A Sketching Exercise to Overcome the Fear of Failure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ค. 2024
- I intuitively started doing this exercise a few years ago and I found that it helped me to overcome fear of making mistakes and also drawing with pen & ink. But I believe it can help you no matter what medium you enjoy drawing with. It's a simple exercise, so it's worth trying and seeing what it can do for you and your art.
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⌚️Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 The Exercise
2:00 How to Start
2:51 Materials
3:45 Why Use a Brushpen
4:46 The Idea Behind It
5:41 Why It's Effective
6:20 The Takeaway
7:55 Conclusion
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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!
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.
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❤️😊
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 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!" 😂
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.
I started off with pen and ink, massively helped me use any medium, same for sketch books
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.
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!!
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.👏🏼✌🏻❤️
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.
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.
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.
TH-cam 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!
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!!!
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! :)
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 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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
This is such beautiful advice, thank you so much ❤
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 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.
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.
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 😊
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 LOVE drawing my cat! I could draw her all day❤
Life is art ❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉 0:47
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 :)
this came at just the right time for me, thanks ❤
Thank you for sharing this - ❤ I really needed this
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 have always worked this way. I'll be sharing this! Thank you for putting this out here❤
I really like this idea. Thanks!
Loved this. Found it so helpful. Thanks and subscribed 😊
Gonna try it! thanks for the video
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.
Loved it, thanks for the advice and motivation
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
Thankyou for those words…really helpful
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. 🙏🏻
WoW!! What excellent advise!!
I believe this would help me and so many others! 🖋️
Thank you so much!! 🤗
This is a beautiful way to look at mistakes. Thank you
Great advice!! You really motivated me. Thanks 🙏 😊
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.
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!
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.
Good that you love your cat! I like you already for that!
Haha thank you :)
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!
This is just the thing I need! thanks!
Thank you…I needed this today!
Happy to help!
I really like this. I'll keep watching. Thank you very much😊
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!
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!
What a great idea! Im defintiely going to try this and start drawing my Chihuahua, Benny! 😆
This is a great idea. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this! 😊❤🎉
No problem 😊
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 TH-cam can actually use those fancy marker paper sketchbooks for thumbnailing: I could never.
Thank you so much for this advice! I will surely try this.
Best of luck! Have fun :)
This was really helpful. Thanks!
Glad to hear that :)
New sub. Fantastic video. Best advice I've got ever. Thanks. Can't wait to try this technique
Thanks for the sub! And glad to hear that, hope it goes well. Always remember to have fun :)
Soo cool - Thank you very much.
❤ thank you
Wonderful advice. The brush pen was a good tip and it makes total sense.
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.
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!
Awesome video. So peaceful. Great advice. Loved reading the comments. Thankyou!
Glad you enjoyed it!
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!
bless my yt fyp page for bringing this to me when i needed it the most
Glad to hear that, hope it goes well!
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!
Great video Brandon.
Thank you SchaeferArt!!
No prblem :)
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
Very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
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
Thanks bunches for this. I started a sketch book a few weeks ago and have found the exercises liberating!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, thank you! I’ll be trying this, as I am a perfectionist, and I need to just relax!❤
Thank you for these excellent suggestions!!! I will be trying them ☺️ Much appreciated!!! Gentle cuddle for your sweet little model 🐈🖋️📒
Nice! thank you 🙏
Thank you too!
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!
Thank you❤
No problem
you learn that "the more you do it, the more chances you get"
Very well said! That's so true.
It's a good practice and method to stay creative. Even your mistakes can be fixed in a unique way each time you go over them. Also, you can go wild and mix n' match the subjects, style, etc. I'm sure your cat wouldn't mind a ROBLOX head drawn out instead of her own. 😉
Thanks for the content!
Haha that is so true. I might try experimenting a lot more now that you mention it. I've also thought about what would she look like if she was all metal - like steampunk or something haha. Could be cool to try. Thank you for your thoughts and ideas! :)
Thank you so much. I needed this ❤️
No problem 😊
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!
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 underestimated this video going into it. Great content, new subscriber.
Welcome aboard! Thank you, much appreciated! :)
Thank you so much...awesome❤😊
Most welcome 😊