Creating art can often feel like a never-ending pursuit of perfection and our internet presence only exaggerates our desire to show only our best work. Our desired results won't always (or maybe never) meet our expectations.
But making art that we consider bad or not good enough is part of the process. Art we were proud of a few years ago, might seem awful now. Sometimes we create ugly things or make art that is just plain bad. But all of our art has value.
Why is my art so bad?
Ok let's spend a moment with this. Firstly it's probably not *that* bad. Really. We might think our art is very bad because we've compared it to someone else's or because we want/expect to create something that we don't have the skills for yet. Maybe we need a teacher, more practice or some sleep. Yes ok, sometimes we make terrible art. There will be things (maybe many) we can improve on and there's always more to learn.
Don't lose hope. Everybody makes bad art along the way. Everybody. Here are five reasons why making bad art can be great.
Learning from your mistakes
Mistakes can be a powerful way to learn. By creating "bad" art and acknowledging what's not working and why, you are setting yourself up to improve. This is a part of developing as an artist. We must not be ashamed of our mistakes when we are in the process of getting better.
Making art that doesn't meet your expectations can feel disheartening but it can also help us to be more resilient to our failures. We won't get things right all the time.
It helps to accept where you're at, learn something from the piece and move on to the next one. Which might also be bad. But keep going.
Learning what you love
Making art we don't like also has the benefit of teaching us exactly that. If a piece looks bad to us because the colours are off, or we think the style is unpleasant, then take heart. You are refining your artistic eye, learning what you like to see and what pleases you.
That doesn't mean everyone will agree with you but it does mean you can get more confident in what you appreciate and why.
When you make a piece that seems bad, can you find something about it you do like? Maybe it's a tiny area where one colour meets another or just the materials. Find something good and take that into new art.
Art is supposed to make us feel something and if you have found something that makes you feel good then take note. Look at more of it, create more of it and try to understand what it is that connects with you so deeply.
Embracing imperfection
Perfectionism can be limiting, paralysing and can lead some artists to feel persistently inadequate and like a failure for not meeting their own impossible standards. No wonder some people give up.
It's not easy to let go of this internal dialogue but making art is a great way to address any perfectionist tendencies.
Embracing imperfection in art is the route to creative freedom. If you can let go of rigid rules about how something should look, you are more likely to take risks, explore new ideas and push yourself to create something new, interesting and exciting.
In turn, and with practice, we learn to release our perfectionism in our art because it makes our art better. Try to let go of what you think it should look like, do the unexpected and make better art.
Finding your artistic voice
Creating without the pressure of perfection allows you to explore and develop your unique artistic voice. Over time, this leads to a distinctive style that truly reflects who you are as an artist.
Express yourself on a very personal level, privately if you like. Make mistakes, discover more about what you like and don't like. Take risks, be brave and surprise yourself.
You don't have to share this yet. But if or when you do, you will be more confident in your style and your artistic voice.
If you're not focused on creating perfect results, you can be more genuine in expressing your thoughts and feelings through your art. Your art will be more meaningful and your work will connect with others in a personal way.
Inspiring others
There are no rules that say you have to share your bad art, or your good art actually. There is no shame in practising privately and improving and creating behind the scenes.
However if you are someone that needs a cheering squad behind you then sharing might be exactly what you need. Find people you trust to give you the feedback or support you need. That might be constructive criticism from a tutor or kind friends to encourage you. It might be strangers on the internet where you remain anonymous.
Your willingness to share your creative progress has positive consequences, inspiring others to try. Sharing your imperfect art can make you more relatable and approachable. It encourages others to share their work and feel comfortable expressing themselves.
Let go of your expectations and make bad art
Making bad art is not only acceptable but also beneficial for your creative journey. By embracing imperfection, you can enjoy greater creative freedom, learn new things and express yourself more authentically.
When the pressure to create something "good" is removed, making art becomes fun again. This playful approach can rekindle your passion and remind you why you started creating in the first place.
So, pick up your tools, let go of the fear of failure, and start creating – because sometimes, making bad art is the best way to become a better artist.
Making my own bad art
I couldn't go without sharing some of my own "bad art".
Here are three drawings I did as an adult, (yes, even that first one). The first was when I was introduced to art journaling. I was quite unwell at the time but in my head there was no excuse for art that bad. It was awful, but a YouTuber who was sharing "anyone can be an artist" advice, encouraged me, kept me trying and learning. I didn't show anyone.
The second picture was drawn after I enrolled in a drawing class. It's sloppy, the proportions are wrong and it's clearly amateur. My teacher was polite but had plenty of comments and I knew it wasn't great. But I remember being wowed that had I come this far and that I had been brave enough to try. Plus I had a weeks of drawing classes ahead of me to learn more.
The third picture was drawn some time after I finished the course. I didn't do a lot of portrait practice but I was given a stylus for my digital tablet and sketched this on Procreate. It has many flaws. It not a good use of the digital tools, the drawing lacks depth and has a poor range of values. But it's so much better than the previous pictures. I can see that I'm really looking at the subject and trying to capture it accurately.
I can look at all of these as bad art because none of them are brilliant drawings. I could compare them to the drawings of my classmates or Instagram friends and feel awful. But by comparing them to my previous drawings, I can see how I'm learning from my mistakes and getting better. Keep going!
Would you like to start a sketchbook of your own. Start here with How to choose your sketchbook.
