Why I Stopped Chasing Perfection and Started Enjoying Sketching

When I first started sketching, I thought every drawing had to look good. I believed that if my sketch wasn’t clean, detailed, or realistic enough, then it wasn’t worth keeping. That mindset followed me for a long time, and honestly, it almost made me quit drawing completely.

But over the years, something changed. I stopped chasing perfection, and that’s when I actually started enjoying sketching.

This is the story of how that shift happened.

How Perfection Ruined My Motivation

Back in 2019, when I was in 9th class, I used to sketch things I found cool, guns, objects, random ideas. At that time, I didn’t overthink much. I just drew. But as I watched more art online and compared myself to others, I slowly started judging my own work.

I would erase the same line again and again.
I would stop a sketch halfway because it “didn’t look right.”
Sometimes I wouldn’t even start drawing because I was scared of messing it up.

Without realizing it, perfection turned sketching from something fun into something stressful.

Comparing My Art to Others

One of the biggest mistakes I made was comparison. Social media is full of amazing artists, and instead of feeling inspired, I felt small. I thought real artists never made messy sketches, never struggled with proportions, never failed.

What I didn’t see were their rough pages, their bad days, and their unfinished work.

This comparison made me feel like I wasn’t improving, even when I actually was.

The Long Break That Taught Me a Lesson

During COVID, I stopped sketching for almost two years. At first, I thought the break meant I had failed as an artist. But that pause taught me something important.

I missed drawing.

Not posting art.
Not being “good.”
Just the simple act of sketching.

That’s when I realized I didn’t love results, I loved the process. I loved sitting quietly with a pencil and letting my thoughts slow down.

Coming Back With a Different Mindset

When I started sketching again in 12th class and later in college, I made one simple rule for myself:

“I will draw without trying to impress anyone.”

Some days I drew badly.
Some days, I stopped halfway.
Some days, I just shaded random shapes.

And surprisingly, those were the days I enjoyed sketching the most.

I stopped deleting old sketches.
I stopped hiding mistakes.
I started seeing unfinished drawings as part of my journey, not proof of failure.

What Sketching Taught Me About Myself

Letting go of perfection in sketching also changed how I think in life.

I learned that:

• Growth is slow, and that’s okay

• Mistakes don’t mean I’m bad, they mean I’m learning

• Taking breaks doesn’t erase progress

• Enjoyment matters more than results

Sketching became a place where I could be imperfect without consequences. And that feeling slowly started reflecting in other parts of my life too.

Why Messy Sketches Matter

Some of my favorite sketches aren’t the most visually appealing ones. They’re the ones where I was relaxed, honest, and present. Messy lines show movement. Wrong proportions show experimentation. Half-finished sketches show curiosity.

Perfection freezes creativity.
Messiness keeps it alive.

If You’re Struggling Right Now

If you’re someone who feels stuck, unmotivated, or disappointed with your art, I want you to know this:

You don’t need to draw better.
You need to draw freer.

Stop trying to make every sketch count.
Let some sketches exist simply for their own sake.

Draw badly on purpose if you have to.
Draw without posting.
Draw without fixing.

That’s where real growth starts.

Final Thoughts

Sketching became enjoyable again when I stopped treating it like a test and started treating it like a conversation with myself.

I don’t sketch to prove I’m an artist anymore.
I sketch because it helps me feel like myself.

And honestly, that’s more than enough.