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Learn to draw in 21 days (Season 1)

with Mark Kistler
4.9 (779)
Learn how to draw from SCRATCH in 21 fun-filled beginner lessons!
English, Spanish, 4 more French, German, Italian, Portuguese English, Spanish, 9 more French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Svenska [Auto], Japanese [Auto], B. Indonesia [Auto], Polish [Auto], Turkish [Auto]
9+
hours
50
lessons
Absolute Beginner
level
Mark Kistler

Your Instructor

Mark Kistler is an Emmy Award-winning author and illustrator and is regarded as one of the world’s best drawing instructors, teaching millions how to draw for over 40 years.

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9+
hours
50
lessons
Absolute Beginner
level
English, Spanish , 4 more
Languages
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
English, Spanish , 9 more
Subtitles
  • French
  • Italian
  • German
  • Portuguese
  • Svenska [Auto]
  • Japanese [Auto]
  • B. Indonesia [Auto]
  • Polish [Auto]
  • Turkish [Auto]

What you’ll learn

  • The absolute basics of drawing
  • Draw simple, fun illustrations step-by-step using basic shapes
  • Start off easy and work your way up to more advanced illustrations
  • Master 1-point and 2-point perspective drawing (great for backgrounds!)
  • Learn to draw roses, dragons, human eyes, trees, koalas and many more!
  • Discover how to make objects & /characters look 3D
  • How to create realistic forms and interesting textures
  • How to make objects appear in front of, behind, on top of, or under each other
  • Learn how to give your art depth with simple shading techniques
  • Develop core drawing skills that you can apply to your own illustrations
  • How to build on your new skills for continued growth
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Description

Have you ever watched someone create amazing artwork but felt like you lack the talent to do the same? Have you tried drawing in the past, but felt frustrated and gave up, thinking you just weren’t ‘artist’ material?

Well, guess what!? You CAN learn to draw! This comprehensive course was created specifically for someone like you!

You’ll learn from industry legend, Mark Kistler, who has taught beginners of all ages to draw for over 40 years. Mark is an Emmy-award-winning producer of the famous Mark Kistler’s Imagination Station.

With Mark’s help, you’ll progress from an ABSOLUTE BEGINNER to a skilled artist in just 21 days!

Mark will teach you the basic concepts and essential techniques you need to create stunning illustrations from scratch! You’ll be amazed at the results you can achieve under the guidance of our patient and supportive teacher.

In each consecutive lesson, you’ll progressively build your skill set and knowledge, gaining new confidence in yourself and your artistic abilities!

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to effortlessly draw beautiful roses, silly dragons, cute koala bears, impressive castles, and LOADS more fun characters. Guaranteed! Your family and friends will be in awe of your new skills!

Sounds like fun?! What are you waiting for? Let’s jump in!

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Who is this course for

  • Absolute beginner students who have never drawn before and are looking for an easy way to start!
  • Artists who want to refresh their knowledge on foundational concepts and drawing techniques
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This course includes

  • 9+ Hours of on-demand videos
  • 20 Reference images
  • 2 Cheat sheets/guides
  • Bonus material
  • Certificate of Completion
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Used in course

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What you'll need

  • Just a paper/sketchbook and a pencil
  • No drawing experience needed
  • (Optional) Ruler and Blending stump
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Lesson Plan

with Mark Kistler
Expand all sections
01

Introduction

07:00

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Want to learn how to draw but have little or no previous drawing experience?

Meet Emmy-award-winning Mark Kistler who has taught thousands of people to draw for over 40 years. Now he’s teaching you the secrets to basic drawing in ONLY 21 days! Devote just twenty minutes a day to building your drawing habit and confidence with Mark’s guidance.

You’ll learn progressively, as each lesson builds on the skills taught in previous lessons, starting off very simple and advancing to more complex characters! By the end of the course, you’ll have a fantastic new skillset and impress your friends and loved ones with your awesome abilities!

02

The Sphere

24:23

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Let’s start off with something fun: the SPHERE!

In this first lesson, you’ll practice drawing circles with shadows and shading for a 3D effect! You’ll also learn how to make objects appear closer or farther back from the viewer.

2.1
The Sphere
13:01
2.2
Advanced Sphere
11:22
03

The Cube

33:10

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Let’s move on to the extremely versatile, always-a-crowd-pleaser CUBE.

You can use a cube to draw so many things, like presents, houses, doorways, castles, and much more! You’ll also learn how to draw objects at realistic angles and discover how to crosshatch. It’s easy!

3.1
The Cube
31:36
3.2
Book reference
01:34
04

The Cylinder

19:19

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Ready to take it a step further? We already conquered the sphere and the cube. In this lesson, we will conquer another building block: the CYLINDER.

Mark will also teach how to create depth in your artwork with some beginner shading tricks.

4.1
The Cylinder
11:29
4.2
Overlapping Cylinders
07:50
05

Stacking Tables

21:45

Learn how to draw stacked objects with realistic shadows - Beginner lesson

This super fun lesson was inspired by Mark’s teacher, a former Disney animator, Bruce McIntyre. His enthusiasm for drawing made a profound impression on Mark.

In this lesson, you’ll combine all of the shapes and techniques you’ve mastered so far into one very cool 3D drawing. You’ll enjoy it so much that you’ll be drawing stacked objects on every scrap of paper you find!

5.1
Stacking Tables
11:48
5.2
Stacking Cylinders
05:07
5.3
Stacking Boxes
04:50
06

The Marshmallow Doorways

28:22

Learn how to draw cute marshmallow characters and archways with depth

Now, time for a fun drawing project! This illustration was inspired by a children’s book from Dr. Seuss, who has authored and illustrated some of the most popular children’s books of all time (selling over 600 million copies).

Use your knowledge of cylinders to create some adorable, emotive marshmallows and get inspired to draw other “Seussical” characters!

6.1
The Marshmallow doorways
12:28
6.2
Peeping Marshmallows
08:47
6.3
Marching Marshmallow
07:07
07

Rippling Flags

27:23

Learn to draw flowing fabrics and flags - Beginner lesson for drawing scrolls, curtains, and clothing

Master the skill of drawing flowing fabric!

The simple shapes you’ll learn about in this lesson will be the building blocks for drawing flags, scrolls, curtains, clothing and lots more cool stuff! (This is the favorite lesson of scrapbookers!)

7.1
Rippling Flags
07:41
7.2
Double & Triple Flags
05:19
7.3
Quadruple Flags
03:58
7.4
Continuous Flag
08:07
7.5
Book reference
02:18
08

The Ninja Squirrel

23:56

Learn to draw a quirky ninja squirrel and interesting textures

Mark will show you how to draw a cute, fluffy ninja squirrel using spheres as the structural elements.

You will experiment with textures to add depth and interest to your artwork! Awesome, right?

8.1
The Ninja Squirrel
23:56
09

Cool Koalas

26:44

Learn how to draw cute koalas the easy way - Beginner lesson

Let’s take a break from boxes and cylinders and draw an entire family of cuddly koalas—from our imagination! You’re gonna LOVE this lesson!

9.1
Cool Koalas
26:44
10

The Rose

21:31

Learn how to draw a beautiful rose the easy way - Beginner lesson

The foreshortened circle is one of those essential shapes that can be used as a base to create TONS of objects, for example, a bowl, a rose and a cup. You’ll learn to draw all three in this engaging lesson!

10.1
Cereal Bowl, Tea Cup & The Rose
03:29
10.2
Tea Cup & Bowl
07:02
10.3
The Rose
11:00
11

The Wave

21:44

Learn to draw impressive waves and how to give forms a round shape - Easy

Wanna draw impressive-looking waves? Well, today is the day! Discover how to use a simple cylinder shape to create awesome waves that surfers could only dream of!

You’ll also learn to draw contour lines, which are essential in giving forms a round appearance, such as various body parts, like the arms, legs, head, etc.

11.1
Warm-up
05:30
11.2
Contour Tubes
07:29
11.3
The Wave
08:45
12

Trees

27:03

Learn to draw stately trees, the roots, trunk and leafy branches - Beginner lesson

Mark will introduce you to the joy of drawing trees, combining shapes and textures you are already familiar with. You’ll be so proud of the cool tapered trunks and leaf-laden branches you’ll create!

12.1
Trees
10:46
12.2
Drawing Tree Roots
16:17
13

A Room in One-Point Perspective

23:22

Learn to draw a room or hallway using 1-point perspective - Easy lesson

Have you ever wondered what your room would look like if you moved your bed, dresser, or other pieces of furniture?

You’ll learn how to draw great interior spaces, like rooms and hallways, and then plan your own redecorating on paper—filling up the space from your imagination!

Mark will also demonstrate how to place objects within those spaces in a realistic way so they don’t look flat or disproportionate.

13.1
A Room in One-Point Perspective
23:22
14

Buildings in Two-Point Perspective

35:23

Learn to draw cool buildings in 3D using 2-point perspective - Easy lesson

If you enjoyed experimenting with one-point perspective, you are really going to have fun with two-point perspective!

With two vanishing points as guide dots, you’ll learn how to draw awesome buildings, working off a cube-based structure.

14.1
Buildings in Two-Point Perspective
33:50
14.2
Book reference
01:33
15

Doors in 3D

25:52

Learn to draw left and right facing doors and arches in 3D - Beginner lesson

Let’s have fun drawing doors, windows, and arches at angles that look 3D as if they are really leading into or out of an enclosed space. Super cool, right?

15.1
Doors in 3D
25:52
16

Flying Saucer

23:34

Learn to draw a complex flying saucer using simple shapes - Easy beginner lesson

Why not get a bit crazy and try drawing some flying saucers!? 🙂

Find out how easy it can be to create stunning, seemingly-complex artwork with some really simple shapes!

16.1
Flying Saucer
23:34
17

Lettering

27:47

Learn to draw cool, stylized lettering - Beginner lesson

Many of Mark’s adult students have requested lessons in 3D lettering, like on the poster of Superman, the Movie (1978). So here it is!

Mark will show you how to draw awesome lettering in four different styles in this fascinating lesson!

17.1
Lettering
11:51
17.2
Fluffy or Leafy Texture
07:35
17.3
Three-Dimensional Lettering
05:52
17.4
Peeling Shadow
02:29
18

Castle

35:57

Learn how to draw a medieval castle in 3D on paper - Beginner lesson

Create the visual illusion of a stately medieval castle existing in three dimensions on your paper!

You’ll have a total blast learning how to draw this fortress, using 2-point perspective!

18.1
Castle
13:20
18.2
Details
11:26
18.3
Shading
11:11
19

Glaciers

48:08

Learn to draw craggy glaciers in 3D and lots of cute penguins - Beginner lesson

Heading north for some arctic vibes! Look forward to drawing impressive glaciers with loads of cute, little penguins on them.

You’ll use fore-shortening and combine a variety of techniques to create a balanced scene.

19.1
Glaciers
10:07
19.2
Details & Shading
09:48
19.3
Penguins
28:13
20

The Human Eye

27:21

Learn the steps to drawing a lovely human eye from scratch - Beginner lesson

The human eye is the window into a person’s soul. But how to capture it on paper?

Mark will show you exactly how in detailed steps, breaking down the shapes that make up an eye.

20.1
The Human Eye
13:37
20.2
Shading & Details
13:44
21

The Dragon

39:22

Learn how to draw a cute, playful dragon from scratch - Beginner lesson

Congratulations! You made it to the very last lesson!

In this final lesson, you’ll learn how to draw a toothy (not toothless!), quirky dragon, having loads of fun while you’re at it.

21.1
The Dragon
07:19
21.2
Adding Horns
06:06
21.3
Drawing Claws
05:24
21.4
Shading & Final Details
17:18
21.5
Book reference
03:15

Student Feedback

779 customer reviews & ratings

4.9

Course rating

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5 star
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Best Suited for
Absolute Beginner
The level is determined by a majority opinion of students who have reviewed this class. The teacher's recommendation is shown until at least 5 student responses are collected.

(Based on 779 reviews)

Most Liked
Engaging Teacher 678
Great step-by-step process 668
Clarity of Instruction 664
Showing 10 reviews of
779
reviews & ratings
IL
Igor L.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I used to believe that I had no drawing skills even though I'm nearly 40. However, I decided to give it a shot and attempted some sketches to assist my daughter in her games. I eventually enrolled in this course and it has been a game-changer! I find myself constantly wanting to create more sketches
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under the guidance of the instructor. The teacher is exceptionally engaged and emanates positivity throughout the course. Many thanks for this fantastic experience!
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
41 people found this helpful
Ellonise P.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Simply the best course 21Draw has ever brought to the platform! The way Mark explains is clear and fun at the same time. I had a drastic improvement during the days I took the course, never I was this much excited to keep learning more. Please bring him for more collaborations in the futu
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re! I recommend this course to everyone, from very beginners to advanced artists.
I recommend it for All levels
31 people found this helpful
DD
Dieter D.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I LOVE the energy that Mr. Kistler has! I'm laughing and drawing here, absolutely loving the videos. And they go from absolute beginner to more advanced and even tho I'm drawing for several years now, it's good for refreshing. Just Noodle 'n Doodle!
I recommend it for All levels
22 people found this helpful
SH
Shari H.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I am absolutely LOVING this course. I have done several online courses recently & this is hands down the absolute best. Mark is a blast, super engaging and breaks everything down so well. I’ve already been recommending it to friends. I hope Mark will add some more courses to 21 Draw and I do loo
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k forward to try other classes here with other instructors.
I recommend it for Beginner
20 people found this helpful
BT
Brier T.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I've been drawing and making art off and on for years, but I never truly felt like I could make good art that people would like. After taking this course, I feel motivated to make art for me and finally love the process instead of just stressing about the end result and what others will think. I fin
+ Show more
ally get to make art that I'm proud of thanks to Mark and this course.
I recommend it for All levels
18 people found this helpful
RW
Ria W.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
This is exactly what I missed on 21D! I wanted to re-start drawing for so long and was always "afraid" of doing a course. But now that I came back to all the very basics I feel a lot more confident to do more drawing! Great course, two thumbs up (more, if I had)!
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
12 people found this helpful
ND
Nikola D.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Best course ever
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
11 people found this helpful
KA
KYLIE A.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I am only two days in but I am already seeing great improvements in drawings. Great class with high energy and support.
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
8 people found this helpful
NU
Nooreyzahra U.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
I love this course and as I am absolute beginner in drawing so this is very helpful in starting my drawing journey, teacher is amazing he engages in class and his cheerful way of teaching motivated me throughout the course
I recommend it for Absolute Beginner
6 people found this helpful
KA
Khuloud A.

1 year ago

Verified Purchase
Great for beginners and who wants to better their drawing
I recommend it for Beginner
4 people found this helpful
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About the Instructor

Mark Kistler
Art Teacher, Producer and Illustrator 2 courses

Mark Kistler, an Emmy Award-winning producer, author, and illustrator, is widely recognized as one of the world’s most popular drawing teachers. With over 40 years of experience, he has devoted his career to inspiring millions of fans worldwide to DRAW! DRAW! DRAW!


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21 Draw is an online learning community where students of all skill levels can learn how to be a better artist. Our contributing artists and instructors are the best in the world.

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On books.21-draw.com you can buy our popular learn-to-draw ebooks and physical books, separate from the courses, and they too are also delivered to you by the heavyweights of the art industry.

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Membership includes unlimited access to all 55+ courses taught by the world’s best artists PLUS new courses as they are released.

Each class includes 10-20 video lessons that are 7 minutes long on average. Most classes include exercise sheets, assignments, and layered PSD or PNG files.

Some classes include the ability to chat with the instructor in a public forum, e.g. if you want feedback on your artwork.

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Many lessons in our courses apply to both digital and traditional art. In a few tutorials, digital drawing software, e.g. Photoshop or Procreate for iPad is required. However, for the majority of lessons it is more about the underlying concepts and all that is needed is a pen and paper.

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