Pick an object you want to work with: something simple, like a mug or your toothbrush. Now imagine how you would draw that object if you were to make a quick sketch of it. What perspective would you choose? Most often that's going to be a simple side view. Instead of the easy way we're going to step up our drawing and pick a more difficult perspective.

Move your object in your hands or walk around it to find a perspective that you usually don't see it in, or don't notice much when you do. Anything that looks tricky to draw is what you're going to pick, because you can handle that.

For this exercise, you need to find five photographs of gardens, landscapes, or public parks. The photographs should be wide shots that show the entire space, or a large portion of it (you want to avoid pictures of a single plant, one bench, etc.).

Arrange the 5 photographs in sequential order randomly, one through five. Starting with the first photograph, give yourself a full 5 minutes to sketch the scene. Set a timer to keep you honest. Once the 5 minutes are up, put your pen or pencil down and move to the next page.

For the next photograph, only give yourself 4 minutes. Set the timer and sketch.

Keep progressing through the next three pictures until you are finally sketching photograph #5 within 1 minute. The entire exercise should take no more 15 minutes. After you have completed it, review your sketches and give yourself an honest evaluation. 

For this exercise you're going to draw the same subject in the two contrasting styles, ‘water’ and ‘fire’. Choose any subject you like, a fruit bowl, your car, your spouse.

For the first style, try to simulate the ‘personality’ of water. Draw fluently, with soft, flowing, ornamental lines. Aim for something comfortable, relaxing, playful. You may find it helpful to hold your pencil (or brush) relatively far towards the back, so you have less control over it.

For the second sketch, think of fire. Go bold, edgy, harsh. Don't draw fire itself, draw what it feels like. Threatening, powerful, dangerous.

If you're having difficulty switching between styles, consider some matching music (Chopin versus Heavy Metal, for example...) or just leave more time between sketches.

Repeat this exercise regularly with different subjects. You can also try out other ‘moods’, of course.  Adjectives, such as chaotic, scared or shy, are easiest to portray on paper, but almost any word that comes with a certain mood/personality will work (winter, butterfly, playground…).

If you consistently notice that soft, floaty lines don't come easy to you or your harsh, dark lines keep reverting to ornaments it'll give you a valuable clue as to which direction might be right for you going forward.

 Create a piece using only a ballpoint pen. 

Draw your teeth