_____ and sketching
As a sketcher for more than decades, I would like to share some of my thoughts and observations regarding drawing.
Talent and sketching
“You are so talented!”
Let’s say if talent exists, no everyone will make use of it. The good news is practice let people without the talent play the game.
The fact is both people will need to do something to improve and even evolve something small into big.
Productivity and sketching
People are tempted to work hard, to produce as many pieces of artwork as possible because it is one of the very positive sensations of “I did it!”. Unfortunately, it won’t last long.
We need to create a positive loop effortlessly instead of pushing too hard.
Social recognition and sketching
Picture yourself in a private view of your art exhibition in a gallery with a glass of red wine, surrounded by many people talking about your masterpiece. This may spark you up to start drawing by creating a new social media account and showing your artwork. If you don’t fancy that, it is still inevitable that any kind of people will encourage you to sell your work and even become an artist.
There is nothing wrong with linking art with business and reputation because of the trend, but it is just one of the possibilities that you don’t need to commit. It’s normal that if you don’t sell your artworks. It’s also normal that your artworks won’t sell well under the circumstances that you are very good at drawing and you have been already recognised. It’s not your fault when not selling well or not having prosperous career development.
It’s always nice to hear from others, but sometimes even positive feedbacks can distract us from sketching.
Solitude and sketching
It’s always lovely to meet amazing people, be inspired and appreciated during sketching events. People can be more determined to continue sketching under such social support.
A critical question lies here: Will you stop sketching when these events are no longer held? Will you still be passionate when being alone?
An artist must make time for the long periods of solitude
Solitude is extremely important
—Walk Through Walls: A Memoir by Marina Abramović
Mental well-being and sketching
Outcomes of sketching can shape and value ourselves. Looking at the beautiful artworks we worked hard on is a kind of psychological reward that makes us more motivated and confident to do more. We refer to others’ feedbacks too!
We do also judge if there is room for improvement, or if we need to stop for a while or even give up.
But we always overlook the process — the experience of sketching itself — how you feel when doing it. Being painful or calm? Does drawing make me more satisfied (the optimal psychological state called flow)?
