How to Draw Perfect Circles and Basic Shapes

Master the art of drawing circles, squares, and triangles with these simple techniques. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Warm up your hand. Before you start, practice drawing loose circles in the air with your whole arm. Then, try drawing them on your paper without worrying if they look perfect yet.
2. The 'Anchor' technique for circles. Place your pinky finger on the paper to act as an anchor point. Rotate the paper underneath your pencil while keeping your pencil steady in one spot to create a smooth, round line.
3. Drawing squares and triangles. For squares, draw four equal lines and connect the corners. For triangles, start by drawing a flat base and then mark a center point above it to connect your lines.
4. Refining your work. Look at your shapes and use your eraser to gently clean up any overlapping lines. If a line looks wobbly, try going over it slowly one more time.