Drawabox: Free Drawing Fundamentals Course

Drawabox is a free online course in the fundamentals of drawing, written by the artist known as Uncomfortable. It teaches you to think and draw in three dimensions through a long series of exercises: lines, ellipses and boxes first, then constructional drawing of plants, insects, animals, everyday objects and vehicles. The course has eight numbered lessons (0 to 7) and five challenges, all free to read and watch, with optional paid critiques for those who want official feedback on their homework.

Drawabox stands out because of its approach. It is not about learning to draw a particular subject or style, but about spatial reasoning: understanding how forms sit in space and how complex objects can be built from simple ones. The exercises are demanding and repetitive by design, and the course openly asks students to put in a great deal of mileage.

What You Will Learn

• Drawing confident, smooth lines and ellipses from the shoulder
• Drawing boxes in perspective and checking their accuracy
• Thinking in 3D: contour lines, form intersections and organic forms
• Building complex objects from simple forms, known as constructional drawing
• Applying construction to plants, insects and arachnids, and animals
• Drawing everyday objects and vehicles with precision
• Habits for practice, including regular warm-ups

Who Is Drawabox For?

The course suits beginners who want a structured foundation, and self-taught artists who feel their drawings lack a sense of space. It is popular with aspiring concept artists, illustrators and comic artists, because constructional drawing underpins all of these fields.

It is less suited to people who want quick results or a course on a particular style, colour or painting. Drawabox asks you to start at Lesson 0 whatever your experience, and to work through a lot of exercises before you see changes in your finished work.

Course Structure

The lessons are organised in two parts, with challenges placed between them as recommended next steps:

Part One: The Basics

• Lesson 0: Getting Started
• Lesson 1: Lines, Ellipses and Boxes
• Lesson 2: Contour Lines, Texture and Construction

Challenges and Drills

• 250 Box Challenge
• 250 Cylinder Challenge
• 25 Texture Challenge
• 25 Wheel Challenge
• 100 Treasure Chest Challenge

Part Two: Constructional Drawing

• Lesson 3: Applying Construction to Plants
• Lesson 4: Applying Construction to Insects and Arachnids
• Lesson 5: Applying Construction to Animals
• Lesson 6: Applying Construction to Everyday Objects
• Lesson 7: Applying Construction to Vehicles

Each lesson combines written explanations with videos, and the site also offers a free read-aloud option for those who prefer to listen. The challenges are not meant to be done all at once after Lesson 2; the lessons tell you when each one fits.

Price and Access

Drawabox is free, and its creator says the lessons will always stay free while they are online. The site is supported by the community through Patreon, where supporters pledge a few dollars a month. Some Patreon tiers include official reviews of your homework by Uncomfortable himself, and the tiers differ by lesson. For free feedback, the community-run Discord server and the r/ArtFundamentals subreddit are the main places to share work.

About the Instructor

Drawabox was created by Uncomfortable, a concept artist and illustrator who works at a game studio. The lessons are based on what he learned in Peter Han's Dynamic Sketching course at Concept Design Academy. The community began as r/ArtFundamentals on Reddit in August 2014, the website followed in March 2015, and the lessons have been updated regularly ever since.

Things to Consider

• Time: Drawabox takes months, sometimes years. Plan regular practice rather than marathon sessions.
• Materials: a fineliner pen and paper are all you need; the course recommends specific, inexpensive materials.
• Order: start at Lesson 0, even if you already draw, and follow the recommended order of lessons and challenges.
• Feedback: post your homework to the community for free critiques, or support the course on Patreon for official reviews.
• Balance: the course recommends spending time drawing for fun alongside the exercises.

Start the Course

Interested in learning with Drawabox?

Start Drawabox

For the full lessons and challenges, visit the official Drawabox website.

Looking for more ways to learn? Browse all courses and learning resources on Good Stuff Weekly.

Last verified: October 26, 2026