Building Confidence in Figure Drawing: 5 Mindset Shifts to Overcome Fear
Many beginners feel nervous when starting figure drawing. The fear of making mistakes can stop people from picking up a pencil. But the truth is that mistakes are part of learning, and they help you improve. Building confidence in figure drawing means changing how you think about mistakes and practicing in ways that support growth.
Common Challenges Beginners Face
Fear of Imperfection: Many artists feel their drawings must be perfect. This pressure can be overwhelming and lead to frustration.
Comparing to Others: Seeing the work of more experienced artists can make beginners feel like they’re not good enough.
Overthinking: Trying too hard to make every line perfect can slow progress and make drawing stressful.
Fear of Wasting Materials: Some beginners hesitate to draw freely because they worry about wasting paper or supplies.
Mindset Shifts to Build Confidence
Embrace Mistakes: Understand that mistakes are part of learning. Every artist, even professionals, make mistakes. Use them as learning tools instead of seeing them as failures.
Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Aim to improve gradually instead of creating a perfect drawing. Celebrate small wins, like making a pose more dynamic or improving proportions.
Draw for Yourself: Focus on your own growth and enjoyment instead of comparing your work to others. Every artist has their own journey. Social media can be great for finding inspiration, but remember it is always a curated representation of other artists’ works. Don’t presume they haven’t struggled just because you don’t see it!
Use Cheap Materials: Practice on inexpensive paper or use digital tools to remove the fear of wasting materials. This makes it easier to draw more often and take risks. Don’t be afraid to use every part of a paper, too, drawing over other drawings.
Stay Consistent: Drawing regularly, even for just 10 minutes a day, can build skills and confidence over time. It’s also a good practice to not worry about whether or not you’re improving for at least a month at a time, if not three months or a year! Put away your first drawing and don’t reflect on it until a huge chunk of time has passed. Then, pull it out and surprise yourself with the difference between your first drawing and your one hundredth, one thousandth… etc
Helpful Exercises to Overcome Fear
Gesture Drawing: Do quick, 1-2 minute sketches to capture the movement and energy of a pose. This helps you loosen up and stops you from overthinking. Check out my post on Ten Tips to Start Gesture Drawing.
Blind Contour Drawing: Draw without looking at your paper. This exercise improves observation skills and reduces the pressure to make perfect lines. This is one of three exercises I recommend in this post.
Timed Sketches: Use an automatic timed slide deck such as the one provided by Adorka Stock here. The pictures automatically switch at the time limit, so you aren’t tempted to cheat. And it’s randomized, so you don’t get stuck on “easy” poses!
Redraw Old Work: Revisit old sketches and redraw them. This shows how much you’ve improved and builds confidence in your progress. Keep a few photo references that you worked with early on in a folder on your computer or cloud drive, and try drawing the exact same pose later.
Experiment with Different Tools: Try using pens, markers, or brushes you can’t erase. This encourages commitment to each line and reduces the fear of making marks. I also love digital tools for figure drawing. You feel less wasteful using fresh “paper” per each drawing.
Remember, every artist started as a beginner. Building confidence in figure drawing takes time and practice. By changing how you think about mistakes and using simple exercises, you can overcome fear and enjoy the process of learning and improving.
