Phew! I'm so pleased to have made a drawing like this. For a couple of weeks I've been struggling with my creativity. Thinking about making the next drawing better than the last. Feeling the pressure to post something that is 'good enough'. Trying to show more technical ability. Searching for the perfect image.My blog is now four months old and it is the first time I have felt like this. The honeymoon period is over and now it's beginning to feel like more of an effort than it did before. Before I was just so in love with drawing that it was never an issue. I guess it's just time to readjust and find the best way of working for me.
So I'm so pleased to have made a drawing like this because there wasn't any thought put into it. I didn't worry about the outcome, how much skill it displayed or didn't - I just drew. And the bonus was it fitted into one of the EDM challenges!
17 comments:
I'm sorry that you ever felt pressured. Because it certainly seems like everything that rolls off the ball of your pen is fantastic. Just do and to heck with "is it worthy?" questions. Just create, and if you feel like sharing, share; if you don't, then you just don't.
Your blog = you make the rules.
Your art = always appreciated when shared.
Andrea, you obviously love to draw. I do feel the pressure sometimes, especially now that I have my drawings being viewed by people I don't know! But I told myself I would allow myself to make mistakes and tragedies and just keep putting them up. We are our own worst critics yes, but your work is all so brilliant (and I'll keep saying it as long as you keep drawing!) that you should make sure that you enjoy the process -- that's what it's all about isn't it? Need I say that this one is GREAT too!
I have only just discovered your blog, and am in awe how skillfull you are. Although I can understand the pressure.
I have had quite a few blogs, and only just started my lillan one, which I hope will be more "me" than the others were. And I have started painting again... sadly I have very little time to sit and create, but I am glad to be back in Blog Land, getting to know wonderful new people, and be in touch with dear friends....
But I am rambling :)
Keep on bloggin' girlfriend! I love all your work, and that's the thing about sketching...to quote our hero "EveryDay Matters" so no matter what you draw, or how it looks, it MATTERS. Not to mention that you are extremely talented, and ALL your work is gorgeous. I beleive by posting our 'goods and bads' it just show the honest process of drawing and creating.
Andrea, I SO enjoy your drawings. What a wonderful sense of style...delicious!
it's something that i've been feeling too. i guess it's normal. have to say that i cant compare my efforts with yours - i feel that yours are superb.
I love to look at whatever and whenever you post. Very few people post on their blog every single day. When we post what we consider as not our best, we encourage SOMEONE. There are many hills, valleys and plateuas in life, especially creatively.
HOWEVER. . . this is Awesome in my eyes!!!
Andrea,
Great, great sketch. If you want to reduce pressure on yourself, but still draw daily and have fun, why don't you only blog/upload a few of your drawings - not one each day. Then you can choose to upload sketches based on what you've done for fun, but really, really like.
I love this drawing, it looks so easy and clean and is still incredibly detailed! And about feeling pressure - just draw for your own pleasure, post if you like, don´t post if you don´t feel like it. And allow yourself to make loads of mistakes and un-perfect drawings. If I feel stuck in a rut I go for totally different media OR subjects. It usually helps me getting rid of the "drawing anxiety". I´ll be back to check your blog whether you keep posting often of not, I enjoy your work immensely.
Wow thanks everyone for your comments and such kind words. I have had such an amazing response to this post here and on the EDM forum. I feel quite overwhelmed! It seems that I am not the only one to have been struggling with this issue.
I am certainly my own worse critic - that's for sure! As for my next step I really want to get my children's book out to publishers but I keep on talking about it yet avoiding doing it!
Nina - I think this is really good advice. I think a change of medium or subject matter may just refresh my creativity.
Cheers guys. I really appreciate your input.
oh I can totaly relate - blogs can be very demanding...haha!
this is a great drawing!
just be who you are and keep doing the amazind drawings you do....
Gosh, this is yet another great drawing. I can entirely relate to the doubts, and the possible stagnation, and the pressure sometimes. Just wrote you an obscenely long e-mail about it.
About refreshing things a bit. Many times have i thought about giving each other ideas. For instance, if you wrote on my blog one day "hey France, i was wondering what your take would be on drawing a guitar case" -- i think it would relieve me with the worry of even FINDING something to write. And my response could come 3 months later -- but i think i would be super motivated to do it. I don't know if you would feel comfortable sharing challenges. And i don't even know if i am adding pressure by even writing this. So, in case i do, and in case you think you might get a kick out of it, i have a couple of things that i would like you to draw! No, seriously, i have been wondering.
But this is already way too long.
Cheerios, Andrea, your art rocks.
shite. I meant that it "would relieve me of FINDING something to DRAW". I should proofread PRIOR to submitting, right?!!
This is amazing, especially the control you have with a ball point pen. I'd love to see more of what you'd like to get published. Keep on blogging, you're wonderfully controlled with a pen and pencil
Hello Andrea, what an honor. Thanks for the link, I will come back I have to have you too in my list! :)
hugs!
-Marjorie
you should never worry, all of your drawings have a glowing beauty!
funny, when i think back to when I first started blogging I was so surprised that people didn't tell me my work is crap! everybody is so supportive!!!
Cheers everyone.
It's good to know I'm not alone!
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