If you want to get better at drawing, stop doing this (tip #3):
In my time teaching art, I’ve noticed similar patterns amongst budding artists (I’ve taught art courses online and art classes in Kingscliff NSW and Gold Coast art classes). In my 10+ years of art teaching, I can now confidently outline three common mistakes beginner artists make. Over the last 2 weeks I’ve outlined the #1 mistake budding artists make and the #2 mistake new artists make. And today I’m documenting the third most common mistake I see new artists make and how to avoid it:
#3 mistake: Using coloured photos for black and white drawings.
Don’t get me wrong, using coloured references is not a bad thing. In fact, the ultimate form of drawing is drawing from life, and real life is in colour after all. However, for beginner artists, it can be extremely difficult to judge tone correctly when an image is in colour. For example, take a look at the image below:
This image consists of three tones: white, black and a grey. However, to the eye it appears there are two different greys: the grey on the left appears lighter than the grey on the right. This is because tones appear differently depending on the tones surrounding them. In this case, the grey lines on the right appear darker as they are side by side to white tones. The grey tones on the left appear lighter as they are side by side to the black tones. So you can see, tone is very challenging to judge accurately, especially without the help of a tutor or adult drawing classes!
Now let’s add colour into the mix:
In the image above, the two squares in the centre appear to be different colours. However I can assure you they are the same colour (or hue) and same tone (darkness vs lightness). They are the same, but appear different because of the surrounding colour. So when we look at a coloured drawing, we can misjudge not only the tone (how dark or light something is) but also the hue (the colour). So, what do I recommend beginner artists do to avoid this common mistake?
Here’s what I recommend:
I recommend all beginner artists start off by mastering tone (how dark and how light something is) first with black and white images (greyscale).
Then, once you feel you have a good mastery of tone, you can progress to greyscale drawings (in black and white) from coloured references
Finally, try coloured drawings from coloured references.
Why adult drawing classes can help you avoid this mistake:
Having the guidance of a teacher who is an experience artist can help you to see tones accurately. Sometimes all it takes is an experienced artist to point out where a tone is not quite right, and then you can see it yourself. Of course, there is nothing wrong with embarking on your art journey on your own. Trial and error is a great way to learn. However, if you want to quickly get better at drawing and avoid the frustration, I recommend enrolling in adult drawing classes, either online or in-person. I also have online drawing classes for kids. At the Artory we teach the fundamentals in our beginners drawing classes in Murwillumbah.
Anne x
Try one of our adult drawing classes in Kingscliff NSW and Murwillumbah:
Fridays 9:45-11:45am (NSW time) with Laura J Stratton in Murwillumbah
NEXT DATES:
6 Feb - 6 March 2026 (5 weeks)
16 Oct - 13 Nov 2026 (5 weeks)
If you want to learn to draw but love colour, this is the class for you! It’s perfect for beginners who want to fast-track their skills and learn top techniques from one of Australia’s best colour pencil artists.
In this class you’ll learn:
How to draw accurately
How to know which colours AND tones to use
How to draw different textures (like glossy fruit or hairy fur) and create that perfect realistic photo finish
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm in Casuarina
NEXT DATES:
Thursdays 29 Jan - 26 Feb 2026 (5 weeks) with Scarlett Pope
Thursdays 4 June - 2 July 2026 (5 weeks) with Anne Smerdon/Scarlett Pope
This is the perfect place to start if you have always wanted to try art but you lack confidence. It's a structured class to take you through all you need to know to draw any subject with ease.
In this class you’ll learn:
How to accurately so that your drawing looks like its subject
How to create large drawings from small references
How to get the right tones (dark vs light)
How to smoothly blend and create texture
The confidence to move to painting or more advanced drawing once you have finished your first term.
Can’t make it in person? Try our online adult drawing classes:
THE ONLINE ARTORY ACADEMY
Exclusive access to all Artory courses for $40 per month
This is the perfect place to start if you have always wanted to try art or if it has been some time since you did anything and you feel like you need some added confidence. It's a structured 6-class course for beginners to take you through all you need to know to draw with confidence. Drawing is the foundation of all good art, so it’s a great place to start! (NOTE: this course is now available as part of the Artory Academy membership)