@NessIllustration I can attest to the presence of “traditional AND digital anxiety” at the same time! Coming back to painting and drawing after about 19 years away, I have lost my traditional muscle memory and found the need to learn the digital side of things that really did not exist so much when I was really ‘doing’ art.
At first I was anxious that I needed to get really good really fast and make up for lost time. But I am not young anymore and staying up later than 12am wears me down. I’m a momma, wife, and preschool teacher, and am trying to wear a lot of hats. I sometimes don’t give myself the credit for the accomplishments I have gained in the last year. And the other side of the coin is that I am easily led down the rabbit hole when I get on the computer. Hubs says I should do a time map to see what I am doing and compare that to what I think I am doing. ( But I don’t need the map to know that endlessly scrolling Pinterest hasn’t helped my skill set).
Anywho, the point is, I am letting go of the “hurry, hurry,hurry” thinking allowing myself to work traditionally and digitally and make a bunch of duds and a few things I like. I’m allowing myself to take the time to improve but also keeping the fire under my behind lit so I can reach my goals. Some day in the next year or so I’ll have a growing portfolio that shows off what I do best and a publication or two as well. That’s the goal anyway.
Here’s to all of us feeling the anxiety and pushing on anyway. We’re doing it one little step at a time.
One of the things I try to remember when teaching my preschoolers is THE POWER OF YET. I can add “yet” to the statement and suddenly it becomes empowering and full of potential rather than a dead end. “I am really not good at digital stuff...yet” “ I have been working but my drawing and painting skills are not what they once were...yet.” Keep it up y’all.