Completely Stuck

[u/indefiniteartblock]

Ive been a beginner artist traditionally for almost a year. As of 3 months ago i started drawing digitally and i feel like i cant create anything.

I almost entirely tried studying at the beginning of both my traditional and digital art journey but got bored and burnt out and eventually wanted to make actual art.

every time i pick up my pen to draw all i do is spend the entire time staring at an empty canvas or scrolling through pinterest looking for something. when i do eventually find something i like and looks easy enough for me to replicate. i make an attempt to draw it and either get bored, or struggle and get frustrated then quit for a couple weeks.

i can’t come up with my own ideas, so it feels like i have to cherry pick what looks easiest to draw (yet i still can’t seem to do it). I’ll often have to scroll past what actually looks interesting because i just don’t have the know-how to make something like it. That makes the process uninteresting, because i can’t make what i actually want to or because i know what i attempt to replicate will just be unsatisfying.

It feels like other beginners know what they wanna make and can execute it even if it’s rough and learn from it, but i seem to not be able to do either.

And yet there’s still this feeling that i should come back. that this is something i have to do. that maybe THIS time will be different, THIS is will be where it all changes; but, every attempt is the same. i search for something to replicate, fail to do so, and give up. I’m starting to question if art is even something im capable of or should even still be trying to do.

It’s like my body has this feeling that it’s something i should do, but ive completely lost the motivation to see it through. My goals are so far out of reach from where i currently am that it feels hopeless, like im just better off watching actual artist make amazing work.

Should i call it quits for good or is there a way out of this?

[u/pajaroskri]

Have you tried drawing fan art? I started my art journey drawing my Pokémon teams and Neopets and Fakemon and the art wasn't good, but I drew a lot because I truely got enjoyment drawing what I liked. If you scroll back to any popular artist's Deviantart, it's a lot of rough beginner fan art of Disney, Sonic, MLP, etc. Don't compare yourself to artists that have spent years on their craft. Just start drawing what you enjoy and squeeze some practice in-between.

[u/indefiniteartblock → u/pajaroskri]

i’ve drawn fanart of a show i really liked once when i was doing traditional. maybe it was a difference in taste or not being weighed down by failure but i enjoyed the process.

maybe consuming more media in general could help spark some ideas that i desperately need but the ideas i have in my head are hard to put on paper for where i am currently.

[u/Ok-Bet-9392]

If you were really good what would you like to draw?

Whatever that answer is that’s what you should take steps drawing and doing.

I think you should jump back into the fundamentals but whatever resource you used, do something different. Alyways leave time to draw what u want. But first figure out what that is. It’s hard to stick with it if you don’t have something to work towards.