I used to love drawing but I haven't done it inmonths. I have this overwhelming fear that my skills have regressed and I'll have to go through months or years of work to get back to how it was before. I used to draw every day and I did it for the sheer pleasure of drawing. Then people started to notice my artwork and I couldn't stand all the attention so I stopped drawing. I have this conflict where I feel like I should be drawing because it felt like that was my identity and now it feels like part of me is missing. But when the thought of drawing comes up, I get terrified and even if I don't show anyone the work, I can't even tolerate my own bad drawings. I just can't enjoy it anymore. But then every day that I don't draw, I feel guilty, like I should be drawing. When I sit down to draw, I feel extremely uncomfortable and all I can think about is trying not to make mistakes and I get impatient. How can I get back the patience I had and start enjoying it again? Is it even possible?
2006-10-18 13:47:39 · 8 answers · asked by conundrum 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Thanks for the answers so far. Yes you could say that traumatic things have happened. I've been in a downward spiral and I stopped believing in religion and I've been depressed and I'm overwhelmed by life. I feel like I need to find answers to life. I need to find out what I'm going to do do for a living after I get out of college. I loved to be artistic before but now that I've become disillusioned and realized that I cannot seriously just "be an artist" in this world and still support myself, any artistic endeavor feels like a "waste of time". As if I should be working towards a more "practical goal". So I feel guilty now for devoting any time to art. So the whole experience of drawing or creating anything is just tainted with anxiety and it sucks all the enjoyment out of it. Then I look at all the famous artists (da Vinci, Durer, etc) and see how good they are and it makes me feel like every drawing, even a small doodle, has to be perfect. How can I get over this and enjoy it again?
2006-10-18 14:23:13 · update #1
Perhaps it is the memory of the past drawings, or the reactions of the capability and its residual effect that is the 'block' or hurdle.
Just try changing the 'scenario' within....!
Either consciously look at drawing as a fresh one, or try teaching to children, and 'show' how to draw, or draw with bare fingers on emptiness, air, water etc, to get started... the visualisation powers can be drastically enhanced during this 'low' phase (the silver lining of the cloud it is...), and like most renowned artists who clandestinely put this low phase to maximise inner skills, you too could emerge much stronger as a skilled artist... best wishes, and good luck !
2006-10-18 14:27:24 · answer #1 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a similar issue. I've always loved, drawing, painting and everything artistic! But for many years I didn't draw at all, and today while I was bored in class I started drawing again, and it came back to me. Drawing is like riding a bycicle, once you learn you never forget. If you don't feel comfortable drawing now, why not take a class at your local community college?
Best wishes,
Jessica
2006-10-18 20:54:10 · answer #2 · answered by ☻Cool Beans☺ 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
drawing is yoru passion. its obvious.that's why you do it so often and people notice you and your talent thru your passion. i guess you were uncomfortable with poeple view on your drawings as you did it for yourself.for you to express what you feel through the paint and color.and not for others to drop their views on it. so, you dropped it.but i think you have begun to see that you should have not gave up on drawing as that's what you really love doing. its like some sort of a satisfaction to your life and yourself,something that you really enjoy doing and something that you would never had enough of. you are feeling that you might do mistakes when you take up that canvas of yours and you feel that if you delay it more, your talent might disappear. talents dont disappear.you can only sharpen your talent. you cant erase if out of yourself.so be proud of your passion.you love it. and the drawings are your trademarks.just take up that brush of yours and paint your world again!!! no one has the rights to rule your world, only you can!!!
2006-10-18 21:45:28 · answer #3 · answered by chandni 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EMPTY PAPER DO YOU SEE A PICTURE OR IS THE PAGE BLANK?
IF THE PAGE IS BLANK, THEN MOVE ON TO PAINTING OR CLAY, YOUR SUB CONSCIENCE HAS MOVED UP TO A 3 DIMENSIONAL LEVEL, UNTIL YOU WORK THROUGH THE OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR NATURAL TALENT YOU WILL NOT REGAIN CONTROL OF YOUR DRAWING TALENT. EACH PART OF YOUR PERSON WANTS TO BE CREATIVE. LET IT HAPPEN.
DO IT FOR YOURSELF AND NOT OTHERS.
2006-10-18 21:08:20 · answer #4 · answered by Bear 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like you may have had a traumatic event recently ....in the last year maybe
would this be so..?
drawing is something one does not forget..your skills have not gone but your mental attitude has changed ..what has caused this ...
2006-10-18 20:54:03 · answer #5 · answered by Vivian X 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It sounds like you may have an anxiety issue. Talk to your doctor - they may be able to recommend a counselor to help you work through your block. Or they may give you some anti-anxiety for short time use.
2006-10-18 20:55:53 · answer #6 · answered by kids and cats 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have that problem 2
2006-10-18 20:54:43 · answer #7 · answered by lorenzo p 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i takes PRACTICE and PATIENCE
2006-10-18 21:44:44 · answer #8 · answered by lilmzVy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋