How to make Drawing fun?

[Nitelini]

This is my issue, Drawing isn't fun, it's something I do and that's it! I like to see tutorials and so on but it just doesn't feel fun,

Why is this an issue?

Recently I started playing Pump it up in the Arcade (you know the dance machine), I've never played that game before, and it was really fun and eventually I got good at it, not insanely good, but fairly good. And why did this happened? because I practiced, and why did I do that? because it was fun!

the same happens to me when playing an instrument, Is not that fun, but it certainly is more entertaining this helps me to practice and keep me interested, but drawing, I dunno, it just doesn't feel that fun.

I'd like to make drawing fun.

Have you ever encountered this issue? Does drawing seems like a really fun activity for you? do you do something especial to feel more compelled when drawing? Help me out guys, I want to improve but I can't find the time nor motivation to draw D:

[skicoak]

Just my opinion, but the activity itself can be zen, stress relieving, cathartic.....but no it isn't exactly fun.

And unlike playing an instrument or other activities, it can take a considerable span of time to go from starting a picture...and then maybe finishing it. You don't get the rewards instantly.... you get them after the result is reveled.

I have not helped at all.

[KoreanTacos]

To me I view drawing as a sport, you don't start good, you practice and get better each time you get on the field. I like to try and challenge myself to get better with each non work session. I generally enjoy making the characters I have in my head a reality, giving them a personality only I can do, and because of that I seek to improve myself. Not to sound cold hearted, but if you don't enjoy making art, and don't already know a way to make it fun yourself then perhaps you shouldn't draw. I'm not trying to tell you off, it's just a general human need, and if you don't like what you're doing, don't do it. Drawing is a creative outlet, that alone should be the most entertaining aspect of it. Hopefully you'll find a solution to your problem, at the end of the day, it's about doing something that makes you happy right?

[SleepingPoppy]

I suggest trying a class! If you're not motivated to draw on your own, see if being in a more formal setting helps. Spend some time thinking about the process, and not just the results, too, because you're really the only one that can figure out whats fun for you. Also, don't just try drawing! Paint! Make pots! Learn to felt! Pick up some charcoal! Experiment!

[Buurd]

Personally drawing for me ISN'T always fun. It can be a lot of work to learn to draw, it can be very frustrating not having the skills to put the image in your head onto paper the way you imagined. But, I liked the challenge of learning. I found artists I admired, and strive to get there someday. So I guess I ended up enjoying the challenge of it? Though not everyday is the same as another haha, I have my ups and downs.

I think the content you draw can also change your enjoyment. I began drawing by doing fanart of my favorite books/shows. Because I already enjoyed the original work, it made it fun to create something for it. Now, working on my comic is fun for me (sometimes lmao) because I get to bring my own characters/stories to life. And on top of content, art style and mediums can play a role. One of the things I miss about having art class is being pushed to try new things. Sometimes I hated it, other times I had a lot of fun learning and experimenting with something new ^^

Bottom line is however, if you try these things and you're still not enjoying it - maybe just don't do art? If you're not enjoying it, I think it's best to just spend your time doing something you do enjoy. Like anything in life - If I have the option between a genre of music i like and forcing myself to listen to something I don't really like, I'm going to listen to something I like haha, there's nothing wrong with that.

[Pandastrophic]

Maybe you need to try different mediums, like painting with watercolours or acrylics, trying markers, different types of digital art and maybe you'll find those activities fun.
Im kinda wondering why you want to draw if you don't find it fun? Because for me drawing is fun, especially drawing my own illustrations or making my comic, its a creative outlet. I guess i dont understand why you'd do something as time-consuming as art if you don't find some fun in creating it (whether thats the end result or the process)

[dawgofdawgness]

I think the best advice I can give you is: when you see a really cool art piece (or animation, or comic, or scene, etc), dont just sit there and think “man.. one day I’d like to be able to do that”. Literally just DO it. Take out a piece of paper, open your animation software, get out your tablet and keep trying to do that “thing” that inspired you until you get it. This is how to make improving fun. Even if you aren’t able to get that “thing” down immediately (and trust me, most people don’t) you WILL improve. Art is a skill you have to build. And when you improve, you get more motivated to do more. It becomes fun!

Another piece of advice: draw things you like (duh). But seriously, if there’s a character design you really like, or a celebrity you’ve been gushing over, draw them! Not everything has to be a study or a still life. Just create.

[Luminosophy]

If you don't have any goals that give you purpose you might have a hard time. By goals I don't mean career, but like "projects". Wanting to learn how to draw to make a comic is one. Learning how to draw to create illustrations of a certain kind is another. Maybe try to be specific and think about exactly what you intend to achieve with it.

[spenserw0042]

I totally struggle with this too. Sometimes drawing is a chore, and it sucks!

The best example I can think of is when I first started my comic. I burned myself out because I was charging ahead with basically no plan to speak of. I was making up each comic on the fly and it led to this story that I didn't care about that was pretty far removed from my original vision.

Maybe try to be specific and think about exactly what you intend to achieve with it.

Couldn't agree more. Sitting down and making specific goals for my comic was the best thing I ever did. Still not super fun, but it took away the guesswork and made each individual comic a sandbox to have fun with, instead of a mess of questions and story building questions.

There's a lot of other good advice in the posts above, but if I could add one thing to what @dawgofdawgness was saying, I'd say to just figure out what you find fun! What do you like about the drawings that inspire you? What makes you laugh? One thing for me is definitely bad puns and silly faces, and I try to put that in my comics whenever I can. Sometimes I find fun in just replicating a stupid face someone made in a video. Treat yourself with a little guilty pleasure warm-up drawing before you jump into a big project!

I feel like I could go on, but this is already pretty rambly. But don't give up on drawing!

[skicoak]

Couldn't agree more.

I think you COULD agree more... at least 10% more. Just sayin'.

[Rodimus13]

It depends on what they are not finding fun about it. If it's the long drawn out process of going straight from start to finish, it helps to listen to music I find enjoyable and high energy.
If it's what you are drawing, find topics you like and draw whatever it is you want- want to see garfield as sailor moon then just do it! Want to see a fast sketch of a dog on the moon? Do it! experiment with mediums and see what sticks.

[Freemints30]

To me drawing is a task that only feels rewarding after I finish(well in a more I'm DONE kinda way, not in wow how nice this looks! way most of the time). I can have fun doing doodles and in short bursts, however if I plan to like finish Sketching and inking it kinda of drags.

I so when I draw I listen to some rather long you tube videos (pod casts, lets plays of games I have already seen, 1 Hour long reviews, etc). That's what I do, however I know this wouldn't be the case for every one.

[Azifri]

Drawing was stressful when I could not achieve the result I wanted to. That started to change when I took art theory and other courses. I still have a lot to learn, but having the theory internalized makes drawing (or producing art in general) a lot more fun because you can focus on the art and not on the technique.

[spadesart]

i see drawing as more of an outlet than a fun hobby. it's something i use to get ideas off my chest when they won't stop occupying my whole brain.

to me the fun part of drawing is getting feedback? and the feeling of completion afterwards. i also like brainstorming and planning if its a story project. everything in between is suffering tbh.

[DiegoPalacios]

To avoid making drawing a chore (which it can happen when is part of work or something like that) is to draw recreatively.

Draw what you want to draw, not for others or not for your comic if you need a break. Maybe you will have fun drawing random stuff. I do that every once in a while. It doesnt even need to be a full detailed drawing, it can be a quick sketch or even an inner joke with friends or family. Even trying new techniques when drawing can be refreshing.

[Nitelini]

Guys thank you all, there were many really good advices.

Those who suggested to stop making art if it wasn't my passion. I wish it was that easy, but it is my income source, reason I want to be better.

For those who also struggle I found Some nice ideas on this Video.

Kudos

[Rowein]

I have a love/hate relationship with drawing, that's why I think I'm a little masochist... but that's not the point. I like drawing a lot, because I can resolve some problems and simply doing that it feels good (for example, a pose or perspective that look off, I search and try until it looks nice). Like a puzzle.
Eventually, resolving that problems gets easier, but they are always new, so I never lost interest.

Sometimes I feel like drawing becomes a routine and it gets boring. That's when I have hiatus and stop drawing for a while. But I realize that when I learn something new about drawing, my interest sparks again. Like a new way of painting, learning to use a new technique or tools, etc.

I hope you find your way to keep drawing with fun and interest, but I think is like a very personal search (drawing has a little of zen too)

[indagold]

Stop working once you get burn out and make sure you can breaks inbetween and not be forced to work on your art every single hour of your life. Absence makes the heart go stronger as they say,