concentration without strain and create a piece you're happy with.
If you approach it with the mindset that it's okay to stop midway, you can continue more easily.

[Tools Used] Create a comfortable drawing environment with iPad Air and Procreate

I usuallyiPad AirとProcreateI'm using it to draw pictures.

It works well with the Apple Pencil, and the smooth drawing experience is very comfortable.

Of course, drawing traditionally is perfectly fine too! I think the important thing is to "find an environment where you can draw comfortably."

Whether digital or analog, let's continue enjoying it in a style that suits us!

[Summary] Find an illustration practice method that suits you.

When drawing illustrations, you can choose any of the following methods: one-hour drawing, two-hour drawing, or unlimited time.

What's important is,Find a style that suits youthing.

By trying out different practice methods, you can discover your own drawing habits and preferences, such as "how much time is needed to draw comfortably" and "where you want to spend your time."

Some of you might think that "two hours of drawing + one hour" isn't really two hours of drawing, but IThe most important thing is to complete the work.That's what I think.

Therefore, you're free to use your time however you like.

What kind of time allocation style did you find comfortable and sustainable? Please let me know in the comments if you'd like.

Thank you for reading to the end.

Okay then!

If you enjoyed this article or illustration even a little, your support would be greatly appreciated and very encouraging.

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Pochi

Illustrator

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Illustrator.
This blog is my growth diary as an illustrator.
Opened since June 2023.
Starting YouTube in January 2025.