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Taking My Time: Why Art is a Journey, Not a Race
A year ago, I looked at my old drawings while I frowned my eyebrows and giggled. The proportions were off, the shading was weird, and don’t even get me started on the colors. I remember thinking, will I ever be as good as the artists I look up to? I was so caught up in comparing myself to others that I didn’t realize something important, like art, takes time. A lot of time.
Now, I’ve started to understand that improvement doesn’t happen overnight. The artists we admire didn’t wake up one day with perfect skills. They spent years practicing, struggling, and slowly getting better. And the truth is, we’re all on that journey, just at different points.
The Time and Effort Behind Artistic Growth
I used to get frustrated when my art didn’t turn out the way I imagined. I’d see other people my age, some younger, creating stunning pieces while I was still struggling with the basics. All the comparing led to burnouts and disappointment. But then I realized that they’ve probably been practicing for years, too. Every great artist started somewhere. Think about the first time you tried drawing something complex. Maybe it was a face, a full-body pose, or a background. It probably didn’t turn out perfect, right? But the more you practiced, the better you got. That’s how improvement works. Slowly and steadily.
Even now, I still struggle with certain things. Some days, I feel like I’m making progress, and other days, I feel stuck. But I remind myself that every time I sketch, paint, or design, I’m adding to my growth, even if I don’t see it right away.
The Trap of Comparison
It’s so easy to compare ourselves to others, especially with social media. We see artists posting these insanely detailed artworks and wonder, why am I not that good yet? But what we don’t see are the hours of practice, the failed attempts, and the frustration they went through to get there.
I used to beat myself up over not improving fast enough. But then I started looking at my own old works, and that’s when it hit me. I was improving, just at my own pace. And that’s completely okay.
We all have different learning speeds. Some people pick things up quickly, while others take their time. That doesn’t mean one person is better than the other; it just means they’re on different parts of their journey.
Once I stopped worrying about being “as good” as someone else and focused on my own progress, I started enjoying art more. Instead of rushing to improve, I let myself learn naturally.
Here’s what’s helped me:
Looking at my old works – Instead of comparing myself to other artists, I compare myself to past me. Seeing how much I’ve improved, even if it’s just small things, keeps me motivated.
Taking breaks when needed – I used to force myself to draw every day, thinking I had to in order to improve. But burnout is real, and sometimes stepping away for a bit actually helps.
Setting small goals – Instead of expecting myself to master everything at once, I focus on improving one thing at a time. Maybe I'll try anatomy this month, then color theory next.
At the end of the day, art isn’t about being “the best.” It’s about expressing yourself, having fun, and growing at your own pace. There’s no deadline for getting better, no finish line where you suddenly become a “perfect” artist.
So if you ever feel like you’re not improving fast enough, remind yourself: you are improving, even if it’s little by little. So keep doing art for yourself. You’ll get there in your own time.
Take a look at how my works improved throughout the years, still knowing that there's still plenty of room for improvements.

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