In this Part 1 video, I’m sharing the exact observational drawing exercises I used for years as a K–12 art teacher to help people learn how to draw without feeling like they have to “copy” me. My goal is to give you tools you can practice independently, using your own ideas, so you can build real drawing confidence. These lessons work for pretty much everyone—I’ve taught them to 7-year-olds all the way up to adults. We start with observation-based practices like gesture drawing (capturing the movement and big idea fast), contour drawing (slowing down and really seeing edges), and blind continuous line contour (training your eyes to stay on the subject instead of obsessing over the paper). Then I bring it into a simple still life approach so you can practice drawing what’s actually in front of you. This is the foundation for everything else—once you can observe, you can improve—so if you’ve ever said “I can’t draw,” this is where I’d have you begin.