Today, I’d like to share a list of the top 10 free step-by-step posts on this blog. Most of them are mini-projects you can finish in a weekend or a week. One of them is part of a series of step-by-steps featuring a horse wearing a fancy halter. All of them include illustrations and descriptions to help you successfully complete the project.
Almost all of these posts include a reference photo you can use for free to create your own drawing.
Best of all, they’re all free! Yes, even the reference photos.
Top 10 Free Step-by-Step Posts on this Blog
How did I decide on these posts? Simple. I checked the stats, and these are the most often visited tutorials published on the blog.
I’m presenting the top 10 free step-by-step posts in countdown fashion because everybody likes countdowns and I’ve never done one before. At least not on the blog.
Here’s the list.
Number 10: How to Draw Flame in Colored Pencil
The top ten list begins with an unusual subject; flames. It’s unusual because this is the only time I’ve drawn fire.
I show you step-by-step how to draw this flame in colored pencil using Brush and Pencil Powder Blender on Pastelmat paper. In addition to the fire, I show you how to draw such a luscious dark background on white paper. This method works on almost any white paper if you add enough layers.
In addition to showing you how I drew this unique subject, I break down the three-step drawing process I used. I use this process mostly for landscapes. It’s a relatively new method for me, but it’s detailed very well in this mini-tutorial.
Number 9: How to Draw Summer Grass
In this tutorial, I show you one of my favorite ways to draw grass. What is it? Blending by layering and using directional strokes from the beginning. I also mixed colors to get realistic greens, which can be very difficult.
The drawing is based on “Afternoon Graze” and was drawn on Bristol vellum. I used Prismacolor Premier Soft Core pencils, but you can use any type of paper and any brand of pencils. Even a textured paper like Pastelmat works for this tutorial, though you would have to add more layers to get similar results.
Number 8: Drawing a Horse with a Grid
See how easy drawing a horse with a grid can be in this step-by-step tutorial. It’s Part 2 in a tutorial series that covers the project from putting a grid on the digital reference photo to the finishing touches and final adjustments.
This tutorial is based on my most recent (as of April 2026) horse portrait. It includes not only the horse, but a halter with fancy buckles and belts.
Number 7: How to Draw Wood Grain
If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know I love drawing trees; especially the bare bones of trees.
Well, why not a wood board? It is a tree, or once was one. And boards can exhibit some of the most wonderful wood grain. So I chose a board from our back porch steps, photographed it, and wrote this step-by-step tutorial.
The tutorial includes basic principles you can use any time you want to draw wood grain with colored pencils.
This post also shares the basics of my usual drawing process, so it’s like two posts in one!
BONUS: The tips also apply to anything else you want to draw!
Number 6: How to Draw a Horse Hoof
Step-by-step Number 6 is a line drawing tutorial. I take one horse hoof, and show you how I develop the line drawing from the first stages to the last. I didn’t use a grid, and you won’t need to use a grid, either.
This is the earliest step-by-step tutorial on the blog and dates all the way back to 2015! But it’s still a good tutorial if you want to learn how to draw a horse’s hoof.
The best part is that learning this simple method for developing a line drawing will also help you draw anything else you want to draw.
Number 5: How to Draw a Clear Sky with Colored Pencil
Clear, blue skies aren’t always one shade of blue. In fact, they very rarely are. So how do you chose or mix the right colors?
That’s the main topic for this tutorial. But I also included tips on applying color, creating smooth color, and blending.
Number 4: How to Draw a Horse Using a Grid
This post may look like a repeat of Number 8, but it isn’t. For one thing, this post is much earlier than Post Number 8, so the methods are a bit different.
This post focuses on creating the line drawing once the grid is in place. It shows you step-by-step my process of working from big, general shapes, to details.
Number 3: How to Draw a Golden Retriever
Peggy Osborne created one of her wonderful step-by-step tutorials for the third most popular free step-by-step. This one features a winsome Golden Retriever.
She drew this on Strathmore Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper, a paper I’ve never used before.
She also does more dog portraits than I do, so if you’re looking for a good dog drawing tutorial, this one is a great place to begin.
Number 2: Draw a Simple Cloud–A Tutorial
Here’s a fun weekend project. Draw a simple cloud with this quick tutorial using Bristol vellum paper with Prismacolor pencils and no fancy tools.
My demo piece is on Bristol Paper and I used Prismacolor pencils for my cloud. But you can use any white paper and your favorite brand of pencils.
I did not use a reference photo for this. I simply drew a cloud from imagination. But the image above is a good reference if you prefer to work from a photo.
Number 1: How to Draw Clouds with Colored Pencil
And now, the most popular free step-by-step tutorial on the blog; another cloud tutorial.
This time, I show you how to draw these clouds with colored pencil, and it’s a complete drawing, start to finish. Tips include layering, developing values, solvent blending, and more.
The sample study was drawn on Canson Mi-Teintes 98 lb. paper, Azure, but you can successfully complete it on any type of paper and on white paper.
There It Is
There’s the list of top 10 free step-by-step tutorials on this blog. There are a lot more free tutorials. If fact, there are nearly 90. If you’d like to see the complete list, click on the Step-by-Step Tutorials list in the right side bar.
Are You Looking for More In-Depth Tutorials?
I’ve published many tutorials on a variety of subjects and for many skill levels. Check out the tutorials here.
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Love those :-) That summer grass is just amazing.
Thank you, Francoise!