Unlock your artistic potential and join my beginner-friendly drawing course here: www.schaeferfineart.com/intuitive-drawing-course My favorite brush pens: amzn.to/44FIBSl Another good option: amzn.to/471IOks Toned Tan Sketchbook: amzn.to/44FlNBC White Sketchbook: amzn.to/3qWYOnB
I love Sakura Pigma pens! Also, I have a couple of really good refillable brush pens: the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen (my favorite & it uses pigment ink) and a Kuretake fountain brush pen which has sable hair (still learning to use this one) They both take cartridges, so less throwaway. Love this video -so helpful to me as a senior beginner with lots of "fear of failure". This really helps. 🙏🏼
My biggest struggle with art is feeling excited to do it, and then sitting down and feeling like I’m empty, like I have nothing to give. Hmmm… now that I’ve put that into words, that could be a life thing manifesting in art.🤔
@@connieebinger6343 I think you're right, about the last thing you said, possibly. Maybe try doing some journaling, just write out all your thoughts and see where they go. Just an idea :) I think you're just overthinking the drawing process, just sit down and have fun, enjoy it! We all feel doubt at times, it happens. Just have fun with it and do your best. Who knows what can happen. Take care.
I struggle the most with judging each drawing too harshly. Sometimes I'll look at my drawings and notice what can be improved and what works, this is very useful. Other times the sight of my drawing makes me spiral into a awful place where I feel crushed by, and ashamed of, my ineptitude. Basically I need to learn how to lighten up a bit😅 Cheers for the video,good advice
I love this advice. Dedicating a sketchbook to drawing the same subject in pen not only helps you get over the fear of making mistakes but also will improve your handling of that art supply and improve your drawing skills. Kitty is a great subject. On a side note, my 21 year old tabby cat passed away a couple weeks ago. A real heartbreaker.....💔 Treasure each day and drawing of Kitty.
So sorry about your kitty. 21 is a long life, but not long enough. I have a 19 and a 20 yr old. Please be comforted in knowing that you always took care of her with love.
I’m a retired illustrator and graphic artist that shut my computer about three years ago to get back to drawing that I love. I’ve been struggling with expecting too much and it stifles me. I stopped your video, went to my art supplies, and found a cheap sketchbook and brush pen. Tomorrow I’m starting this exercise! PS, I did come back and finish the video!
The best thing I have ever done regarding my art was to embrace my mistakes. Perfectionism was crippling me. I also have essential tremors in my hands, and always have. And I fought them for so long (and still can if needed) but once I allowed them to influence and impact my art, I could finally breathe and just let things flow. Now it is just a part of my personal style.
I'm just trying to do that. I have familiar essential tremors and I'm just barely learning to draw. I'm trying to make the squiggle just part of what I do.
When I first started learning to draw I used pencil and spent the whole time erasing. Then I saw a video from Sketchbook Skool talking about the benefits of using pen when learning to draw. Got myself a fineliner and have never looked back!
I absolutely love this. I am an animator and an artist and I recently have started fearing the pencil. I have gotten way too critical of my drawings and it has completely stopped me from drawing. Listening to this video, I quickly purchased the ink pens and stapled together a bunch of half cut sheets to make my sketchbook. Luckily for me my office has 2 absolutely adorable impatient cats and I have been drawing them over and over again whenever I get time. I have also started filling my mini sketchbook with things I find in the office. This is an amazing advice. Thanks a bunch😊
The beautiful thing about art is you never know the struggle behind it. We never know how many tries the artist made before they published that finished art piece that we see on the internet, heck even the museum. I think that’s the beauty about art.
I just recently finished a sketchbook that was all my cats. I found that even on drawings that I felt were disasters while I was working on them, that after some time had passed and I looked at them I had captured some essence of the cat. I don't really know how to say it, but every drawing had some value.
Thank you for this advice. I suffer from the same fear you’ve described in the beginning. I got stuck with my material, waiting for the “perfect” moment to use it. I’ve a notebook for watercolor which remains untouched for several months now, just because I don’t want to “waste” it. Will try to overcome this terrible mindset.
Back when I was still trying to draw, I had *countless* sketchbooks exactly like this- for me it was dedicated to drawing single lines. I never made it to the point of actually being able to do that because of disability (I’ve also never been able to learn how to write, and needed a stamp marker to make dots because my brain just isn’t capable of figuring out that motion.) I had to accept that learning art just isn’t possible for me after failing at lines and the three simple shapes for ten years of study & seven of daily practice with no improvement - but I owe a lot to these sketchbooks for helping me to feel more secure about that decision. I still feel miserable about it, and I’m still as desperate to fix myself as I was when I was drawing… …but because I have this evidence of spending tens of thousands of hours on the same subjects (lines, curves, and less often squares/circles/rectangles) and only getting worse at them, I don’t feel like I’m just not trying or giving up. I know that I exhausted every option, every method, every lesson I could find and the answer is simply that my disabilities are not compatible with drawing. I don’t blame myself anymore, and as a childhood trafficking victim self-blame for literally everything from the weather being bad to major tragedies in my country is a daily issue in my life. It sounds really stupid to waste dozens of sketchbooks on nothing but horribly failed lines (and to be grateful you did!) but I really do think they taught me the most out of anything I’ve done with my life as an adult-even if none of it was actually about drawing. Even though I can’t continue with art, I’m glad I tried and failed it this way instead of any other, and I def recommend anyone else who isn’t sure if drawing is for them or not to give this a go! If you _can_ learn, you will, and if you can’t you’ll have proof of your efforts. Best of luck! x
I have many disabilities (can only paint on my lap) and can’t use my right side. First started w crayons, colored pencils (hurt me) then acrylics but tremors can spill whole paint pot so now doing water color but do lil things as balancing water on your lap (try it) as water hard to control & sending blessings your way!
@@appleknocker56 Completely understand haha, I’m an incomplete quadriplegic and totally paralyzed on my right side myself. I have somewhat enough use of my right hand to use a pencil if everything else was normal, but from brain damage starting immediately at birth I have extremely severe dysgraphia-many specialist OTs have called the worst case they’ve ever seen. It’s why I can’t write and require a notary to scribe and proxy sign whenever I have forms that need filling out or paperwork to sign. My OTs have told me I’m going to rely on typing only for the rest of my life. I’m glad you’re finding things that work for you! Best of luck with your art 🦋
@@jasond.b-w If you love art... don't give up. Maybe try other forms of art (like digital) or just for fun, make those same lines in different colors or the same color but different shades. Let the lines 'fall as they may', but the different colors/shades will make it 'art'. I've seen some art out there (even in museums) of things like JUST a dot! Splatter some paint on canvas or paper. Maybe don't do it to 'get better', do it for the fun of it. 💕
I teach kids to get up when they get knocked down, and that they keep getting up, how hard it may be. Sounds to me you've had more knocks than anyone can reasonably expect to rise up from, but did it anyway. I wouldn't trust my selfdiscipline to be trying for as long as you did. I'm certain that putting this project aside open up to some other creative outlet. Art shouldn't be about drawing straight lines, or so I tell myself at least.
nice man. I hit a point in January where drawing became unbearably tedious because of my stiffness, so I did a drawing with an ink brush to challenge myself, intentionally super messy and mistake filled. Turned out way cooler, evolved my style and revitalized my love of drawing.
THANK YOU!!! Fear of failure has controlled most aspects of my life. You are encouraging me to move forward, and falling down during the adventure is okay.
Absolutely! Falling down is okay. Look at babies, they fall all the time when learning to walk but they don't give up. It's just nature. Society and our thoughts have caused us to think falling down is bad. It's not. At least we try, and that's important. Learn from falling, get back up and keep going :)
Good advice. I like to do line and wash. In itself nothing wrong with sketching in pencil first, but I find myself obsessing over "getting it right", erasing and drawing over and over. This often results in a rather stiff drawing. Directly inking, and not obsess over "misstakes" often gets looser and more spontaneous work.
Yes! I find that my sketches, if done in pencil, are quite static looking and very stiff, because I have erased the errors and concentrated on making everything perfect. I haven't yet just gone to the pen so I will try that (and get over the fear....by doing these exercises!) and see how I go.
Thank you this is akin to something I did a few years ago. What I found helpful was doing a 10 minute sketch a day for a month. I set a timer and sketch for exactly 10 minutes not anymore or any less. It was pretty revelatory. I then posted each day no matter how successful or unsuccessful I was. It really helped me to loosen up and speed up too. It was very valuable for me. I tried whatever media or subject matter. Some sketches were great and some were down right awful. It was very freeing.
Thank you so much. Hearing an artist say this melted the exact fears that keep me from drawing. This is an important message and very appreciated.👏🏼✌🏻❤️
watching you video after a long, just wanted to appreciate, been watching your videos for three years, helped me a lot in creative block, paintings and sketching, thank you.
I'm an industry artist and recently broke out of a multiple year long art block through urban sketching and drawing from life. My weapon of choice is a fountain pen because I love the line quality and fine detail I can get, but I've got to try just bringing a brush pen sometime. Fully support all the advice in this video, in particular embracing mistakes. Drawing traditionally can be so cathartic when you accept you're not fully in control - ink will splatter and smudge, brushes have a mind of their own, there's no ctrl+z or infinite zoom. In the current digital landscape where many would rather generate AI art than pick up a pencil, sketching from life feels so incredibly human.
Good one! I need/needed this (hoping I can apply it!). I had an epiphany a while back and realized my sketching was just for me. I know that sounds weird, but I guess I was always thinking about what someone else would say or think after seeing it .... but they don't have to, or are going to! I feel if you can lose the self-consciousness of it you'll be able to move on more freely. Thank you for this video and adding to my confidence!
As a 40 something person just recently getting back into art this is awesome advice. I am going to try this as my fear of failing in art seems more harsh now. Also thought I already subscribed months ago man, but just subbed today. Thank you!
I started practicing in earnest a couple months ago and what you're saying resonates. I'm putting terrible marks on pages and they'll be that way forever and anyone who ever glances at it will see the indisputable evidence. It's a challenge to swallow my pride, but it's good, because I can see improvement already. Like, "oh you think that one's mediocre, let me show you the ones before it!" 😂
Thank a lot bro…❤ untill this vid I was thinking sth realy wrong with me, always afraid to waste a paper or markers…so I got a ton of stuff never used since my young years 🤪 now ppl like us may know, we are not alone. Especially reading comments. Now I now why wanted to buy a cheaper sketchbook for wasting it a little easier 😂 It's very supportive what you do. Really. Thanks again.
This is a great exercise. I haven't practiced art in ages and I have gotten very impatient and frustrated trying to relearn. This makes the process a lot less daunting. Thank you!
I’ve been wanting to dedicate a sketchbook to something specific and I was overwhelmed by the options. Your video is the perfect solution. Thanks so much for sharing this idea!
Fantastic advice, and approach. Brandon you are making the world a better place. Youths, novices, learners, self-stymiers--give it a try and keep trying!
Well! I have to thank the YT gods for recommending you..such an inspirational video. I have sketched, and journaled for the better part of 65 yrs, but have allowed 'life' to sidetrack me lately. I feel energised to pick up a pen again. Thank you.
RUclips knew that I needed this today. I was looking for something to overcome my perfectionism, somewhere I can really breathe while I deliberately make mistakes. I think that I could have been someone who made more art if I wasn't always so damn particular about getting it right and neat and pretty. Your activity is therapeutic and I start today!
Glad to hear that :) We all struggle from this from time to time, no doubt. Most artists are perfectionists. Just have to do our best to manage it. Hope it goes well!
Ive been hearing a lot lately about this sort of practice, & have even been trying to use it, wat with the insecurities I have. But its got me noticing that i have this fear of mistakes in every day life too. And constantly hearing artists say "mistakes are normal" is becoming oddly therapeutic for life as a whole. 😂 So thank u. This vid was particularly nice. :3
I started doing some freehand pen and ink sketches a few months ago. I ended up being surprised about how, more often than not, I got it write not wrong. It is a great exercise to try and loosen up both physically and mentally, all the best, John
This was so helpful in how straightforward and simple it is. Thanks so much. There’s many art mind-boggling videos that at the end, you are just thinking you don’t even have space to draw. This just refreshed me that is very simple to just keep sketching and that’s the beauty.
Thank you. So good to know I’m not alone in the fear of wasting material. So I just don’t do anything. I have gotten better yet every time I pick up pen or brush I have to override the fear.
Thank you for this excellent advice. I've lost my white-belt mentality in so many ways over the years, and it's kept me from continuing with things I used to love. It's not too late to just play and recapture that spark of creativity.
Great content! I think your kitty sketchbook is the most adorable thing, and it makes me reflect about art being something to express our feelings and the things we love! During your video I started thinking about how social media made me have this mindset of drawing what other people would like to see, what would give me more followers and likes, and maybe that's what killed the joy i had for art. I now want to have a sketchbook for my cats too! And also focusing more on stuff that I really like.
Thank you for this video! I have that same fear of wasting time and sketchbooks that you described. I’m going to try this exercise and not get bogged down on details or creating a perfect drawing.
After your videos I tried your advice and I’m overcoming my fear of sketching on paper finally. I’m also less using the undo button as a additional rule. Thank you very much!
This is really good advice, thank you! I actually absolutely love the idea of a sketchbook dedicated to a pet, what an amazing memory this will be in like 20 years.
This is excellent advice. Years ago, I used to do something similar but just with ballpoint pens. I definitely think it made me a better problem solver as an artist. Lately I've been in a bit of a slump, so this sounds like exactly what I need to try again.
What a simple, practical and incredibly valuable video. The fear of mistakes is often overwhelming. This is such a beautiful antiseptic for that fear. Thanks!
Wow. You are literally me, I too only did pencil drawing for years, too afraid of ruining a good drawing by experimenting with other mediums. Then, like literally just a week ago, I started inking. And actually kinda loved it! I hated it at first, but I kinda learned to be loose with it. (Still struggle lol) but it's changing my artwork in such a beautiful and messy way that I kinda love! I think it's kinda funny how this video was recommended to me, but I love the message you are spreading! I wish someone told me that it's okay to make mistakes, art is meant to be messy and imperfect. That's what makes it unique! It's meant to be an interpretation of reality. Not a copy of it. Thank you for this video, my man! It made my day :)
Thank you for this advice! I want to overcome the tendency of getting things done perfectly and not to let this hold me back. Will start practicing this!
Thank you SO much. This is me and my desire to be creative is so strong, it saddens me. I got tons on acrylic painting supplies for my birthday…2 years ago. I’ve even bought more. Still have not made a single attempt…the fear is paralyzing. Love this advice, just what I needed to hear today!!!!❤
I understand for sure. Just don't expect your first attempts to be the best. It takes a little time and patience, be kind to yourself. You can do it! :)
I will give it a go. I've been doing it with watercolor, but I'm always so worried about wasting expensive supplies. This might be a way to reduce that fear. Thank you.
Well said, my dude. Beyond art, this is actually excellent advice in general for overcoming hangups around making mistakes. I appreciate the simplicity as well as the effectiveness of your method. Thanks for creating the content
This great advice can be applied in so many areas of life. If you want to be a writer, write on paper with a pen, rather than on a computer. That way, you won't be able to constantly edit everything you write, and your imagination can flow freely. 😊
Long ago , I learned to always start my sketchbooks someplace a number of pages beyond the first or before the last pages in the sketchbook. That eliminated any BEGINNING or ending new book fears. Nice ideas here in this video too. After all, each page is only a piece of paper. Errors are not the end of your world 😊!
Cannot thank you enough for this video. There’s so many times artists like myself either have artists block or is anxious about what to draw. Failure is part of the learning process after all. We all improve the more we keep at it and access what we need to get better at. Great video dude.
Really good advice! I recall being in classes when people were afraid to paint on good paper. They didn't want to take a chance of ruining expensive paper and struggled with cheap paper that was really difficult to paint on. I even gave one lady a piece of good quality paper and she didn't use it...she took it home to save till she got better! Same principle I guess. Nice video to help free people a little in their art!
I know that feel! I'm a digital artist and I mainly use alcohol markers as a medium if I go traditional, and I always thumbnail on printer paper with a protector sheet under it. Mainly because I'd rather just ruin a piece of printer paper then some fancy marker paper. Like, even if it's just a dumb sketchbook, I just feel bad about ruining paper that cost me like 20 bucks. Like, my fear of failure and my perfectionism both won't have any of that, because it's 'the good paper' I'm looking at. But somehow, I'm perfectly fine with messing up a few sheets in a pack of 200 sheets of basic printer paper that cost me like 10 bucks at most. Honestly, I don't understand how some artists on RUclips can actually use those fancy marker paper sketchbooks for thumbnailing: I could never.
I’m getting back to drawing and will take a local artist drawing course next month. I’m looking for anything helpful to improve my skills in anticipation of the course. Focus on one subject is great because I do get hung up on what to draw…also getting a brush pen, I’ll be doing that today! You’ve won me over as a new subscriber with these great tips!
I bought a brush pen today and I have to say Thank You!! This pen is fantastic! I have been using oil pastels and regular ball points, but this brush pen is a game changer! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Wonderful! Brush pens are super fun. The only downside is that the brush tip can wear out somewhat quickly but don't let it discourage you. Just try other types and get more, they are super fun, I use them all the time :) Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your fear of drawing. I am there again now. Was a painter, not pro by any means! But enjoyed it. I have plenty of notebooks, and time to dedicate to my dogs. Love animals, so good start. Thanks again!!
Thank you so much for this video!! Not only did I learn I’m not the only one😭 that statement alone took a lot stress in my sketch movements~ I was also lost in what to draw bc I became so intimidated by everything, this video and “learn to sketch from imagination” by proko really helped me out of my shell! Your awesome dude
Thank you for this video. I bought a brush pen from the dollar store a while back and hadn’t found any love for it. Perhaps this exercise will invigorate me.
cool idea. I've had too many art ideas take longer than expected because I was stuck in the sketching phase constantly trying to correct mistakes. I have a spare sketchbook lying around so I'll try this out for a month and see if it helps me stop my perfectionism
GREAT idea. I am one of those people you describe. I don’t feel I draw well and then avoid drawing because it just reinforces my perception that I don’t draw well. Also love the 1 subject idea. I have 3 cats, soon to be starring in one of my sketchbooks!
I started drawing again after 10 years and the first thing I did was I started a 30 day prompt and I only used pen - through all the ups and downs it was overall an extremely satisfying experience because I now know that I can still do it! Learning with this method is very fast and effective.
thanks I have a fear of using paint so I think I will dedicate my sketch book to painting things. and I liked that you mentioned this isn't about improving your skills. It's about making marks. SO liked that approach because I would still feel like a failure if I didn't draw something good!
Hi - Thanks for this great advice. As an aspiring artist (a beginner) I am constantly afraid to put paint to canvas. I have 50 canvases around my house - all blank. I think, when I get good I will do them. I think this exercise is just what I need. I am working through my fear doing small little craft projects, now I need to move on to the big canvas. I'm almost ready. And I need to get ready soon because I'm almost 70 and who knows how much time I have left. Tee Hee. Thanks for sharing and happy drawing. Love PegEgg
I was doing the art pen (brush pen) drawings. Another technique to eliminate fear of failure is to use newsprints. If your sketchbook has more gadgets and gizmos than the Space X rocket and it costs $50, you might feel more self-conscious of any blotches, smudges or mistakes. If, however, you can get 11 cheap, recycled paper sketchbooks for under 25 dollars (including shipping), you'll happily draw every day and also feel like you're saving the planet. Excellent video.
"Strive for creation, not perfection" I retired this year, turned 60 and have been trying to get over myself and just enjoy the process. It's hard, but I learn a little with each thing I do and I am having a good time :-) I totally appreciate what you are saying here, thank you.
Thank you, I appreciate your teaching. Fearful of a canvas 3”x3” because of perfectionism, but decided to use the pointillism method, and enjoy what will eventually want to appear.
Thank you so much for this. This is me all over. Too afraid to try to do it and would rather watch a thousand tutorials and watch other people do it and not waste my paper. Dear Oh dear! I love your art work by the way. I ' ve got myself a set of 3 sketchbooks now that are only for practice and my so called " rubbish" and which may or may not be but it will be my books to try stuff out on that nobody but me will see. I'm hoping by the third one It will get me going and back to loving and experimenting again because I loved it. But so much has happened to grind that art work to a halt so many circumstances for so many years I had to put my art on the backburner and I missed it so much but now I have the chance to get back to it I'm suddenly terrified of it and making mistakes but I know it's by mistakes you learn. But to get rid of this fear which was so unexpected in the first place. It's grinding me to a halt again. I hope with this 3 books when I fill them with whatever. God knows what will be in them but I hope Iwill eventually throw that fear away and throw caution to the wind and enjoy it again. Thank you. Susan
I used to draw fields of Celtic knots. I have tons of them. They are all carefully measured, plotted, and curiously flat. I stopped drawing. On a whim I tried that Zentangle Six Week book. Zentangle is done with pen. After I finished that course I was shocked by how much life is in my drawings now. I find that I still overthink (and over-erase) if I start in pencil, and I wouldn't call what I do art, but I like it.
Pulled out an old brush pen I hardly ever used like so many of my art supplies and started drawing but my pen was dried up. Lesson learned: use your supplies. Draw, paint, sketch!
Thank you. I think a lot of fear of failure in art comes from art instructors standing behind you telling you that you are 'doing it wrong'. Honestly, how do they know when they are not in your head? Thank you for this suggestion. I like it and I'm sure it will help me!
Great tips 👍🏼 I like to use lined or grid paper journal. It really helps to bump past perfectionism and brings me back to being a kid scribbling on anything just having fun. No pressure to present 👍🏼
@@princesspiranha another way is to start an empty page by dripping or splotching watercolor (or random scribbling with color pencil. Now the page is not so daunting and you’ve gotten into a fun and light mentality :)
Unlock your artistic potential and join my beginner-friendly drawing course here: www.schaeferfineart.com/intuitive-drawing-course
My favorite brush pens: amzn.to/44FIBSl
Another good option: amzn.to/471IOks
Toned Tan Sketchbook: amzn.to/44FlNBC
White Sketchbook: amzn.to/3qWYOnB
I love Sakura Pigma pens! Also, I have a couple of really good refillable brush pens: the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen (my favorite & it uses pigment ink) and a Kuretake fountain brush pen which has sable hair (still learning to use this one)
They both take cartridges, so less throwaway.
Love this video -so helpful to me as a senior beginner with lots of "fear of failure". This really helps. 🙏🏼
An owl drawing an owl. Interesting
My biggest struggle with art is feeling excited to do it, and then sitting down and feeling like I’m empty, like I have nothing to give. Hmmm… now that I’ve put that into words, that could be a life thing manifesting in art.🤔
@@connieebinger6343 I think you're right, about the last thing you said, possibly. Maybe try doing some journaling, just write out all your thoughts and see where they go. Just an idea :) I think you're just overthinking the drawing process, just sit down and have fun, enjoy it! We all feel doubt at times, it happens. Just have fun with it and do your best. Who knows what can happen. Take care.
I struggle the most with judging each drawing too harshly. Sometimes I'll look at my drawings and notice what can be improved and what works, this is very useful.
Other times the sight of my drawing makes me spiral into a awful place where I feel crushed by, and ashamed of, my ineptitude.
Basically I need to learn how to lighten up a bit😅
Cheers for the video,good advice
I love this advice. Dedicating a sketchbook to drawing the same subject in pen not only helps you get over the fear of making mistakes but also will improve your handling of that art supply and improve your drawing skills. Kitty is a great subject. On a side note, my 21 year old tabby cat passed away a couple weeks ago. A real heartbreaker.....💔 Treasure each day and drawing of Kitty.
Aww I’m so sorry! Our fur babies are so special. I hope you find peace and healing soon ❤
@@kateashby3066 Thank you ❤
So sorry about your kitty. 21 is a long life, but not long enough. I have a 19 and a 20 yr old. Please be comforted in knowing that you always took care of her with love.
Frictions pens really helped with with that , my art developed so quickly I hardly removed my mistakes but push though them ,,
I am so sorry to hear about your cat 😺 passing away. Cats are a treasure and it's clear yours was well loved and is still loved.
I’m a retired illustrator and graphic artist that shut my computer about three years ago to get back to drawing that I love. I’ve been struggling with expecting too much and it stifles me. I stopped your video, went to my art supplies, and found a cheap sketchbook and brush pen. Tomorrow I’m starting this exercise! PS, I did come back and finish the video!
How is it going so far?
@@lunayenit’s going well. I’m trying to keep going in the sketchbook, but I’m actually doing other work because of this getting me started.
The best thing I have ever done regarding my art was to embrace my mistakes. Perfectionism was crippling me. I also have essential tremors in my hands, and always have. And I fought them for so long (and still can if needed) but once I allowed them to influence and impact my art, I could finally breathe and just let things flow. Now it is just a part of my personal style.
I'm just trying to do that. I have familiar essential tremors and I'm just barely learning to draw. I'm trying to make the squiggle just part of what I do.
When I first started learning to draw I used pencil and spent the whole time erasing. Then I saw a video from Sketchbook Skool talking about the benefits of using pen when learning to draw. Got myself a fineliner and have never looked back!
I absolutely love this. I am an animator and an artist and I recently have started fearing the pencil. I have gotten way too critical of my drawings and it has completely stopped me from drawing. Listening to this video, I quickly purchased the ink pens and stapled together a bunch of half cut sheets to make my sketchbook. Luckily for me my office has 2 absolutely adorable impatient cats and I have been drawing them over and over again whenever I get time. I have also started filling my mini sketchbook with things I find in the office. This is an amazing advice. Thanks a bunch😊
So glad I am not alone. I am an artist and like you with over criticism and not seeing 'progress'. Thanks for posting 🥰
@@helenamaria710 so glad to hear this ! Lots of love❤️😊
The beautiful thing about art is you never know the struggle behind it. We never know how many tries the artist made before they published that finished art piece that we see on the internet, heck even the museum. I think that’s the beauty about art.
DaVinci May 500 drafts of the Mona Lisa. So important to remember your very good point.
I just recently finished a sketchbook that was all my cats. I found that even on drawings that I felt were disasters while I was working on them, that after some time had passed and I looked at them I had captured some essence of the cat. I don't really know how to say it, but every drawing had some value.
Thank you for this advice. I suffer from the same fear you’ve described in the beginning. I got stuck with my material, waiting for the “perfect” moment to use it. I’ve a notebook for watercolor which remains untouched for several months now, just because I don’t want to “waste” it. Will try to overcome this terrible mindset.
I have the same hesitancy at times. I finally realized I am not going to get any better if I don't start!!
Back when I was still trying to draw, I had *countless* sketchbooks exactly like this- for me it was dedicated to drawing single lines. I never made it to the point of actually being able to do that because of disability (I’ve also never been able to learn how to write, and needed a stamp marker to make dots because my brain just isn’t capable of figuring out that motion.)
I had to accept that learning art just isn’t possible for me after failing at lines and the three simple shapes for ten years of study & seven of daily practice with no improvement - but I owe a lot to these sketchbooks for helping me to feel more secure about that decision. I still feel miserable about it, and I’m still as desperate to fix myself as I was when I was drawing…
…but because I have this evidence of spending tens of thousands of hours on the same subjects (lines, curves, and less often squares/circles/rectangles) and only getting worse at them, I don’t feel like I’m just not trying or giving up. I know that I exhausted every option, every method, every lesson I could find and the answer is simply that my disabilities are not compatible with drawing. I don’t blame myself anymore, and as a childhood trafficking victim self-blame for literally everything from the weather being bad to major tragedies in my country is a daily issue in my life.
It sounds really stupid to waste dozens of sketchbooks on nothing but horribly failed lines (and to be grateful you did!) but I really do think they taught me the most out of anything I’ve done with my life as an adult-even if none of it was actually about drawing. Even though I can’t continue with art, I’m glad I tried and failed it this way instead of any other, and I def recommend anyone else who isn’t sure if drawing is for them or not to give this a go! If you _can_ learn, you will, and if you can’t you’ll have proof of your efforts. Best of luck! x
I have many disabilities (can only paint on my lap) and can’t use my right side. First started w crayons, colored pencils (hurt me) then acrylics but tremors can spill whole paint pot so now doing water color but do lil things as balancing water on your lap (try it) as water hard to control & sending blessings your way!
@@appleknocker56 Completely understand haha, I’m an incomplete quadriplegic and totally paralyzed on my right side myself. I have somewhat enough use of my right hand to use a pencil if everything else was normal, but from brain damage starting immediately at birth I have extremely severe dysgraphia-many specialist OTs have called the worst case they’ve ever seen. It’s why I can’t write and require a notary to scribe and proxy sign whenever I have forms that need filling out or paperwork to sign. My OTs have told me I’m going to rely on typing only for the rest of my life.
I’m glad you’re finding things that work for you! Best of luck with your art 🦋
@@jasond.b-w If you love art... don't give up. Maybe try other forms of art (like digital) or just for fun, make those same lines in different colors or the same color but different shades. Let the lines 'fall as they may', but the different colors/shades will make it 'art'. I've seen some art out there (even in museums) of things like JUST a dot! Splatter some paint on canvas or paper. Maybe don't do it to 'get better', do it for the fun of it. 💕
I teach kids to get up when they get knocked down, and that they keep getting up, how hard it may be. Sounds to me you've had more knocks than anyone can reasonably expect to rise up from, but did it anyway. I wouldn't trust my selfdiscipline to be trying for as long as you did. I'm certain that putting this project aside open up to some other creative outlet. Art shouldn't be about drawing straight lines, or so I tell myself at least.
nice man. I hit a point in January where drawing became unbearably tedious because of my stiffness, so I did a drawing with an ink brush to challenge myself, intentionally super messy and mistake filled. Turned out way cooler, evolved my style and revitalized my love of drawing.
I started off with pen and ink, massively helped me use any medium, same for sketch books
This has been a process I've tried to follow for a few months now. Your tips really help. THANKS
What's the progress? Also, are you into Adventure Sports? Please reply, buddy!
THANK YOU!!! Fear of failure has controlled most aspects of my life. You are encouraging me to move forward, and falling down during the adventure is okay.
Absolutely! Falling down is okay. Look at babies, they fall all the time when learning to walk but they don't give up. It's just nature. Society and our thoughts have caused us to think falling down is bad. It's not. At least we try, and that's important. Learn from falling, get back up and keep going :)
Good advice. I like to do line and wash. In itself nothing wrong with sketching in pencil first, but I find myself obsessing over "getting it right", erasing and drawing over and over. This often results in a rather stiff drawing. Directly inking, and not obsess over "misstakes" often gets looser and more spontaneous work.
Yes! I find that my sketches, if done in pencil, are quite static looking and very stiff, because I have erased the errors and concentrated on making everything perfect. I haven't yet just gone to the pen so I will try that (and get over the fear....by doing these exercises!) and see how I go.
Thank you this is akin to something I did a few years ago.
What I found helpful was doing a 10 minute sketch a day for a month. I set a timer and sketch for exactly 10 minutes not anymore or any less.
It was pretty revelatory.
I then posted each day no matter how successful or unsuccessful I was.
It really helped me to loosen up and speed up too.
It was very valuable for me.
I tried whatever media or subject matter.
Some sketches were great and some were down right awful.
It was very freeing.
That is great, what a wonderful exercise. More artists should do this for sure :) Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much. Hearing an artist say this melted the exact fears that keep me from drawing. This is an important message and very appreciated.👏🏼✌🏻❤️
watching you video after a long, just wanted to appreciate, been watching your videos for three years, helped me a lot in creative block, paintings and sketching, thank you.
I'm an industry artist and recently broke out of a multiple year long art block through urban sketching and drawing from life. My weapon of choice is a fountain pen because I love the line quality and fine detail I can get, but I've got to try just bringing a brush pen sometime. Fully support all the advice in this video, in particular embracing mistakes. Drawing traditionally can be so cathartic when you accept you're not fully in control - ink will splatter and smudge, brushes have a mind of their own, there's no ctrl+z or infinite zoom. In the current digital landscape where many would rather generate AI art than pick up a pencil, sketching from life feels so incredibly human.
Good one! I need/needed this (hoping I can apply it!). I had an epiphany a while back and realized my sketching was just for me. I know that sounds weird, but I guess I was always thinking about what someone else would say or think after seeing it .... but they don't have to, or are going to! I feel if you can lose the self-consciousness of it you'll be able to move on more freely. Thank you for this video and adding to my confidence!
As a 40 something person just recently getting back into art this is awesome advice. I am going to try this as my fear of failing in art seems more harsh now. Also thought I already subscribed months ago man, but just subbed today. Thank you!
I started practicing in earnest a couple months ago and what you're saying resonates. I'm putting terrible marks on pages and they'll be that way forever and anyone who ever glances at it will see the indisputable evidence. It's a challenge to swallow my pride, but it's good, because I can see improvement already. Like, "oh you think that one's mediocre, let me show you the ones before it!" 😂
Thank a lot bro…❤ untill this vid I was thinking sth realy wrong with me, always afraid to waste a paper or markers…so I got a ton of stuff never used since my young years 🤪 now ppl like us may know, we are not alone. Especially reading comments. Now I now why wanted to buy a cheaper sketchbook for wasting it a little easier 😂 It's very supportive what you do. Really. Thanks again.
This is a great exercise. I haven't practiced art in ages and I have gotten very impatient and frustrated trying to relearn. This makes the process a lot less daunting. Thank you!
I’ve been wanting to dedicate a sketchbook to something specific and I was overwhelmed by the options. Your video is the perfect solution. Thanks so much for sharing this idea!
I've been doing this exercise for about a week and a half of my own cats and random stuff and it really helps get over that anxiety. Thank you!!!
Fantastic advice, and approach. Brandon you are making the world a better place. Youths, novices, learners, self-stymiers--give it a try and keep trying!
Well! I have to thank the YT gods for recommending you..such an inspirational video. I have sketched, and journaled for the better part of 65 yrs, but have allowed 'life' to sidetrack me lately. I feel energised to pick up a pen again. Thank you.
Thanks for watching and subscribing. Much appreciated :) Hope it goes well. Have fun!
RUclips knew that I needed this today. I was looking for something to overcome my perfectionism, somewhere I can really breathe while I deliberately make mistakes. I think that I could have been someone who made more art if I wasn't always so damn particular about getting it right and neat and pretty. Your activity is therapeutic and I start today!
Glad to hear that :) We all struggle from this from time to time, no doubt. Most artists are perfectionists. Just have to do our best to manage it. Hope it goes well!
Ive been hearing a lot lately about this sort of practice, & have even been trying to use it, wat with the insecurities I have. But its got me noticing that i have this fear of mistakes in every day life too. And constantly hearing artists say "mistakes are normal" is becoming oddly therapeutic for life as a whole. 😂 So thank u. This vid was particularly nice. :3
I started doing some freehand pen and ink sketches a few months ago. I ended up being surprised about how, more often than not, I got it write not wrong. It is a great exercise to try and loosen up both physically and mentally, all the best, John
This was so helpful in how straightforward and simple it is.
Thanks so much. There’s many art mind-boggling videos that at the end, you are just thinking you don’t even have space to draw. This just refreshed me that is very simple to just keep sketching and that’s the beauty.
Glad you enjoyed it! Less is more. Simple is best :)
Yes, man. I appreciate your message; make mistakes. Sometimes they’re the best parts. Thanks and have subscribed!
Thank you. So good to know I’m not alone in the fear of wasting material. So I just don’t do anything. I have gotten better yet every time I pick up pen or brush I have to override the fear.
Thank you for this excellent advice. I've lost my white-belt mentality in so many ways over the years, and it's kept me from continuing with things I used to love. It's not too late to just play and recapture that spark of creativity.
This video just blew my mind, not just about my art but my whole mindset. Thank you so much for this wise advice!
Glad it was helpful! Really glad to hear that :) Hope it goes well from now on.
Great content! I think your kitty sketchbook is the most adorable thing, and it makes me reflect about art being something to express our feelings and the things we love! During your video I started thinking about how social media made me have this mindset of drawing what other people would like to see, what would give me more followers and likes, and maybe that's what killed the joy i had for art. I now want to have a sketchbook for my cats too! And also focusing more on stuff that I really like.
Thank you for this video! I have that same fear of wasting time and sketchbooks that you described. I’m going to try this exercise and not get bogged down on details or creating a perfect drawing.
After your videos I tried your advice and I’m overcoming my fear of sketching on paper finally. I’m also less using the undo button as a additional rule. Thank you very much!
This is really good advice, thank you!
I actually absolutely love the idea of a sketchbook dedicated to a pet, what an amazing memory this will be in like 20 years.
You're so welcome!
This is excellent advice. Years ago, I used to do something similar but just with ballpoint pens. I definitely think it made me a better problem solver as an artist. Lately I've been in a bit of a slump, so this sounds like exactly what I need to try again.
What a simple, practical and incredibly valuable video. The fear of mistakes is often overwhelming. This is such a beautiful antiseptic for that fear. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
I took this advice to heart, and have gotten over my fear of pen and ink. Now I balk at the idea of using a pencil. So thank you!
That's wonderful :) So glad to hear that. I hope the drawing and art continues to go well. Have fun!
Wow. You are literally me, I too only did pencil drawing for years, too afraid of ruining a good drawing by experimenting with other mediums. Then, like literally just a week ago, I started inking. And actually kinda loved it! I hated it at first, but I kinda learned to be loose with it. (Still struggle lol) but it's changing my artwork in such a beautiful and messy way that I kinda love! I think it's kinda funny how this video was recommended to me, but I love the message you are spreading! I wish someone told me that it's okay to make mistakes, art is meant to be messy and imperfect. That's what makes it unique! It's meant to be an interpretation of reality. Not a copy of it. Thank you for this video, my man! It made my day :)
Very well said! Excellent points and you totally understand what I'm saying. I agree with you completely haha. Hope the art goes well!
Thank you for this advice! I want to overcome the tendency of getting things done perfectly and not to let this hold me back. Will start practicing this!
You are so welcome!
Thank you SO much. This is me and my desire to be creative is so strong, it saddens me. I got tons on acrylic painting supplies for my birthday…2 years ago. I’ve even bought more. Still have not made a single attempt…the fear is paralyzing. Love this advice, just what I needed to hear today!!!!❤
I understand for sure. Just don't expect your first attempts to be the best. It takes a little time and patience, be kind to yourself. You can do it! :)
I will give it a go. I've been doing it with watercolor, but I'm always so worried about wasting expensive supplies. This might be a way to reduce that fear. Thank you.
I just want to thank you. You have no idea how this bit of advice opened something up for me. You are my Art Angel!! So grateful for your channel. 🙏🏻
Well said, my dude. Beyond art, this is actually excellent advice in general for overcoming hangups around making mistakes.
I appreciate the simplicity as well as the effectiveness of your method. Thanks for creating the content
This great advice can be applied in so many areas of life. If you want to be a writer, write on paper with a pen, rather than on a computer. That way, you won't be able to constantly edit everything you write, and your imagination can flow freely. 😊
So true! Never thought about that, but you're right. Thanks for sharing! :)
Long ago , I learned to always start my sketchbooks someplace a number of pages beyond the first or before the last pages in the sketchbook. That eliminated any BEGINNING or ending new book fears. Nice ideas here in this video too. After all, each page is only a piece of paper. Errors are not the end of your world 😊!
Haha that's an interesting 'trick' to eliminate fears. Thanks for sharing! And so true, errors are not the end of the world, for sure haha!
@@SchaeferArt Thanks for your kind response.
Cannot thank you enough for this video. There’s so many times artists like myself either have artists block or is anxious about what to draw. Failure is part of the learning process after all. We all improve the more we keep at it and access what we need to get better at. Great video dude.
Thanks bunches for this. I started a sketch book a few weeks ago and have found the exercises liberating!
Glad it was helpful!
This was powerful. Simple but such great advice. I don’t have any pens, but you inspired me to do this so will pick some up tomorrow. Thank you 😊
Life is art ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉 0:47
Really good advice! I recall being in classes when people were afraid to paint on good paper. They didn't want to take a chance of ruining expensive paper and struggled with cheap paper that was really difficult to paint on. I even gave one lady a piece of good quality paper and she didn't use it...she took it home to save till she got better! Same principle I guess. Nice video to help free people a little in their art!
I know that feel! I'm a digital artist and I mainly use alcohol markers as a medium if I go traditional, and I always thumbnail on printer paper with a protector sheet under it. Mainly because I'd rather just ruin a piece of printer paper then some fancy marker paper. Like, even if it's just a dumb sketchbook, I just feel bad about ruining paper that cost me like 20 bucks. Like, my fear of failure and my perfectionism both won't have any of that, because it's 'the good paper' I'm looking at. But somehow, I'm perfectly fine with messing up a few sheets in a pack of 200 sheets of basic printer paper that cost me like 10 bucks at most. Honestly, I don't understand how some artists on RUclips can actually use those fancy marker paper sketchbooks for thumbnailing: I could never.
I’m getting back to drawing and will take a local artist drawing course next month. I’m looking for anything helpful to improve my skills in anticipation of the course. Focus on one subject is great because I do get hung up on what to draw…also getting a brush pen, I’ll be doing that today! You’ve won me over as a new subscriber with these great tips!
I bought a brush pen today and I have to say Thank You!! This pen is fantastic! I have been using oil pastels and regular ball points, but this brush pen is a game changer! Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Wonderful! Brush pens are super fun. The only downside is that the brush tip can wear out somewhat quickly but don't let it discourage you. Just try other types and get more, they are super fun, I use them all the time :) Enjoy!
Thank you for sharing your fear of drawing. I am there again now. Was a painter, not pro by any means! But enjoyed it. I have plenty of notebooks, and time to dedicate to my dogs. Love animals, so good start. Thanks again!!
You are so welcome!
Thank you so much for this video!! Not only did I learn I’m not the only one😭 that statement alone took a lot stress in my sketch movements~ I was also lost in what to draw bc I became so intimidated by everything, this video and “learn to sketch from imagination” by proko really helped me out of my shell! Your awesome dude
Thank you for this video. I bought a brush pen from the dollar store a while back and hadn’t found any love for it. Perhaps this exercise will invigorate me.
Glad it was helpful!
As simple as this advice may seem, it’s extremely helpful. Thanks for the push I needed 👍🏾
Glad it was helpful. Sometimes simple is best and we all need a little push sometimes. Hope it goes well!
cool idea. I've had too many art ideas take longer than expected because I was stuck in the sketching phase constantly trying to correct mistakes. I have a spare sketchbook lying around so I'll try this out for a month and see if it helps me stop my perfectionism
This is a beautiful way to look at mistakes. Thank you
Thanks for great advice. Sometimes was really hard to follow the video, but the exercize seem great. I'll definitely try it out
Sorry it was difficult to follow :( But I hope it'll go well. Have fun! :)
Awesome video. So peaceful. Great advice. Loved reading the comments. Thankyou!
Glad you enjoyed it!
GREAT idea. I am one of those people you describe. I don’t feel I draw well and then avoid drawing because it just reinforces my perception that I don’t draw well. Also love the 1 subject idea. I have 3 cats, soon to be starring in one of my sketchbooks!
WoW!! What excellent advise!!
I believe this would help me and so many others! 🖋️
Thank you so much!! 🤗
I have always worked this way. I'll be sharing this! Thank you for putting this out here❤
Just started following your channel and probably like a week ago I decided to order a nice brush pen and some fine liners. Nice timing.
Glad you like them!
I started drawing again after 10 years and the first thing I did was I started a 30 day prompt and I only used pen - through all the ups and downs it was overall an extremely satisfying experience because I now know that I can still do it! Learning with this method is very fast and effective.
thanks I have a fear of using paint so I think I will dedicate my sketch book to painting things. and I liked that you mentioned this isn't about improving your skills. It's about making marks. SO liked that approach because I would still feel like a failure if I didn't draw something good!
Wonderful advice. The brush pen was a good tip and it makes total sense.
Thank you so much for this advice! I will surely try this.
Best of luck! Have fun :)
Hi - Thanks for this great advice. As an aspiring artist (a beginner) I am constantly afraid to put paint to canvas. I have 50 canvases around my house - all blank. I think, when I get good I will do them. I think this exercise is just what I need. I am working through my fear doing small little craft projects, now I need to move on to the big canvas. I'm almost ready. And I need to get ready soon because I'm almost 70 and who knows how much time I have left. Tee Hee. Thanks for sharing and happy drawing. Love PegEgg
I was doing the art pen (brush pen) drawings. Another technique to eliminate fear of failure is to use newsprints. If your sketchbook has more gadgets and gizmos than the Space X rocket and it costs $50, you might feel more self-conscious of any blotches, smudges or mistakes. If, however, you can get 11 cheap, recycled paper sketchbooks for under 25 dollars (including shipping), you'll happily draw every day and also feel like you're saving the planet. Excellent video.
That's a great point! Thank you for sharing. Some people are always afraid of wasting materials and that would be a great solution.
I really like this. I'll keep watching. Thank you very much😊
What a great idea! Im defintiely going to try this and start drawing my Chihuahua, Benny! 😆
"Strive for creation, not perfection" I retired this year, turned 60 and have been trying to get over myself and just enjoy the process. It's hard, but I learn a little with each thing I do and I am having a good time :-) I totally appreciate what you are saying here, thank you.
Well said! That's great, I hope it goes well. Keep on trying and have fun with it :)
Thank you, I appreciate your teaching. Fearful of a canvas 3”x3” because of perfectionism, but decided to use the pointillism method, and enjoy what will eventually want to appear.
Glad it was helpful!
Love this approach. I keep thinking I want to draw my cat, I’ve got to pick a brush, be bold and get used to making mistakes. Thank you.
You can do it!
Thank you so much for this, I'm about to start. I bought a book I've been making lists in it but I'm going to start drawing. The fear is real
No problem, hope it was helpful. And I hope the drawing goes well. Nothing to fear :)
bless my yt fyp page for bringing this to me when i needed it the most
Glad to hear that, hope it goes well!
Great advice!! You really motivated me. Thanks 🙏 😊
Thank you so much for this. This is me all over. Too afraid to try to do it and would rather watch a thousand tutorials and watch other people do it and not waste my paper. Dear Oh dear! I love your art work by the way. I ' ve got myself a set of 3 sketchbooks now that are only for practice and my so called " rubbish" and which may or may not be but it will be my books to try stuff out on that nobody but me will see. I'm hoping by the third one It will get me going and back to loving and experimenting again because I loved it. But so much has happened to grind that art work to a halt so many circumstances for so many years I had to put my art on the backburner and I missed it so much but now I have the chance to get back to it I'm suddenly terrified of it and making mistakes but I know it's by mistakes you learn. But to get rid of this fear which was so unexpected in the first place. It's grinding me to a halt again. I hope with this 3 books when I fill them with whatever. God knows what will be in them but I hope Iwill eventually throw that fear away and throw caution to the wind and enjoy it again. Thank you. Susan
I used to draw fields of Celtic knots. I have tons of them. They are all carefully measured, plotted, and curiously flat. I stopped drawing. On a whim I tried that Zentangle Six Week book. Zentangle is done with pen. After I finished that course I was shocked by how much life is in my drawings now. I find that I still overthink (and over-erase) if I start in pencil, and I wouldn't call what I do art, but I like it.
Pulled out an old brush pen I hardly ever used like so many of my art supplies and started drawing but my pen was dried up. Lesson learned: use your supplies. Draw, paint, sketch!
Oh no! That's a bummer. That's a good lesson for sure. Hope you can get another soon if you wish to.
@@SchaeferArt Yes, I plan to and hope my comment inspires others to use their pens before they dry out! Thanks for your encouraging video.
Thank you, thank you! I’ll be trying this, as I am a perfectionist, and I need to just relax!❤
Loved this. Found it so helpful. Thanks and subscribed 😊
on second thinking... this is a very useful advice... thanks a lot for sharing your point of view...i never thought from your perspective before...tnx
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. I think a lot of fear of failure in art comes from art instructors standing behind you telling you that you are 'doing it wrong'. Honestly, how do they know when they are not in your head? Thank you for this suggestion. I like it and I'm sure it will help me!
This is such beautiful advice, thank you so much ❤
i did notice i was drawing more when i had a nice brush pen. i think this is some overlooked great advice, thank you :)
Great tips 👍🏼 I like to use lined or grid paper journal.
It really helps to bump past perfectionism and brings me back to being a kid scribbling on anything just having fun.
No pressure to present 👍🏼
This actually makes a lot of sense! I'm going to add this to the exercise :)
@@princesspiranha another way is to start an empty page by dripping or splotching watercolor (or random scribbling with color pencil. Now the page is not so daunting and you’ve gotten into a fun and light mentality :)
Thankyou for those words…really helpful
this came at just the right time for me, thanks ❤
Thank you. I’ve been stuck for quite awhile now.
Hope it helps to get you unstuck a bit. You can do it! :)
Thank you…I needed this today!
Happy to help!
Thank you for these excellent suggestions!!! I will be trying them ☺️ Much appreciated!!! Gentle cuddle for your sweet little model 🐈🖋️📒
Instant subscribe, loved that vid. Thanks a lot for that advice. Never thought about that before!
Thanks for the sub! Glad it was helpful :) Be sure to check out my other videos. It would help me grow more. Much appreciated!