So yesterday afternoon I was scrolling through YouTube looking for something fun to draw with the kids when this Penelope from the Odyssey tutorial thumbnail caught my eye. Looked simple enough, right? Grabbed my sketchbook and cheap colored pencils thinking “how hard could this be?” Spoiler: first try was garbage.
What I Actually Used
- A regular #2 pencil for messing up (used it a LOT)
- That pink eraser that leaves crumbs everywhere
- Prang colored pencils – the 12-pack kind
- Copy paper from the printer
Started by doodling circles like the video showed – big one for head, smaller one below for body. Felt like drawing stick figures. When I tried to connect them into that Greek dress shape? Total disaster. My lines looked like spaghetti. Had to restart three times just to get something that didn’t resemble a potato with legs.
Where I Almost Gave Up
Her hair was supposed to be those pretty braids wrapped around her head. Mine kept turning into a bird’s nest. Pressed too hard and left indents all over the paper. That tutorial made smooth shading look so easy but my coloring went outside every single line. Used half that pink eraser rubbing out purple pencil from her forehead.
Finally switched tactics – scribbled super light first, then layered colors slow. Burnt sienna for shadows under braids, yellow ochre for highlights. Still not perfect but stopped looking like a bruise.
What Finally Worked
- Light hands save lives – no more denting paper
- Skin tone? Layer peach over beige THEN add pink cheeks
- White pencil saves wobbly lines – covers mistakes!
- Her belt? Just a brown rectangle with gold squiggles
Took two hours but here’s the magic: when my kid pointed at it and said “Mommy drew a princess?” That’s when I knew. Stick figures can become queens. Taped it to the fridge next to their scribbles.
Pro tip for beginners? Your first try will suck. Mine looked like a sick carrot. But keep layering colors light and erase like crazy. Even ugly sketches can become something.