Free Illustration Tutorial: Art of Sketching Everything

Illustrator Alberto Russo shares his top technique to boost creativity and track your artistic progress with a sketchbook.

If you're looking to improve your drawing skills, there's one simple yet powerful habit every aspiring illustrator should adopt: filling a sketchbook. According to professional illustrator Alberto Russo, this daily practice is one of the most effective ways to develop your artistic abilities, experiment with new techniques, and visually track your creative evolution over time.

In this tutorial, Alberto walks us through his step-by-step sketching process, using a lion portrait as a reference. He emphasizes the importance of analyzing proportions, focusing on the aspect ratio of width and height, and reproducing it carefully on paper.

Once the basic shapes are down, the magic of shading and line work begins. Alberto explains how to create graduated shadows to add depth and volume, and how to leave controlled empty spaces between lines to introduce light and highlights. These classic techniques give your sketches a realistic and dynamic feel.

One of Alberto's favorite tips? Keep a themed sketchbook, whether it’s dedicated to landscape drawing, animal sketches, or any subject that sparks your interest. He also recommends noting the start and end date of each sketchbook. This allows you to track your artistic progress and look back on how far you've come — a huge motivation boost for any artist.

Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned illustrator, dedicating even a few minutes a day to your sketchbook can transform your skills. Ready to dive in? Explore the creative process from scratch with Alberto in his Domestika course and start filling your own pages with confidence.