Drawing is one of those skills that many people think they can do, but very few actually do well. Why is that?
Well, there are several reasons why some people can’t seem to get the hang of it, and we’re looking at 11 of them. So keep reading to find out.
Why Do I Suck At Drawing?
1. Never Learned The Basics
One of the main reasons why people suck at drawing is because they never learned the basics. Drawing is a skill; you must learn it like any skill. If you’ve never had formal training or practice, then it’s no wonder you can’t draw very well.
To hone your skills, you need to start with the basics. Learn how to hold a pencil correctly, make basic shapes, and so on. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can move on to more complex drawings.
One of the keys to drawing success is to practice, practice, practice. The more you draw, the better you’ll become at it.
Try starting out tracing images, whether they be from comics, magazines, or coloring books. This will help you get a feel for creating images on paper. Once you’re comfortable with that, start practicing freehand drawing.
2. Lack Of Imagination
Another reason people may suck at drawing is that they lack imagination, which is a common problem among children but can also affect adults.
If you want to improve your drawing skills, you need to use your imagination more. Rather than trying to copy an image from a book or photo, try to create your own images.
Use your imagination to create original characters, animals, landscapes, and so on. The more you exercise your imagination, the easier it will be to draw what’s in your head.
If you’re left-handed, you likely have a natural advantage in using your imagination. That’s not to say that right-handed people can’t be imaginative, but lefties tend to have an edge in this department.
3. Trying To Copy Others
Another common mistake is trying to copy other artists’ styles, which is a surefire way to end up with subpar drawings.
While it’s OK to look at other artists for inspiration, you should never try to copy their style directly. Develop your own way of drawing, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Once you develop your own style, you can move on to incorporating other artists’ styles into your work.
But it’s important to remember that you first need to learn how to draw before you try copying another style or work.
4. Not Paying Attention To Details
One of the hallmark signs of a bad artist is not paying attention to details. If you want to improve your drawings, you must start paying more attention to the small details.
This means things like adding shadows, highlights, and other effects to give your drawings more depth and realism. Without these details, your drawings will look flat and lifeless.
5. Using The Wrong Tools
Another mistake that people make is using the wrong tools for their drawings. For example, some people try to draw with too hard or too soft pencils, which can make it difficult to get the right results.
It’s important to use the right pencils, pens, and other supplies for your drawings, and this will make it easier to get the results you want.
Inadequate tools can make the difference between a good drawing and a bad one. You might not have access to the best supplies, but you can still get decent results using the right tools.
So work with what you have to start. As you become more proficient at drawing, you can then upgrade your supplies.
6. Lack Of Perspective
Perspective is essential to drawing, but many people don’t know how to use it correctly, resulting in drawings that look distorted or off balance.
Even if you can draw other objects and characters with incredible accuracy, your drawings will suffer if you don’t know how to use perspective correctly.
Take the time to learn about perspective and how to use it in your drawings. This will take your drawings to the next level and make them look more professional.
The difference that proper perspective makes will likely amaze you.
7. Afraid To Make Mistakes
Many people are afraid to make mistakes when they’re drawing. As a result, they end up with safe, boring drawings.
Don’t be afraid to experiment and make mistakes, and it’s the only way you’ll learn and improve.
As Bob Ross famously repeated over and over, there are only “happy mistakes.” So use your mistakes as learning opportunities, and don’t be afraid to make them.
Every artist makes mistakes, but great artists are the ones who learn from their mistakes and use them to improve their work.
8. No Patience
Patience is key when it comes to drawing. You’ll likely get frustrated and give up if you’re not patient.
Drawing takes time, so you need patience if you want to improve. Don’t expect to become a master overnight; it takes years of practice to become a great artist.
Don’t let it discourage you; rather, use it as a chance to grow. Your patience will eventually pay off.
9. Drawing Too Fast
Many people try to draw too fast, leading to sloppy results. If you want to improve your drawings, you must slow down and take time.
Rushing through your drawings will only lead to frustration. So take your time and focus on each line and detail.
This ties in with patience. The more patient you are, the better your drawing ability naturally improves.
10. Not Studying Anatomy
One of the most important aspects of drawing is anatomy. Your drawings will look strange if you don’t know how to draw the human body correctly.
You need to study anatomy if you want to improve your drawings. This means learning about things like muscle groups, bones, and proportions.
To achieve this, you can take classes, read books, or look at magazine illustrations. There are many art books dedicated to human anatomy that you can use to practice.
It might surprise you to learn how complex the human body is. But the more you study, the easier it will be to draw it correctly.
11. You Lack Confidence
Many people lack confidence in their abilities, which can hold them back from becoming great artists. It won’t be easy to improve if you don’t believe in yourself.
You need to have confidence in your abilities if you want to succeed. So believe in yourself and don’t give up on your dreams.
One way to gain confidence is to practice often. The more you draw, the better you’ll become. So keep at it and don’t give up.
As you start to get good at drawing specific shapes, characters, or images, you will begin to notice that you are more confident in your ability to draw.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why the Mona Lisa is so expensive, why Picasso is famous, and why people hum.
Conclusion
If you constantly ask yourself, “Why do I suck at drawing?” it’s time to take a step back and assess your situation.
It could be any number of things holding you back, but don’t despair. You can improve your drawing skills with a little effort and practice.