When you’re feeling down, draw. When life is challenging you, draw. When you’ve lost your job, draw. Essentially, whenever or whatever is bothering you, draw. And if your art isn’t good enough, draw more.
I used to take these words to heart and found them helpful at times. However, there were also times when they weren’t helpful at all. It only frustrated me and left me feeling worse than before. Why? Because my drawings were bad, and I wanted to create something great.
I recently discovered that I tend to eat for comfort. This explains why I was overweight when I was younger. Similarly, I used to draw to comfort myself. Unfortunately, since my drawings didn’t improve, I felt empty. Time to grab a snack.
When I first started making art, I did it for fun, and it was never difficult to begin. Later, when I realized I wasn’t good at it and wanted to improve, I consumed various TV shows and books on art. It still wasn’t hard to get out the paper and pencil, but I wasn’t all focused during those times either. It wasn’t until I got into college and saw all those talented artists around me that it became really hard to sit down and draw. It especially got worse after college.
You might wonder, “What changed?” I fell under the misguided belief that when I started drawing, it needed a purpose. It should be about something. Art is supposed to make a statement. I thought every time I set down to create, I was going to leave my mark in the annals of art history. Bullshit!
That was the biggest mistake I made, and it took me a while to rectify it. Initially, I planned carefully, but then I gradually relaxed and just sat down to draw without any specific thought or plan. Through self-imposed discipline, I made drawing a daily habit, and now it’s become second nature. At the moment, I don’t try to suppress my emotions while drawing; I simply let my creativity flow. I’m searching for something, and because I’m not actively thinking, I’ve discovered more than when I set a specific goal in front of me. I catalog appealing lines, tones, and textures for future reference, while mentally noting things that don’t work and planning to research them later.
Drawing has become much more enjoyable for me now compared to the past. I find myself captivated by the drawings I create. Yes, I’m entertaining myself, but honestly, that’s how it was when I was a kid. I drew because I was bored, and it was simply entertaining.
However, being an artist can be challenging if you set unrealistic goals for yourself. It can hinder your growth, creativity, and ultimately the joy you once experienced in simply creating. So, if you’re going to draw, just go draw. If you feel like you’re struggling, it’s likely because you’re thinking you need to create something extraordinary to impress others. Be gentle with yourself and enjoy the process of drawing.
