Do you notice yourself sticking to the same familiar subjects or techniques, afraid to venture out of your comfort zone? It is time to take a step forward and tackle your weaknesses head-on.
Just like how school-aged kids tend to study what they already know before a test, many artists tend to shy away from drawing what is difficult for them. However, avoiding these challenges only holds you back from reaching your full potential. By taking the time to focus on what you struggle with, you can learn to overcome it and become a better artist.
It is important to realize that anything you are not good at can be learned. Whether it’s selecting the right colors, completing a drawing, or mastering a specific detail, there’s always room for improvement. By zeroing in on your weaknesses and dedicating time towards improving them, you can see significant growth in your skills and confidence as an artist.
One way to push yourself towards improvement is through a challenge.
By setting a goal for yourself, you can track your progress and see how far you have come.
Back in April of 2019, I was starting to feel like my skill level had plateaued and I wanted to push myself to the next level. I set a challenge for myself to draw 20 tulips in one month. I decided to draw, record my process and post 20 tulip drawings on Instagram using the hashtag #20TulipsforApril.
Challenges like these can have a significant impact on your skill level and you might find that you improve more in one month than you have in a long time.
It is important to note that not every tulip I drew as apart of my challenge was a success. Some were duds but because I had a goal, I just put those aside and moved on to the next drawing. As a result of my 20 tulips challenge, my confidence as a colored pencil artist improved significantly. I had so much fun, in fact, that I repeated the challenge in 2020. I have gained so much confidence drawing tulips that I am working on a series of 6 large-scale tulip drawings this spring. One of which, is the pink tulip featured on this post.
Remember, when you resist something, you only give it more power over you. Don’t let your weaknesses in art determine what you are capable of drawing. Instead, take on the challenge and work on improving until your confident in your abilities. And who knows, you might just become known for drawing something you once struggled with.
Create a challenge for yourself!
Think of something that is holding you back as an artist and create a challenge that will force you to focus on it.
Be sure to make it fun! Add some whimsy if you can. Nobody wants an extra chore. This should be something you are excited about.
Good luck!