WHY Can't I Draw What I SEE in my HEAD? - Art Discussion

How often have you asked yourself this question?

How often has this thought frustrated you to the point of wanting to throw away your art supplies?

The vast majority of creative people deal with this on a regular basis, and chances are, you’ve dealt with it too. Today we will talk about why it happens, and why we shouldn’t worry so much about it.

Even though most of us think otherwise, this is a thought that almost all of us suffer from. Depending on who you are and how you handle things, it can have a variety of effects on you as a creator, ranging from just a mild annoyance, all the way to essentially crippling your creative process. In my experience, the only serious artists I’ve ever met that said they didn’t have this problem were either trying to give the appearance that they are better than they actually are, or they are honestly so full of themselves, they’re unable to see the flaws in their work.

So “why can’t I draw as good as what i see in my head”? Why does this happen?
One reason that this can happen is if we haven’t yet accustomed ourselves to our medium. You need to know the potential as well as the limitations of what you’re working with, before you can do your best work with that medium. Some mediums are better at expressing certain visuals than others, and we have to take the time to learn what mediums best suit what it is that we’re trying to say with our work.

Another big reason it happens is when we aren’t technically skilled enough to execute what we want to do. For instance, if I want to draw a character from my imagination with no reference, I need to study anatomy to make sure my character is believable. I need to study perspective to make sure my character looks right in his or her setting. I need to study lighting and shadow and how to use color, if I want to make my scene more believable.
Same applies if you want to draw or paint animals, architecture, portraits, fantasy, comics, game illustration.

This isn’t limited to just visual art either, the same thing is true for musicians, writers, videographers, photographers… essentially every creative form there is. Our inner vision will almost always outreach our execution. And the key thing here is that never changes.
We can work hard and close the gap between the two, but our inner vision will always improve right along with our technical skill. And while it can be frustrating, it’s a great thing!

It gives us a dynamic goal! We can use it to constantly set higher goals and expectations for ourselves, and it gives us reassurance that as long as we keep working toward those inner visions, everything is okay and we are on track! I think it gets frustrating for a lot of us at some point or another, but one thing we can do to reassure ourselves is to remind ourselves that there is no definitive “finish line” with art. There is always something to learn or to practice, and no matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement. So comfort yourself and restructure the way you look at your art journey, and learn to love the journey itself. Love the process of your work, and don’t worry so much about the outcome. With each piece we do, we improve, and we close that gap between our what we see in our mind’s eye and our hand’s ability.

Being honest with yourself, and putting in the hard work will take you a long way with your art.
So, keep pushing! Learn everything you can to improve your craft.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic, so share your experiences in the comments down below!
If you like this video be sure to hit that like button, and if you haven’t yet, click that subscribe button so you don’t miss out on any more art content!
Until next time! Take care!

DISCORD:

PATREON:

PODCAST:

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TOOLS & SOFTWARE:
Adobe Photoshop CC
Corel Painter 2016
Wacom Cintiq 22hd
Adobe After Effects CC

[SophieBird]

I just discovered your site. I am so inspired. I’m 67 yrs, retired, and now have time, to find time, to attempt things that through my whole life paralyzed me with the pursuit for perfection, like drawing. The one thing we all hopefully learn about life, in general, is that it is ALWAYS about the process and not the end result. It is such a freeing feeling! I’m going to learn so much!

[animeasmey]

Its frustrating when i use a reference and create amazing portraits and as soon as i try without the photo its like im a beginner again

[FGZPYR]

Why can i draw a whole pose and be really happy with it, but can't even draw a simple head another day?
It's so irritating

[ImPrettySureImCool]

Me: imagines super cool guy shooting with guns
My drawing: cheese boy shooting with snakes

[kinan]

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it."
Salvador Dali

[hetrogames]

People are always saying im a good artist znd saying what im doing is great and hard
BUT ITS NOT i tell them im just looking at a picture on the internet and drawing it i cant even draw from my head but they still say im good and that they cant do that
WHY?

[zeruszephuros]

Gosh...!!! Thank you for making this vid!! Yes, when I said I can't draw I didn't mean "i can't draw this mug that's infront of me" I mean "I can't draw of what I think/imagined in my (which is why most vids/lessons out there in youtube/google is not answering my question and I'm here stuck tracing/drawing the object in front of me for years)

[Azarothpng]

Here is my theory: We don't actually imagine things in our heads. When we imagine things we are actually just remembering the recognition of things that we know of. The brain never constructs an image but is rather projecting our ability to recognize things onto the rest of our brain. Thus we can never check something like pixel by pixel towards our drawing because there is no elaborate image just the idea of for example a dog.

In order to draw what we imagine we must know every sub-feature of the dog, as the ratios of the face, how the ears ratios, tali etc. It is also possible to try to put ratios together in your brain and test it towards your recognition of a dog.


Or the above is bullshit.

I think the main reason is it is very hard to keep the same thought in the head all the time, so even though an instance of an image shines in your head you won't have the time to draw it before it changes.

[SimaIsDrawing]

Oh yeah my endless struggle :D Can imagine, can't communicate, as you said it all comes down to the learning of the fundamentals and practice.. also what I find helpful are speedpaints where I can see how the artist constructed the piece so not only I can study the result I can see it being build like a puzzle :D

[patricklove]

Without a reference, I'm struggling to draw even the most basic things. What's weird is I see whatever I want to draw so clearly in my head.

[Fullmoon]

This happens to me every time I draw, I can draw from a reference pretty well I like to think but when I try to draw from imagination I lose all confidence especially when it doesn't even come close to what I want the drawing to look like.

[Sas_HeatherC]

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. While i watched your video, i realized this was the reason for my longest running art block. I have been searching the deepest corners of myself and couldnt put my finger on ut. all this time is fear based wrongful thinking! Now i can say i will always get better
it will never stop being necessary (even stupid ones)
each peace is a step forward
I will always have art forever regardless

[tonjiamcelmurry]

I got into drawing and copying characters from shows since I was younger and can’t seem to draw the stuff I see in my head bc I don’t have that skill and it makes me FRUSTRATED

[ezziebee]

My problem is that I have my own characters that I imagine as real people in my head, but whenever I try to draw them they never look like how they do in my head. I imagine them perfectly, their colors and features and everything but I can’t draw them.

[lindastrickland]

I can count on one hand the number of times Ive left a comment on any video. I am so very impressed with the way you explain and illustrate certain things. And, I'm very grateful that you take the time to share your knowledge with the public. Thanks!

[vecinu]

This happens to me when I try to draw something from my mind but when I try to copy a 2D image it's like a perfect copy a 70-90 percentage accurate

[RedGallardo]

There is some distortion on the way from head to paper so it's never a good idea to try and draw what's in your head. Instead you generate ideas in your mind and then transform them into studying. Trying, seeing what works and what doesn't, refining. Although I think there are professionals who CAN draw from their mind. If they specialize in it. It's a skill, it can be developed.

[shannondonnelly]

I can't really imagine stuff in my head

[ambz]

there is a character that i thought of in my head, i think he’d look really cool if only i could draw him :( it’s soo irritating

[Theartistblock]

iv never experienced this because I AM ART, I am the best ever, my skills are funky and I am fresh lmao. Seriously though I deal with this a bit, even in realism and hyperrealism, but mostly with cartoons.