The Problem With Starting Anything (And How to Overcome It)
Hello everyone! I hope you’re doing great.
Today, I want to talk about a topic that’s been on my mind for a long time—one of the biggest hurdles that keeps me from drawing as often as I’d like.
It’s this: whenever I start drawing, the result doesn’t look as good as I imagined. This leaves me feeling frustrated, disappointed, and, ultimately, demotivated to continue. Sound familiar? Let’s dive into why this happens and how to push through it.
Your Taste Outpaces Your Skills
When you’re starting a new hobby—like drawing—you often come into it with a pre-developed sense of what “good” looks like. If you’re into video games, manga, or anime, you’ve likely been exposed to incredible artwork created by highly skilled professionals. Over time, you develop a taste for what you consider good, bad, or great art (based on your personal preferences).
Here’s the catch: you usually develop this refined taste before you even pick up a pencil to start your first sketch.
This creates a disconnect. As a beginner, your skills don’t yet match the level of art you admire. And that’s where the frustration begins.
The Gap Between Imagination and Reality
Here’s what happens: you start drawing, whether from a reference or from your imagination. In your mind, the image is beautiful, detailed, and exactly how you want it to look. But as soon as you put pencil to paper, the result falls far short of what you envisioned.
This can be incredibly frustrating. You think, “Why can’t my hands translate what’s in my head?” Worse, you might not even know what’s going wrong or how to fix it.
This mismatch between your imagination and reality is a common struggle for beginners. But here’s the thing: it’s completely normal.
Keep Going, Even When It’s Bad
When you’re starting out, you need to expect that your early attempts won’t be perfect. Your taste is already high, but your skills are just beginning to develop. That’s why it’s so important to push through the initial stages, even when the results aren’t great.
Here’s the truth: you might create one decent drawing out of every ten or twenty attempts. But as you keep practicing, your skills will improve. You’ll start noticing details you missed before, and you’ll learn valuable lessons along the way.
Over time, your skills will begin to catch up to your taste. If you track your progress, you’ll see a dramatic difference between your first drawing and your five-hundredth.
The Takeaway
Starting anything new—whether it’s drawing, writing, or learning a new skill—is hard. The gap between where you are and where you want to be can feel overwhelming. But remember: every great artist was once a beginner.
The key is to keep going, even when it’s frustrating. Celebrate small wins, learn from your mistakes, and trust the process. Your skills will improve, and one day, your creations will match the vision in your mind.
So, pick up that pencil, embrace the imperfections, and keep drawing. Your future self will thank you.
