Drawing is Hard: 3 Epic Ways To Overcome It

Everyone is a master artist. Most people across the world can paint portraits at Sergeant’s level. However, three doors down, my neighbor can render paintings better than the Hudson River School alums.

In all honesty, these claims are outrageous and silly.

So the question remains: Is it all about the secrets of the “Old Masters,” or drawing is hard?

I wanted to start this article with over-the-top claims. I did this because many people wish for things and never understand what it means to achieve something worthy.

People complain drawing is hard but fail to realize the beauty in the “hard.” What would you be rewarded with if it was as easy as being a couch potato?

Okay, that was rhetorical. You don’t have to answer it.

Considering you’re one of my readers, I will assume two things about you: First, you acknowledge drawing is hard and brutally dreadful at times.

Second, you understand there is hope, and you can become the artist you desire regardless of negative people with their parasitical attitude (and your mind) telling you otherwise.

And because you’re fantastic, and we both agree, sharing this post with your friends would be superb.

All jokes aside, sharing is caring, so please do share if I am somewhat helpful. 

Back to why drawing is hard, and boy, injecting that statement was rough.

To explain why drawing is hard, let me tell you about the belly of disappointment. And no, not like an upset stomach. Keep on reading.

Good Example of Why Drawing is Hard

Belly of Disappointment

Real growth. The graph below represents how growth takes place.

Quick note: In the graph above, I prefer to call it the “Belly of Disappointment” because it looks like a belly. And nobody likes a belly. But the original name is called the “Valley of Disappointment.”

Back on topic, let’s use art as an example.

As you begin to work on your sketches, the beginning stages are pretty exciting. It can be a magical experience as you experiment and express yourself through art.

If you are one of those exceptional people who continue to strive forward with persistence—unlike most people who drop like flies the moment they feel resistance due to growth—something uncomfortable occurs.

Your hard work (sketches in this example) continues to look the same, if not worse and worse.

If you reach this point without giving up, you will notice this part causes many negative mental experiences.

Your mind could be spinning with doubtful thoughts. It feels like you have hit a wall, and no actual growth is taking place.

Fortunately, the very opposite is happening.

You are growing, but the results are not visible at this stage. This is called the “belly of disappointment,” as shown in the above graph.

Just as there are no straight lines in the universe, your growth path will move in an arc regardless of your chosen course.

Now the question remains, how long do you spend in that belly?

Let’s demonstrate a few examples.

You wish to improve at sketching people from life and creating your characters from imagination.

Sketching people can be broken down into several categories: Drawing people in everyday situations, be it at coffee shops, during bus and metro rides, or dining at your local cafeterias; life drawing classes and online images and videos.

To go one step deeper, books on anatomy for artists can help you understand how God created such complex designs.

The other part is to exercise your imaginative pistons. You are getting those neurons firing in your brain. You can use reference images of costumes, people, armor, expressions, poses, and more.

Or no reference if you wish.

Then the goal is the come up with your creation. You are creating characters and telling a story based on your narrative.

This will force your brain to use all you learned from your studies. Specifically, character life drawing.

Not to burst your bubble, but the results will be terrible initially. It’s expected due to your untrained, weak creative muscles.

The good news is it will get better and better over time.

Back to Belly. I just listed two examples that focused on sketching characters and people.

Imagine adding to that massive pile above additional work, such as perspective sketches—ranging from architecture for a fantasy world to hand-held product and vehicle design.

If that’s not too heavy, let’s add painting. And if painting, what medium are we talking about?

Let’s say oils and watercolor. Now each of those mediums has ample learning curves.

I am not trying to scare you but to show that the more goals you go after at once, the thinner you will spread yourself and the longer you will spend in the belly of disappointment before fruitful results can be seen.

You are welcome to go after what you wish, but I recommend limiting your choices until you are comfortable with each stage.

Now that you know about the belly of disappointment and how limiting your goals can be helpful at first, let me tell you about another bane—the Dip.

The Dip: Why Drawing is Hard

Doritos dip, anyone? No. I am not talking about those yummy dips. Instead, this is an overview of what stage most people quit.

How growth works. We all start with that initial stage where we are super excited and on fire, almost unstoppable.

After several months of investing your time, money, and energy into your project, doubt creeps into your mind. You realize, in this case, drawing is hard, and you have plenty to learn.

You are left in a confused state where it feels like you can’t find the answers to your dream project. Nobody can understand where you come from and what you’re going through.

And then that ugly best friend we all have—depression—starts to creep in and slowly take over your mind. Leaving you in such a negative state that every opportunity seems like a problem and a hindrance in your path.

Then you quit—where most people leave their dreams—the quit Isles.

If you ever feel a strong urge to quit, I hope you can remember this post and the advice I will share with you.

Accept your situation. It’s not over just yet, and all you’ve gone through up to this point were necessary. You have to make all those mistakes and run into countless obstacles.

How else would you learn and grow?

Once you accept your current situation, start exploring new ideas and angles. Maybe write what has worked thus far and what seems useless.

Maybe think of your 80/20 rule. What is the 20 percent of what you do that has given you the 80 percent results? And vice versa. Then do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.

Continue exploring, planning, and executing.

Which all leads to testing your concepts and then getting feedback on them. I know it can be challenging, but it’s called growth and well worth it once you accomplish your goals.

Then finally, as you begin to see some results, it will boost your confidence. That confidence will help carry you through this cycle that will repeat over and over regardless of your success.

I know drawing is hard, and we won’t become professionals overnight; however, taking the valuable lessons shared in this post and continuing to persist in your art dreams will go a long way.

Before you tackle your hard drawing tasks, here are my final words for today.

Conclusion

The rapid emotional ups and downs and being stuck “in the belly of disappointment” is just noise. Ignore it. The negative emotions we experience are normal and can be controlled through understanding it’s all part of the process.

Art is a beautiful expression of our inward thoughts and emotions. And what you learned today from “The Dip” and Belly of Disappointment” can apply to all areas of your life. 

Stay focused on your long-term vision. Help spread this post by sharing it and go tackle that hardest thing to draw you’ve dreaded to face.