Sketching has become an extremely popular pastime. For example, on YouTube, "Tips to Draw Better in 6 Minutes" has 1.7 million views, and "How to Draw Better in 2 Minutes," has 2 million views. Every day, the website @Sketch_Dailies tweets an "inspiration" to 45,000 followers who can upload their work for juried selection. Why the rage? Simply put, drawing is a fun, meaningful and inexpensive way to spend precious time. It's a renaissance of paper and pencil, an escape from digital overload.

5-Minute Sketching -- People can help artists of all abilities to nurture their...