Drawing Problems?

Question

Frustration...Thats it thats plain and simple of what i need help with. i have a terrible self esteem and when i draw something or make something its not ood enoug for me and i get frustrated, i throw a small hissy and quit, i know im getting better at drawing when i DO practice but i try and i try to focus on what im doing, wrather it beind drawing, writing or making a 3rd grade level snowflake, yes people i even get frustrated with that...I hate my work, i know its terrible to say, i love to do artistic things yet im CONSTANTLY comparing myself to tohers and if im not doing that im Complaning about how my art sucks....Everyone, i know is going to say "practice" well i cant, i try, i get frustrated i give up...SO...how do i get over this PLEASE dont tell me 'just practice' i have herd that sooo many times before...Also...i know my spelling is horrid

Answer 1

First off, there are just as many decaf brands on the market that are just as tasty as the real thing. (In other words chill and calm down.)

Don't think you're the only one in the world that goes through this. There isn't an artist on the planet that hasn't. (And if they say otherwise they're lying.)

Yes you can practice and what not but you have to get your head together before you do anything.

There's a period we all go through that we think our stuff is complete trash. Some of us get over it sooner than others but we all go through it. It's part of our evolution as an artist. You can either use this as a positive driving force to improve or use it as a negative such as you're doing. So your stuff "sucks" as you put it. You say you get frustrated when practicing, and you don't measure up to others. Ok lets start with measuring up.

Plain and simple you do art for you. This is not a competition! It's doesn't matter what the person next in line is doing you aren't the one doing it. At it's foundation, art is a very personal thing. Most times we create it alone from concept to finished piece. We put ourselves out there for the world to see. The thing is it doesn't matter what people think of it. If people don't like it so what, if they do it's just a bonus. You don't like what you do because it isn't coming out the way you want. The question is what are you willing to do to fix it? You are now and always will be your worst critic. If you're overly hard on yourself you won't be able to move ahead and improve and if you like everything the same thing applies. You need to find a balance. Enough dislike to want to improve but enough liking your stuff enough to want to keep improving. It isn't easy but it works. It doesn't matter if the person next to you is whipping out the Mona Lisa on a daily basis and you're doing stick figures it's you art you need to worry about.

So you think your stuff sucks; ok, let's say it does and all the practicing in the world doesn't help. What do you do? You need to rethink the way you do things. Learn to see things the way they really are instead of what you think you know. You need to start looking at things differently. Put a coffee cup in front of you and look at it. What do you see other than "Just a cup". Look at the upper lip and how it curves in, look how the light will add highlights to certain areas and how others recede. look at how things reflect in the side of it, where the handle is placed and how much of the top and inside you can see. There's a lot more going on than you think. This is the same for anything you draw. You have to see the little details and understand them before you can do them. You can look all you want but it won't help if you don't see. You can practice until your fingers turn to bloody stumps but if you don't understand what you're looking at you will never be able to do the type of work you want to do. I'll give you an assignment, some homework if you will. Find something of interest you have laying around and put it out of sight. Now draw it from memory. It doesn't matter how frustrating it gets because this is just an exercise just do the best you can. When your done, get what you drew and compare the two. I'm telling you right now it won't be all that close but that's the reason of doing this. Look at what you've done and compare it to the actual object but DO NOT judge the work you did instead look at the object and find what you did wrong and how you can fix it. Really look at the object and study how the light effects it and it's proportions, how it sits, is the perspective that came out of your head close or is it way off. These are the things you need to work on. Understanding your subject and how to make it the way you want it. Once you start understanding the way things really are the rest will fall into place easier.

Once you get your head together a bit more start drawing studies. (Multiple versions of the same thing. Something like an eye as an example.) Do them over and over making them all different. Again don't try and be overly critical because they're just studies. Just do your best.

Yes; you will need to practice but that's not all there is to it. Sure, doing art is easier for some than it is for others but you obviously want to do this or you wouldn't be asking. It will take time and some dedication on your part but in the end it'll be worth it. I'm telling you right now, if you can work to a point that you do something cool you'll feel better about yourself as well. Just one small personal accomplishment can change everything.

I hope this helps you in some small way

Patience Grasshopper!

Answer 2

I have the same problem when my confidence and self-esteem. Having a low self-esteem is a problem every woman faces because as a woman you feel you have to a lot to prove, but from my experience everyone goes thought the same thing to some extent. It's how you handle it that makes a difference. I would ask myself in low level of criticism, whether a snowflake is worth getting frustrated about. Then answer it with a yes or no, and leave it alone. Don't over analyze it and don't be so critical of yourself, beside some of the most well know artists of our past couldn't draw hands, so they chose not to draw them. That's why the early time portraits were always cut off at the waist. Then came the Mona Lisa and people were like "Oh my god HANDS." I'm pretty sure that's how it went. In all reality what does a snowflake really look like, I'm not sure that can even be answered. I'm sure it was beautiful!

Answer 3

You keep getting the same advice about practice because that is the only way you will get better.

There is no "magic," easy "trick" to getting better at drawing. Drawing is a skill, and no amount of impatiant "hissy fits" will replace the need to practice a difficult skill.

Even the most talented performer needs to practice to get consistantly good results. I've been told that I have been a "good" artist since I was a small child. I am now almost 58 years old and I STILL practice. Singers practice. Dancers practice. Writers practice. That's what it takes to GET good and to REMAIN good.

Quit dismissing good advice and get back to work.

Answer 4

relaaaaaxxxxxxx... take a minute to go visit places that inspire you like local art galleries, museums, parks, colorful gardens, sunsets or whatever else your artistic eyes love to look at. i sometimes find that if i'm feeling uninspired and unhappy with my work, even surfing the web and looking at other artist's renderings lifts my spirits and inspires me anew. Also, don't try so hard. Drawing is natural and shouldn't be forced. Whenever I get to trying too hard I usually lose focus and whatever I'm working on ends up in the trash. And just so you know, every artist is extremely, and sometimes irrationally, over-critical of themselves. We all go through it, you're among friends :) Sometimes you need to step away and leave it for another day. I think you may be burning yourself out.

Answer 5

you have to decide yourself if you like drawing enough to work through the frustration or not, but I don't think there is a miracle cure. It's just something you have to learn to live with that you are not going to be the best in everything and that's completely normal and acceptable. And unless you want to spend your entire life unhappy it is something you will have to learn.
You could try to keep your drawings and look at the old ones once in a while so you notice how much better you get.
Maybe there are other things you enjoy too. Maybe try meditation classes to calm you down. I haven't yet heard of competitive meditation or competitive yoga.

Answer 6

Drawing, like riding a bicycle, is something that most people can learn to do. A few people find these activities easy, others find them hard.

Most of my friends, who are artistic, remind me that I must come to terms with my hardest, meanest, cruelest critic.

Myself.

I can never draw good enough for myself. I see every tiny error, mistake, and imperfection. Yet people who are not inclined to be artistic love my work. They see my work and ask what was my inspiration.

They also find things I have thrown away and are astonished by my decision. I try to show them the glaring mistakes and they do not seem them. Go figure.

Anyway, my point is this: listen to your inner critic, but remind yourself that people still like you and the many other things that you do. Odds are, they like your art too!

Most importantly, be happy with yourself.

Answer 7

First, quit comparing yourself to other artists. It sucks out your self-esteem and kills your creativity.

Second, if you're looking at others' art, instead of comparing it to yours, dissect it. Look very closely. See the brush strokes and pencil scratches, then back up and see how those little parts relate to the whole drawing.

Third, close your eyes and visualize doing a drawing or painting. Don't put it on paper, just see yourself using your pencil or brush (or mouse) and making the lines and strokes.

Last, make some good art friends. Get tips from them, admire their work, ask who to get lessons from, let them help inspire you.

Answer 8

See, you've got a low self esteem. It's undeniably true. And. It's not going to help.

As the others have said, don't be so serious and uptight. Drawing is supposed to be enjoyable.

If you can't seem to change your perspective on learning how to cope with your mistakes and knowing that you are not the best, nor is anyone else, don't devote yourself to art. It's as simple as that. Art is not for the weak.

Answer 9

The biggest part of creating art is the self enjoyment that you get from it. If you're not enjoying it....then DON'T DO IT. Not every piece is going to be perfect. Just put down the piece...and come back to it with fresh eyes so that you can see what you may have done wrong and then try to fix it. I have to do that all the time.

Answer 10

Don't be so damn serious about your work. RELAX! Try listening to some music you like. Realize that it takes time grow. So have fun with your progress, there's no simple solution to getting better. If you cant do that rub a genie bottle or something.