7 tips to go from stiff to loose
Do you feel stiff and controlled by perfectionism when you are drawing or painting?
For a long time, I tried to let loose in my art but I didn't know how. I was stiff in my mark making and I kept tweaking and adding detail until I ended up with an overworked piece that had no life. I wanted so badly to be able to create freely without overthinking and overworking. It was a struggle to be imperfect and for my art making to feel free.
However, in the last couple of years I have learned a lot. It of course takes practice, and I want to give you some tips on how to make that looseness happen:
Start with a warm up exercise (this truly is so helpful at all times!)
Focus on the process, not the finished piece
Embrace the imperfect, raw side of creativity
Try drawing outlines without a sketch first
Simplify and leave things as they are, don't try to go in and fix “mistakes”
Try working rather fast and don't linger on detail
If you feel the urge to go very loose, try drawing with your non dominant hand (this is my favorite thing!)
I hope these tips will help you to let loose in your art making and by that, create more freely. I'd love to hear how you, when faced with the challenge of creating loosely, find ways to free yourself from perfectionism - what helps you most? Leave a comment down below <3
I wish to leave you excited to create again. Set yourself free and enjoy the stressless process of creating. Use your sketchbook as your playground, let the fun back in!