Is this a art block? Or is art driving me mad

[Lillie]

Recently I've been learning how to draw. It was really fun and interesting until about 3 months. Now, I can't seem to stop drawing. I doodle everywhere. This is nice and all, but the drawings that I make, make me feel really unhappy with my work and with every new drawing I make, I feel more tired. At night I can't sleep because random images of drawings I did keep on flashing in my mind.
Sometimes when I draw, I feel like the image came out okay and I'm happy with it, however the next few images I do make me feel disgusted. It makes me feel like I never want to draw again, but a second later I'm already drawing.

I JUST CANT STOP DRAWING THOUGH. I pick up a pen, and boom my hand is moving without me knowing.
My teachers are annoyed, my parents are judging me for trying to draw "like anime". And my friends are calling me "Oh, one of THOSE people" "Your style isn't really YOUR style" "Manga's influence your style too much. You're just STEALING"

Overall, drawing is kinda ruining me, I wanted to learn to have fun, however now I can't stop drawing no matter how unsatisfied it makes me feel, it's making the judgmental people around me go crazy.

I was wondering if any artists out there also went through the same experience of this while they were learning to draw. If so, how long did it last? Or ow did you get rid of this urging feeling to draw and yet hate your drawings?

[Rodimus13]

Rodims13 the artist here.
As a professional Graphic Artist, I can tell you there is nothing wrong with wanting to draw all the time, as long as you can get your other work done correctly.
As for hating your work, that's actually very common. I often look at my own work even now and go "Man! What am I doing? I'm a hack!!".
Don't let people discourage you from drawing, but do venture out and try out other styles. Look into some old and current comic styles. Try your hand at duplicating the feel of the old Hanna Barbara cartoons. The more you know, the more "tools" you pick up. Eventually all of it will coalesce into your own style. But all of this can and will take time. Especially if you are just starting.
Even the great artists of history would often copy or study art of the greats who came before.

[qwerty]

I don't think there was ever a single time when I was actually satisfied with any of my art until quite recently (like the past couple months). And now, even the pieces I am reasonably satisfied with, I think "gah, I should have changed this... and that... and that...".

So not being satisfied with what you draw is totally normal. Especially when you are beginning.

Not being able to stop drawing, on the other hand... I kinda wish I was like that lol. The more you draw, the faster you will improve (as long as you are trying new things and not staying completely inside your comfort zone), so I would view it as a good thing if you actually want to improve at art.

About all those people hating on anime style... personally if I hadn't started by drawing anime, I would never have made it to where I am. Over time as I improved, I became better at (and more appreciative of) other styles, but anime was the foundation XD. Nothing wrong with starting there, and nothing wrong with sticking to anime either if that's what you like

Overall, it looks like your problem isn't that you draw too much, but that you're being too self-critical. It happens to just about everyone, and honestly overcoming this emotional hurdle is an important skill in itself. Relax a bit. Maybe this will help ~

[SleepingPoppy]

As you get better at art so does your sense of "good art" evolve. It's very normal to actually be getting better at art while becoming more aware of ones own flaws. Try not to be too hard on yourself! Especiallybif you're just drawing for fun.

Do be mindful of getting your work done properly in class. Nothing wrong with doodling in the margins if you can also keep up. Most teachers will be lenient if it if you get good grades.

Your friends are being jerks. If anime and manga help inspire you to draw that is fine. Artists, including the masters, copy each other all the time. That's part of learning. If you're interested in growing and getting better, you should also think about drawing from life, doing studies, maybe taking a class, BUT your art is yours. It's about what inspires you. Tell your friends they're being snobs.

[Lillie]

OOO thank you! I thought I was the only way feeling this way as most artists in their posts always talk about "I had a lot of fun drawing this!"
I'll be sure to try some other styles uwu

[Lillie]

LOL can we trade the "not being able to stop drawing"?
Thanks for the video! owo I'll watch it!

[Lillie]

Aww thanks! I'll try to be less hard on myself.
As for my friends TT I'm a coward when it comes to telling people how i really feel.

[Rodimus13]

For every piece that an artist shows off, they tell the world they really love- there are hundreds more that they try really hard not to show to anybody. Keep that in mind.

[SleepingPoppy]

I get it. But be proud of the things you like. There is zero reason to feel bad, and most likely your friends are only talking that way because they think it makes them sound cool.

Though if you have one among them that you are particularly close too, I would suggest telling that person how you feel and ask if they can have your back. Only if you feel up to it, but a little support goes a long way. ️

[Chopythes]

Ugh, been there, done that.

What I usually do in that situation is to try to examine why I feel so bothered by the images I'm making. Is that shoulder slightly off? Is the leg not long enough?
It usually means that you already know that something's not working and your mind is trying to process that (What I believe, because that's what it is for me when I feel the same way).

Don't listen to your friends (unless you have a friend you feel like you can trust with their opinions)
What I would suggest you do, is trying to learn anatomy before you take inspiration from manga. That way it'll be easier for you to break the rules and make sure it's more well balanced, even in manga style!
We've all started somewhere, drawing from stuff we enjoyed and that's why we all have so different styles. We experiment, trying to find things we like and like to draw.
I started drawing as a 16yo, but it wasn't until I was about 20-21 that I realised that I wanted more with it. Just more.
I'm 32 now, and I'm still learning how to draw each day, I still experiment and trying to challenge myself, drawing things I don't want to just so that I can get a better knowledge of it.

It's not until the recent years that I've started to be proud of what I can do and have my art as the homepage on my mobile and such.

I've learned how to be proud of the things I can do, esp if I feel like: YEAH this is what I wish to draw!!
I have bad art days as well, where I get so incredibly frustrated that I wrinkle the paper and scream at it while throwing it at as hard as I can in the trashbin.
I try to think that my mind just needs a break from drawing as it IS mentally challenging!
Sometimes the mind is just tired and that's why we can't draw as well as we wish we could.
Take a break and force yourself to not draw! It's super hard but it's worth it in the end. My breaks can last up to a month but I still try to push through it, because... Well. It might look like crap to me, but that's because I know I can do better. No one else sees this tho, so one can get away with drawings that isn't 120% better than the last one.

Take a break, when needed, and push through, when needed.
It's ok not to get better at art immediately, and I would try not to listen to your friends, unless they actually come up with good critism. (such as, that leg is a little bit too short, make it longer and it'll look right! and et cetera)

So yeah, I still feel like what I do look like crap but I try improve myself the next time I'm drawing that pose instead of looking at the image and crying xD

[Lillie]

THANK YOU! I'll try not to cry with you LOL

[DruidPeter]

Oh wow! Well, if you're can't stop drawing no matter what, then I'd say you have a HUGE BOOST, hahaha! Those who power through and just keep drawing will almost always end up light years ahead of those who stop the first time someone says, "you're stealing from anime!", xD

I'd say what you're going through is fairly normal. I used to feel so disgusted with my own drawing abilities when I was a little kid that I stopped doing it altogether. Then, when I was a bit older, I actually did think I was much better then I already was. A sort of "delusion" I suppose. But if I hadn't had that delusion, I probably would have stopped waaay before I actually started to not kind of suck, lol.

But you! You can't stop drawing no matter what! xD I'd say your'e pretty damned lucky, haha! Just keep at it, I say. You'll be making epic, awesome, wonderful artwork down the line, and those who discourage you won't be able to stop you. Good luck, and keep on being awesome, @Lillie!

[Lillie]

TYSM OAIWNDOIAWMDOI That was really inspiring