How I Found Time for Sketching as a Student (And How You Can Too)

Hey there, my friend. My name is Black Heart, and I want to share something personal with you. I started sketching back in 2019 when I was in the 9th grade. At that time, I didn’t have much direction; I just used to draw things that I found cool. Honestly, most of the time I was sketching guns. I wasn’t consistent, because like most students, my day was packed with school, homework, and the usual distractions. But sketching was always something that felt different.

Then, COVID hit. Like many people, I completely stopped sketching for almost two years. Instead, I got deep into gaming, and that even inspired me to start learning game development. If you’re curious, you can even check out my game dev site at blackscarstudio.com. But that’s another story.

When I entered 12th, I started sketching again but not fully, since I was balancing my new passion for game development too. In my first year of college, I created a few sketches here and there, and last year I barely drew anything at all. Even now, I don’t sketch every day, but I do grab my pencils once in a while when I need that creative spark.

So why am I telling you this? Because I know exactly what it feels like to be a student who wants to draw but feels like there’s never enough time. If you’re in the same boat, let me walk you through how I found time to sketch while juggling studies, gaming, and life, and how you can too.

Why Sketching Feels Impossible as a Student

Let’s be real. Being a student means your day is already full. Classes, homework, projects, and exams eat up most of your energy. Add hobbies like gaming, sports, or social media scrolling, and suddenly, sketching feels impossible.

I remember sitting with my notebooks and thinking, “I wish I had time to draw today.” But then hours passed, and I never picked up a pencil. That guilt is real. You want to practice, but life keeps pulling you in every direction.

Here’s what I learned: sketching doesn’t require long, perfect sessions. You don’t need three hours, a big desk, or a full studio setup. You just need a little time, a pencil, and the will to start.

How I Made Time for Sketching

Instead of waiting for the “perfect” day where I had lots of free time, I started sketching in small moments. Here’s what worked for me:

1. Quick 10-Minute Sessions

I stopped telling myself I needed an hour to sketch. Instead, I grabbed my pencil for 10 minutes, sometimes even less. I’d draw simple things, a cup on my desk, my hand, or even doodles in the margins of my notebooks.

2. Sketching Between Classes

During breaks or when a teacher didn’t show up, I’d open my sketchbook instead of scrolling through Instagram. Those little pockets of time added up.

3. Carrying a Portable Sketchbook

Once I started carrying a small sketchbook, I realized I didn’t need a fancy setup. Just having paper and a pencil with me made it easier to draw whenever I felt like it.

4. Mixing It With Game Dev

Sometimes, I sketched ideas that I wanted to bring into my games. Characters, weapons, or small environment designs. That way, my sketching practice also supported my other passion.

So yeah, I didn’t draw every day, but I drew enough. And that’s what matters, you don’t need to be perfect, you just need to keep going.

The Tools That Helped Me Stay Consistent

When you don’t have much time, the right tools can make a huge difference. Here’s what I used and still use today:

• Brustro Sketch Paper – I love this because it feels smooth, doesn’t tear easily when blending, and works great with both graphite and charcoal.

• Graphite and Charcoal Pencils – I started with simple graphite, but once I tried charcoal, shading became so much more fun. It’s darker, bolder, and makes drawings pop.

• A Simple Makeup Brush – This sounds funny, but I used a makeup brush to blend my charcoal and graphite. It’s cleaner than fingers and gives smoother results.

• Acrylic Colors – When I had more time, I switched to acrylics. They’re bold and fun, and painting gave me a new appreciation for light and shadow.

👉 If you’re starting, I recommend keeping it simple. Don’t overload yourself with fancy gear. A sketchbook, a few pencils, and maybe a blending tool are more than enough.

Quick Sketching Exercises for Busy Students

Since time is the biggest challenge, I created small exercises that I could do in less than 10 minutes. These are what I still practice today:

1. Lines and Circles – Just fill a page with straight lines, circles, and curves. It sounds boring, but it sharpens your hand control fast.

2. Shading Boxes – Draw a square and shade it from light to dark. Helps you understand light and shadow.

3. Quick Studies – Pick an object near you (pen, cup, shoe) and sketch it quickly. Don’t focus on perfection, just capture the shape.

4. Hands and Faces – Even if they’re rough, these sketches teach you a lot about proportions.

5. 5-Minute Challenge – Set a timer and draw whatever you see in front of you. This pushes your speed and focus.

Doing these regularly, even in short bursts, made me improve without needing hours of free time.

How Sketching Helped Me Beyond Art

Here’s the thing, sketching didn’t just make me better at drawing; it helped me in other parts of life, too.

• Stress Relief – During exams, when my brain felt overloaded, sketching calmed me down.

• Better Focus – Sketching trained me to observe details, which helped me in studies and coding for game development.

• Creative Ideas – Some of my game development concepts came from quick sketches. Art gave me a fresh perspective.

So even if you don’t plan to become a full-time artist, sketching as a student can give you skills and mental clarity you wouldn’t expect.

Tips for Students Who Want to Start Today

If you’re a student and want to sketch but don’t know how to fit it into your life, here are my best tips:

• Don’t wait for the Perfect Time – There will never be one. Start small, start now.

• Always carry a Pencil and Paper – You’ll be surprised how many moments you find to draw.

• Use Your Breaks Wisely – 10 minutes of doodling beats 10 minutes of scrolling.

• Stay Consistent, Not Perfect – Missing a day is okay, but don’t quit completely.

• Share Your Work – Post online, show friends, or just keep a journal. Sharing motivates you to keep going.

Final Thoughts

Sketching as a student isn’t about finding hours of free time; it’s about making sketching fit into your life. I didn’t draw every day, but I drew when I could, and that’s why I’m still connected to art even now.

If I could balance studies, gaming, and game development while still finding time to sketch, then you can too. Start small, keep it fun, and let your art grow with you.

And if you want to get started with the same tools I used, here are my recommendations:

• Brustro Sketch Paper – smooth, strong, and perfect for beginners

• Graphite Pencil Set – great for shading and structure

• Makeup Brush for Blending – simple hack for smooth shadows

Take the first step today, because even a small sketch is better than waiting for “someday.”