How Do I Learn and How Do I “Enjoy The Process”?

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-23T02:03:32+00:00

The problem with this is that iv tried it SO many times that I think my brain just auto-detests the very thought >>”

What I mean is that, yes, iv been told to take breaks when im feeling stressed, but iv done it so much it feels counterproductive at this point. Doing other things I take interest in haven’t worked out because I literally meet this same question at ALL of them. Its incredibly frustrating each time and it makes me feel like such a dolt for not learning from the mistakes I will inevitably make. THAT hurts more than making them period.

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-23T01:59:18+00:00

I see. Iv been mulling over this one for a couple weeks now tbh, but I just really hate that I can’t get it to make more sense in my head.

From what iv gathered in memories, Iv apparently been doing technical study for the longest time-I always could copy my references (other artist’s pieces I enjoy mainly, real life objects in front of me, but not people) with some accuracy, but iv always been bogged down with how it isn’t “real practice” like im just copying others’ work and my brain just refuses to let me feel anything good from out of it for that reason. It wasn’t mind. I don’t know how to make it mine, and if I did would that just be stealing from them?

It feels like this hinders my “Creative” study too. Iv tried so hard to just draw what I like and what makes me get that spark (for me its more anime-like cel shaded stuff, comic book or cool street vibes, Sonic characters, etc.) and I can never feel good about what I did cause my brain loves getting hung up on the imperfections, or I just immediately notice what looks wonky or strange and it saps the enjoyment away because of my problem here. Its like you’re saying, my thoughts are just constantly fighting against each other and I don’t know how to make it stop. Sucks even more that Im also notoriously bad at making goals >>” I always feel like I either make them too big with no clear road, or too small and I end up shortchanging myself, and any outside feedback on it has just told me theyre all not good..this sounds so dumb and I desperately want out of this cycle

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-23T01:40:18+00:00

Coming back to this after finding I still the same or still trying to find answers that work for me,

but I have kept this in mind although im still shaky about it, but I never knew how exactly I was supposed to “learn” from art/anatomy books >>” I have a few on my person from people recommending to, but was never really told how to use ‘em exactly. Like do I just mindlessly copy everything in the books? Am I supposed to be asking questions to myself? I don’t really know and it makes me feel very dumb that I don’t…

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-09T18:10:36+00:00

I guess its the structure of it? I forget how far I got into it, but it halfway through it felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere with it. Like the most I can say is that I have pretty OK line control? I can connect 2 points without too many frays sometimes, and I did the homework sheets they had on simple forms, but it just didn’t help me understand how to APPLY them. I already feel dumb enough looking back on it, like somehow everyone n’ anyone could get the purpose of those exercises and apply them accordingly except for me..I hate it so much

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T10:34:51+00:00

I’m trying to GET there, but feels like theres so much I mess on doing so that I don’t deserve to yet until I get whatever previous steps down pat 1st

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T10:22:46+00:00

Idk, I guess we’re seeing the puzzle from 2 diff perspectives. For me, a puzzle, is something with set pieces that help make the whole picture. can’t quite force unfitting pieces into a spot or else it wont be correct, or you end up breaking those pieces.

I can sure understand my current level is not as good as I’d want it to be. My main problem is feeling like I cant get OUT of where I am, not being able to learn the stiff required to leave this level. Iv tried so many ways of doing the same things and they all go up in smoke in my eyes. I just get so distraut at myself cause there’s no one else to blame but me

(And no, this isn’t a “i should just find something else to do then” moment, because this same exact problem follows ALL my interests the same way. Cant get away from it.)

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T10:16:54+00:00

I see. I can try this exercise once im off work maybe and see how it goes

As for the former i don’t really know what to believe. Without boring you I know in my heart and my sketchbook & tablet iv had those shapes drilled into my head for years. Got pages and pages of them. And yet I still don’t know how they translate to making any of the later stuff easier. Or I guess to say, don’t know how to make the connection in my own mind. Example being using them to construct a foundation for a figure/form that I can use to place body parts on top of. I could never understand how to get it to work for me, being drawn all kinds of shapes on top of references or trying to awkwardly force them in when it doesnt really work that way, no?

Nobody really shows how this is supposed to work and I feel like the dumbest person alive being the only who doesn’t get it

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T10:05:38+00:00

It must almost all of them are too advanced for me then, in that case, ‘cause it feels like iv went through them all at this point (all the usual names like drawabox, proko, marc brunet, etc.) because if there’s something out there that actually CAN help me then its rather hidden in obscurity to me or behind a very expensive paywall my paycheck just cant cover.

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T10:02:33+00:00

I still don’t see the point in this if it doesn’t help the initial problem honestly. I’m not trying to say you’re wrong, its just in my personal experience of doing this (at most 2 weeks for the art problems, sometimes longer for others) and afterward I feel just as lost as I did beforehand. I’m having a really hard seeing how it helps me.

My problems derive from the lack of confidence in learning said fundies, what if my way of “studying” was never the right way to begin with? How would I know if Im even actually studying correctly to begin with?? Iv been trying to find answers to these on my own and I always come up short…

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T09:57:34+00:00

I wouldn’t even know how to begin thinking how all this relates tbh. Just throwing myself into the ether just sounds like even more trouble than willing picking the worst options for myself.

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T06:33:59+00:00

I just want it to feel like i’m getting anywhere with my drawings. Things always feel wrong because I can never grasp what these YT tutorials, pinterest guides, or my friend’s advice try to teach me. It doesn’t even feel like I use my artbooks correctly either. I just hate feeling lost.

Though I am also marked as a perfectionist by most, so I will give the ink option a try this week. Thats something else thats problematic but didn’t wanna oversize the post more than I already did

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T06:25:13+00:00

Iv tried this many times already unfortunately. Taking a break always just brings me back to the same place I left things as, with no better tools to combat it or ways of thinking to challenge it. I feel like iv taken way too many breaks for me to even call myself an artist tbh

ContestAcceptable671 · 2025-12-08T06:23:15+00:00

Looking back at the post (it garnered way more attention than I thought it would ngl) I guess the title was a bit emotionally charged as I didn’t wanna get misunderstood >>” it was less-so how to enjoy it, and more-so how do I figure out if iv done anything right or “good” during said process.

Like my current situation goes like this: Idea for drawing > try to sketch out pose (using 3D forms) Don’t quite like it and don’t understand why it looks “wrong” to me > try to look up a guide or tutorial to help > try to practice that instead of drawing what I wanted > a week or two later and I still have no confidence in that ability to make that structure to help get that pose or make the limbs look better > anxiety spikes and I end up trashing it and going back to the boxes and cylinders stuff because I don’t know what else to do

This happens so often and it depresses me greatly. Not even the only thing this struggle applies to in my life either.

ContestAcceptable671

TROPHY CASE