I still have my sketch book from when I was in grammar school and junior high. They were where I experimented with ideas and character design and environments. But somewhere in mid teens I began to judge my sketchbook drawings and I haven’t drawn in one since - even though my career has been professional illustration. I’ve got several bl…
I still have my sketch book from when I was in grammar school and junior high. They were where I experimented with ideas and character design and environments. But somewhere in mid teens I began to judge my sketchbook drawings and I haven’t drawn in one since - even though my career has been professional illustration. I’ve got several blank sketchbooks on the shelf that were bought with the intention of filling them. But I’m afraid to mess them up with imperfect sketches. I’m mostly retired now and my days and art are my own. I find I have to learn how to play again … experiment. I don’t have deadlines to hit or clients to please. I can toss art and redo it if I think I can do better. I didn’t always have the time to do that mid career. I appreciate your post. It is a good reminder of the importance of playing with pencil, pen and pastels… to explore and let go of that host of judgmental critics in my head. Putting pencil to the page is a low stakes adventure of exploration. They shouldn’t all be perfect if you are truly exploring. Exploring requires risk. Jumping. Falling. Interesting little sidepaths. Seeds to explore later. Thanks for the great post.
Low stakes - yes! This is how it should feel but social media can make us feel like this isn't the case (even though nobody is forcing us to share everything we create!). Interesting times.
I still have my sketch book from when I was in grammar school and junior high. They were where I experimented with ideas and character design and environments. But somewhere in mid teens I began to judge my sketchbook drawings and I haven’t drawn in one since - even though my career has been professional illustration. I’ve got several blank sketchbooks on the shelf that were bought with the intention of filling them. But I’m afraid to mess them up with imperfect sketches. I’m mostly retired now and my days and art are my own. I find I have to learn how to play again … experiment. I don’t have deadlines to hit or clients to please. I can toss art and redo it if I think I can do better. I didn’t always have the time to do that mid career. I appreciate your post. It is a good reminder of the importance of playing with pencil, pen and pastels… to explore and let go of that host of judgmental critics in my head. Putting pencil to the page is a low stakes adventure of exploration. They shouldn’t all be perfect if you are truly exploring. Exploring requires risk. Jumping. Falling. Interesting little sidepaths. Seeds to explore later. Thanks for the great post.
Low stakes - yes! This is how it should feel but social media can make us feel like this isn't the case (even though nobody is forcing us to share everything we create!). Interesting times.