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How To Stop Rushing Your Artwork Once And For All!

To stop rushing your artwork, there are many tips I can give you.

But one of the most important tips to stop rushing your art is to take regular mini breaks. 

This freshens your perspective and allows for necessary corrections.

And remember, don’t succumb to the urgency of completion; instead, find joy in gradual growth as an artist. 

Keep reading for more tips on how to stop rushing and stressing out about your art!

Take Mini Breaks

drawing of a cartoon character petting a cat. Take small breaks, play with your pets, watch a movie. Don't force yourself to draw.

Regular mini-breaks during your art sessions can significantly enhance your work.

They allow you to approach your piece with fresh eyes and spot necessary corrections that you couldn’t see before. 

The process of drawing isn’t one to rush. It’s a slow, deliberate dance that deserves your full attention.

You give your brain a break to refresh and recharge by stepping away for a moment.

 This also provides an opportunity to seek feedback and to have others point out areas you may have overlooked.

I’d recommend setting a 20 or 30-minute timer during your sessions.

Once it ends, take a short break before resuming. This will make sure you maintain a fresh perspective, helping you to create more refined and polished artwork.

Start With Gesture Drawing Exercises First!

Ever thought of beginning your art sessions with gesture drawing exercises?

It’s an innovative approach that can help you take your time and produce quality artwork.

I’ve written a guide on the best Gesture Drawing Exercises here.

These exercises aren’t just about quick sketches; they’re designed to help you focus and bring calm to your art process.

The Best Gesture Drawing Exercises cover

By warming up with quick motions, you’re loosening your wrist and setting your mindset into a relaxed state.

This calm focus allows you to slow down and pay attention to the details, enhancing the quality of your work.

So, next time you start an art session, try these gesture drawing exercises.

You might be surprised at how much they can improve the quality and pace of your art.

Do Lots Of Thumbnail Sketches

Building on the practice of starting with gesture drawing exercises, you should also create many thumbnails before diving into your final artwork.

These quick, miniature sketches allow you to explore composition, form, and detail without a significant time investment.

What Is A Thumbnail Sketch and How Can it Help You by Don Corgi

They’re an essential stage to spend more time experimenting and identifying potential issues before you commit to a full-scale version.

Your patience during this stage is vital (we’ll talk more about this later); rushing through this process can lead to missed opportunities for innovation and improvement. 

Remember, thumbnails aren’t about perfection but exploration and iteration.

It’s an opportunity to course-correct and refine your vision, ensuring that your final piece is the best it can be.

Don’t underestimate the power of thumbnails in your artistic process!

You Don’t Have To Finish It Today!

While pursuing your artistic endeavor, remember that you don’t have to finish your artwork in a single day; pace yourself and allow the creative process to unfold naturally.

It’s okay to leave your work unfinished today. There’s no rush.

Your artwork will be waiting for you tomorrow, next week, or even next month.

Developing your Artistic skill is doable one step at a time, don't rush it!
Take it one step at a time!

Be patient with yourself. Art isn’t a race to the finish line.

It’s a journey, a process of exploration and discovery. It requires time, patience, and compassion towards oneself.

So, take your time.

Let the ideas marinate. 

Let the colors blend.

And let the lines find their place. 

Give yourself the compassion you deserve.

Conclusion

To sum up, remember that art isn’t a race. Take breaks, start with gesture drawings, and sketch plenty of thumbnails. Don’t pressure yourself to finish a masterpiece in a day.

By slowing down, you’ll enhance the quality of your work and enjoy the process more.

Patience and persistence are key to improving over time.

And if you’re ready to dive into Figure Drawing, click here!

Struggling to find your art style?

Here are 9 Easy Steps To Find Your Art Style!

And as always,

Keep on drawing!

DonCorgi

Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!

Enjoy your stay and as always:
Keep on drawing!

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