“You draw like a kindergartener.”

How criticism can crush a creative soul

Photo by artist

This picture of the before-after 11-day workout was one of the commissions I got from drawing a few years ago.

A few years prior to this job, someone told me my drawing skills were no better than a kindergartener.

It hurt, for sure, because I highly value feedback.

But hey, I was able to earn money through a commission. I think I got $15 for this drawing alone. Not every kindergartener can do that, can they? ;) (Or maybe a kindergarten version of Picasso could. And there’s definitely some talent out there.)

Either way, I figured out why my drawing skills haven’t advanced much.

1. I haven’t put in the work. I’ve been doodling on and off but not focused on improving my skill at the craft.
2. I’ve received so much negative feedback.

The latter really killed me. I listened to “How to Be a Better Human” and they had an episode called “The art of paying attention.” In this episode, they mentioned how some people quit drawing and doodling and such early on, and that’s why their skill levels are like the way they were back then.

So much in the world tells you that you can’t make it as an artist. Everyone has an opinion, and what’s…