It’s way too easy to put off things until we think the time will be right for them.
We tend to do this even more with the things that are the most important to us.
Something important like, say, drawing regularly.
Like finally committing to making the time to practice our drawing – to do something about our long and dearly held dream to develop the artist we’ve always known we have inside us.
At least in part, we procrastinate with these things that matter so deeply to us because, if we never commit to following the dream, we never run the risk of breaking it by failing.
We can keep it always, pristine and intact.
But only ever a dream.
A long wait for a train that isn’t coming
When will the time come when everything is perfect for you, your life is in order and you have the time to draw?
When will you find yourself with an ideal place to work, with all the space and materials you need?
When will you manage to overcome the crippling procrastination that stops you getting started on your dream of becoming an artist?
When?
When things are perfect.
And when will that be?
Imperfect Starts
Imperfect starts are the only ones we have to work with.
But that’s fine. Because it will refine itself through the doing. You won’t know what you need to do until you start.
[bctt tweet=”You won’t find your path until you start to walk it”]
So, don’t worry about the long goal. Don’t worry about how much talent you have, whether you’re doing the right kind of practice, don’t worry about any of that stuff.
That’s just your fear and resistance holding you back, fear of failing and resistance to committing to your dream.
Just make that first step as small as it can be.
Why not just start by clearing a space for you to draw in every day, and preparing your stuff?
If you want some ideas for things to do to get you going, try these 6 suggestions for drawing practice projects.
Because, after all, if not now – when?
The Keys to Colour - Free 6 step email course
Learn how to:
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I really needed this nudge in my inbox today – thank you for your inspiring words.
You are more than welcome Madeleine!
You can always drop me a line at paul at learning-to-see.co.uk if you’d like a hand with getting a daily drawing habit going.
That’s very kind Paul, thank you
Nicely and simply written, Paul. I see the influence of Leo Baubauta in what you’ve written. Just recently finished his book. There are more lessons in it that could be useful to your postings. Thanks for the simple yet powerful encouragement.
Thanks Mike – that may very well be because I”m reading his book right now!
I interviewed him a little while back when he launched his kickstarter campaign – you might enjoy it:
https://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/leo-babauta-interview
Hi, Paul — Timely thoughts on a subject I’ve been focused on intently the past few months, as I ready to make the leap from safe-and-secure cubicled corporate employment to full-time painter. I’ve been listening a lot to British-born/U.S.-resident poet David Whyte, who made a firm commitment early on to be a poet and not a marine biologist/zoologist (for which he was trained), knowing that it was going to be a financial challenge and a long haul. He set out to each day do one, two, three things in furtherance of his ambition. Today he’s internationally known, widely published and recorded, and clearly beloved for his works shared with the world.
That set-up is to recount some of his chiding (of himself and anyone with ears to hear) about setting out to make The Perfect Place for Writing. The furniture must be just so, all supplies in store for the long haul, the wallpaper conducive to creativity, this account settled, that misadventure righted. The most terrifying thing for a writer, he says, is to reach the day when The Perfect Place for Writing is complete, and s/he has to, finally, face the blank page, and write. His advice is, not surprisingly, that you do not need the perfect place to write, or create anything. A few supplies, a place to stand or sit down–and all-in commitment.
The “waiting for the perfect, risk-free, convenient time” is usually little more than thinly-veiled procrastination. That is not to put down those who suffer from it, because procrastination is often based in fear and fear can be powerfully debilitating. But most of the things we fear don’t actually exist and never really happened–or at least don’t exist and aren’t happening NOW, which is the only time available for us–ever–to write and paint and draw and shoot photographs and the like.
Even if our Faulknerian writing desk hasn’t yet arrived.
Brilliant comment Steven, that’s exactly what I’m talking about. I must look up David Whyte, thanks for mentioning him.
I think we all suffer from procrastination to a greater or lesser extent, at different times. It’s natural, and not something we should feel bad about – but definitely something we should try and address if we can.
I’m really excited for you! Turning full time is the dream so many people have, and you’re doing it. Please do keep me posted on your progress, and good luck!
By the way, have you read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield? I think I linked it in the post. Great read.
I do not know of the Pressfield work but I shall seek it out.
I just came across this Sounds True interview with David Whyte, beginning with a discussion about one of the first recordings from Whyte that I was privileged to happen upon. You may find the discussion interesting: http://www.soundstrue.com/podcast/transcripts/david-whyte.php?camefromhome=camefromhome
His vocal presence is rather mesmerizing. There are plenty of YouTube videos and clips, including this short from Sounds True: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=229boZXqLMw&list=PLPUJTup3CWl-FNubuwMEZLw4itn8LLlQJ
I found the your post in my email this morning and will keep it on my desk to keep me aware of what I care about and to reinforce keeping my daily practice up. The post is great and I’m glad to have it.
Thanks Hank, I’m very glad to hear you liked it. Actually, visual triggers can be quite effective in keeping your habits going – I hope it helps you.
Thanks for this. Sometimes it is so hard to just start, even though I love painting & drawing. I feel overwhelmed & afraid, though logically that makes no sense!
PS-I use a visual reminder on my nightstand, but my rotten kitty thinks it looks better on the floor.
You’re not alone Christine, I promise you. In fact, getting started is the hardest thing about getting a regular drawing habit established.
One of the biggest barriers is just knowing what to draw. If you sit down without a plan, a big barrier to getting started is already before you. A simple daily ritual can really help with that. Try drawing a simple mandala every day to get you started, or perhaps have a go at Breathing lines:
https://www.learning-to-see.co.uk/how-to-take-the-frustration-out-of-drawing-practice
That exercise is also a great warm up, and helps you to get in the zone really quickly.
I have another exercise I call JOYS (just open your sketch pad) – reply here if you’d like a copy and I’ll email it to you as a PDF. The basic idea is to make your first step really, really simple. Just open your sketch pad every day, and write “practice completed”. Then, if you fancy it, draw something.
Getting a daily drawing habit established by making it really simple and easy to do is about the most useful thing you can do I think.
But it definitely isn’t easy!
This spoke directly to me. Well put Paul.
Thanks Andy, glad you liked it 🙂
Thank you Paul for your regular/wise/kind reminders. Seems to come to my inbox always at the right time.
Ayano, great to hear from you! why don’t you write a blog post for me about the similarities between Aikido and drawing practice? I’d be happy to post it 🙂
This is exactly what I needed to hear today. I sometimes spend more time looking for the perfect pencil, the perfect paper, the best brushes and the best book for learning to draw. Time I could have spent in actually drawing something.
And I’m just beginning to understand that the only thing that will make me get better is time, practice, hard work and drawing everyday. Even if it is just 10 minutes, it’s still 10 minutes more than 0.
So thank you for this lovely post.
That’s so true Eva.
If I might add a suggestion, too: Try to make those 10 minutes of drawing practice enjoyable, and you’ll be much more likely to return again tomorrow for another ten minutes.
yes, we need to put in some effort if we want to improve. But it should be effort that we enjoy – we also learn faster when we’re enjoying ourselves, so there’s science behind it too!
Thank you
You’re welcome Carmen.
Thank you dearly for your untireless endeavor to support and give practical help to those who love Art( I am a concert Pianist and Teacher in Retirement) and are at bliss when being devoured by this love!!! You hit the nail on the head: I am a champion at procrastinating because of my profound belief in insecurities that I have fostered for many decades. Through your support I am getting these fantasies more and more under control as I experience that their, more than invalid, “truths” are copouts.
So now, I have begun to take little steps, one by one, and take joy in the little “imperfect” Atelier that I conceived where I am able to love the lines and tuffs of colour that I place on the 2 dimensional space laying in front of me. I realize how grateful I am to have the the providence of good health and time to take up my dream and express it on paper/painting surface and my beautiful Piano. Kind Regards,
Russell
Wonderful words Russell, thank you.
Tasking joy in the daily practice is so important. And so easy to forget!
Thanks, Paul!
I’m really glad to get your email; very timely for me, and I’ve enjoyed reading the replies. I’m in the same boat as Christine, with my rotten kitty, sitting right in the middle and well away from the sides.
I love your JOYS idea, not only would it prompt me to practice but I think I’d get a giggle everyday too!
Can you fix my name?
Fixed 🙂
One of our cats (fondly know as Banjo) makes a point of sitting on my sketchpad every morning when I’m trying to do my daily practice. He’s just too cute to get annoyed at, and he knows I’m a soft touch!
Thanks Paul to wake me up as I was seriously lost my way , I was drowning and distracted by the internet mostly illustrations (nothing wrong with that ) but now realising I have to follow back my own path and my love for classic drawing and art .
Kind regards
Wow, Debora. That’s amazing.
The main thing to remember with a really big undertaking like that is to start small, initially. Try to get into a regular habit of doing something fairly simple, daily. Perhaps a bit of work n a copy of Bargue eyes, from the first plate of the book. Let me know if you don’t have a copy.
The next most important thing is to get to a point where you enjoy just the process of the practising. You need to fall in love with the daily time you send at your easel, even to the point where you forget about your long term goal. Because it’s the process that will achieve your goal for you, by itself.
Please feel free to email me if you want some help with that.
Hello! I really love this website and your words and the way you teach speak to me. Your artwork is amazing as well. I would like to learn from you. I tried to sign up to creativetriggers.com to learn and have guidance and the support of a group but I couldn’t because the suscription is closed. I’m sad because I know it would be great for me to get into it and learn from you daily. Is there any way to sign up? 🙂
I emailed you about it but looks like I’m having problems with the email and maybe it didn’t go through. I can try to resend it if you didn’t receive it.
Thanks for everything. Keep up your awesome artwork, words of wisdom and drawing lessons! 🙂
Hi Veronica,
Thanks you so much for the kind words!
Creative Triggers is actually open for new members – I must have left an old page up somewhere which I’ll have to find and remove.
You can sign up by clicking this link:
http://creativetriggers.com/landing-page2/
I’m really sorry if I missed you email, I do try to get to them all but sometimes I miss one here and there.
Hey Hi Paul!!
I recently stumbled on your blog and I am very glad that I did. Thank you dearly for your inspiring words and your tireless endeavor to help those who love Art. – Anand
Thanks you Anand!