Module One: Get Nostalgic
It’s important to remember the first time you started drawing…and I mean really started enjoying it. It’s impossible to recall the very first time, but I invite you to go back to those times you got lost in it. Before you noticed you were kind of good at it, before someone complimented your art, way before you even knew it was a possible career path.
Remember when it felt like hours could go by and you wouldn't notice? Remember when it felt like you could draw anything in the world? Maybe you were someone that liked to fill the page, or maybe you were the kind to make a complete image. Wasn't that so much fun? Why do you think that stopped?
Yeah, that's right, negative experiences, critiques, perfectionism, time crunches—the list could go on and on. This course isn’t about getting you perfect or efficient. This is all about letting the joy back in and how we can get you to feel that more often on a regular basis.
If you have old pieces of work from your childhood, I invite you to take a look through and check out all those silly doodles or paintings you may have done. Art projects, coloring pages, fan art, even things you traced. Your voice and unique hand are in all of those, growing, sprouting like a little flower, just like you! If you don’t, that is okay; check out your oldest drawings, even if they are from recent years—the same thing applies. Don’t be ashamed of flaws, bad proportions, lack of color theory, and line work. Who cares? You had fun, right? And it led you to the current skill set you have now. Be proud. In this next section I want you to keep all of this in mind because we’re going to dive into some questions… Possibly ones you never thought about. Reminder, the intent here is to find those moments of joy, not critique yourself!
Many of us go through experiences in life that either encourage us or discourage us from pushing forward in our hobbies. It can start as early as having a bad teacher, a rude remark, or believing there was no way for you to evolve as an artist.
For example, my kindergarten teacher pulled my artwork up in front of everyone as a negative example of what NOT to do. At the time I was very proud of what I drew. Can you imagine how that could have damaged some potential? Your mind soaks up a lot of things whether you are conscious of it or not. When it comes to visual arts, it’s amplified. Due to the vulnerability of displaying what’s going on in your head right on paper (or insert where you paint/draw on), it is a very intimate experience that should be handled with care. A lot of times, prematurely, as artists, we assume our imagination will be as respected and carefully considered by others just as we do ourselves. The harsh truth is, though I believe that anyone can learn to draw, not everyone is inherently an artist and literally cannot see your vision even if you showed it straight in their face. That is not a reflection on you, your skillset, or your potential. That is quite literally just the nature of being in the arts. The great news is, just as much as people are indifferent to your work, there will be people that go mad over it. BUT, yes, but, you don’t need to worry about that. Once you focus on expanding the moments in your work that you actually enjoy, you will find yourself getting that reflected back to you. Whatever is discouraging you is quite literally blocking you from that ever happening. Some of these discouraging moments can be HUGE, from losing a design job or being rejected for an internship (I hear yeah on that one) to maybe as small as a friend changing the subject when you showed them your OC. Those moments are not, and will not be, the end game for you. Those experiences linger in the back of your mind as defense mechanisms your brain goes to to keep you safe. Right here, right now, you don’t have to play it safe. You are allowed to be loud and proud with what you do. As you go further into this course, I will teach you some of the ways you might not be allowing yourself to get out of your safe bubble. For now, check out this section’s journal and really take your time.
Make sure you download the Module One journal PDF! Take your time, be honest, and get as clear as you can!
FUTURE NOSTALGIA
I know it can be extremely easy to believe, “I started so late, I should be good by now.” Listen here, no matter where you start or what you do, everyone was a first-timer at SOMETHING. This is my first official digital class. I felt like an idiot spending hours in a cafe writing, then video editing, then rewriting again a bunch of stuff I had no idea anyone would even read, but every time I saw someone on Reddit complain about how much they hated their art, I was pushed. You have that same thing going on. Yes. Something inside you wants to keep going no matter what; lean into that. You may think there’s no point in continuing, but you are starting at the perfect time in the perfect place. Think back to the time you absolutely first started drawing. You most likely didn’t care that a 5-year-old was drawing realistic portraits of Rihanna, did you? You were present, you were there, aligned, interested, and anticipating. That's what it's supposed to feel like. It may not be every time you draw, but it is possible to feel that way most of the time, no matter if you like the finished product or not. There are so many sticker designs and commissions I enjoyed drawing but had to scrap. Think of it like you’re a film director; not every scene will make the final cut for theaters. You will look back at those “deleted” scenes in bliss and smile when you see just how much the artwork changed to get to the final product. You can even document it if you want. Right now, your current skill set should be cherished. Don’t be ashamed of your work; it will be your future nostalgia.
Don’t forget! If you want an even more intimate guide to go along this course, read through the Ebook as well!