#this post used to be thrice this long 😭 i cut it down to the most important parts....god i never stop talking

[nailsinmywall]

Howndid you get so good at free-hand drawing? I just cannot draw silly comics or anything like that, my drawings always take 3 hours at minimum, even sketches. Do you have any tips on letting go of perfection and draw quick and free?

~ an insecure artist who loves your work

have fun and don’t care! 

we get caught up in perfectionism so fast and letting go has a lot to do with focusing on enjoying the process instead of gritting your teeth to make The Best Art Ever and also not being afraid of drawing badly.

be gentle with yourself. allow yourself to draw bad art! i believe that it is important to draw bad art. you can only draw good art if you also draw bad art. i think that if you’re not afraid of drawing bad art, if you don’t care abt making mistakes, you will stop pressuring yourself to draw perfectly.  (we have been taught that mistakes = failure which is 1. not true and 2. stupid cause mistakes are not failure, mistakes are stepping stones — time to unlearn this and embrace mistakes <3)

i understand that it can be extremely frustrating when you’re trying and trying so hard but it doesn’t work. stop trying so hard. draw easy things that you enjoy. what do you like to draw? what is fun and easy? that’s my personal approach: i exclusively draw fun and easy things that i like because i am not here to have a shit time and i will not spend my free time suffering !! and bc i am having so much fun, i stay motivated — in fact i crave drawing because it feels so good and brings me so much joy and fulfillment that i want to spend hours upon hours drawing!! so with fun, comes persistence. and with persistence comes improvement, muscle memory and confidence in ones skill.

if you find yourself struggling with something specific, look it up, do a couple studies and then return to your work and immediately apply what you just learned. use references, for EVERYTHING. force your siblings or friends to pose for references, take pics of your hand etc. do not be afraid of tracing! actual industry professionals trace as well. don't make your life harder than it already is! art is supposed to be fun and chill! i am cheering you on!!!