Why I Wrote The Habit of Drawing Fast and Slow: New Book

Drawing is often seen as a skill reserved for the talented or the naturally gifted, but for me it has always been something more ordinary and more profound: a way of paying attention. The Habit of Drawing: Fast and Slow grew from this belief. I wrote the book because I wanted to offer a clear, steady path for anyone who wants to draw, not as a performance, but as a daily practice, a way of seeing the world with more clarity and presence.

For many people, drawing feels intimidating. We imagine we need perfect lines, polished shading, or a grand idea before we begin. But the reality is simpler. Drawing becomes possible the moment we shift from fixed expectations to a habit of steady observation. When we learn to look more closely, drawing begins to follow naturally, from who we are and what we observe. This is the core insight that shapes the book: drawing is not something we wait to be ready for; it is something we develop through practice.

Over years of teaching many students of drawing online through my Circle Line Art School YouTube channel, I noticed a pattern. The issue was rarely ability; it was confidence, consistency, and the belief that drawing must look perfect to be worthwhile. People would say they loved drawing but struggled to stay motivated, or they stopped because they felt their drawings were not realistic enough. It is the same internal voice that prevents many creative pursuits from developing fully.

I recognised that feeling. It is perhaps the need for our drawings to reflect our experiences and feelings, not to match the realism of a photograph. Unlike a photograph that might have a uniform quality of fine detail, we draw what we actually notice and what we really feel, hoping that those feelings are transmitted to the viewer, creating a human connection.

The Habit of Drawing: Fast and Slow is my response to that problem. It is not a book of quick tips or shortcuts, but a guide to developing a reliable creative practice, one that respects the slow, steady rhythm through which drawing becomes natural. The methods in the book are simple: noticing more, drawing in smaller moments, understanding how to build observation, working with both fast and slow approaches, and carving out small pockets of daily life for drawing.

At the heart of the book is the idea that drawing is a way of thinking. The aim is not to copy the world but to explore it through our unique perspective. A sketch is a record of how the mind and the eye moved together in a particular moment. When a line hesitates, it shows uncertainty; when it flows, it shows understanding. Drawings can embed our deepest thoughts and our truest attention.

I also wrote the book to show that drawing is accessible. You do not need special materials or special talent. A pencil, a piece of paper, and a willingness to observe are enough. I wanted the book to feel calm, readable, and direct, something people could keep returning to as they grow. Many of the ideas come from what I have learned through my own work, teaching, and observing how people develop when they allow drawing to become part of their everyday lives.

What I hope the book offers is not pressure, but encouragement. Drawing can be difficult, but it is never wasted. Each mark teaches something. Each drawing, even the unfinished ones, moves us forward. Over time, drawing becomes less about results and more about presence, being awake to the small shapes, shadows, rhythms, and patterns of the world. This change in focus is the essence of the habit. It is steady, accumulative, and transformative.

The Habit of Drawing: Fast and Slow is simply a companion for that journey. A simple reminder that drawing is not about talent, perfection, or performance, it is about repeated actions, attention, and the pleasure of seeing the world more fully.

The Habit of Drawing: New Book Available Now

If you would like to explore my new book on developing a creative drawing habit, The Habit of Drawing: Fast and Slow is available to order now as both a book and an ebook.

You can find full details in all good bookshops and purchase links at: www.circlelineartschool.com/the-habit-of-drawing.

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The Circle Line Art School Blog: A blog by Tom McPherson, Circle Line Art School. Join my YouTube channel for free drawing tutorials here.