masonm32•6mo ago

Finished my first sketchbook, but hesitated to show the messy pages

Showing raw work feels honest but scary.

3 comments

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3 Comments

joels746mo ago

My first sketchbook was full of terrible figure drawings. The messy pages are actually the most interesting part to look back on. They show where you started and how you figured things out. Posting a few of those ugly pages is way more real than just the polished final pieces.

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patriciab876mo ago

Totally get that fear, but @joels74 is right that the messy pages show growth. Honestly though, sharing them isn't just for later you, it helps other artists feel less alone now.

6

brian_thompson6mo ago

Actually, showing the messy work changes how you see your own art later too. It stops you from only chasing perfect finished pieces and lets you value the figuring-out part. Lol, I used to hide all my bad pages and it made me hate drawing for a while. Putting the ugly stuff out there kinda takes its power away, and you stop being so scared of making bad art. It's not just about other people feeling better, it helps you get better faster because you're not hiding from your own process.

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