In a world where we worry more about our grades than our well-being, drawing can be a nice escape!

Drawing can be a different experience for everyone. Some find it frustrating because they have an idea they want to execute, but sometimes, they don’t find satisfaction in their result, so they stop doing anything. They’re afraid of messing up, and with a mindset like that, drawing can be turned into a negative experience. Lots of people find it freeing and a way to express themselves! 

Drawing helps me manage my emotions. Late at night, I often experience a profound sense of loneliness. It’s not simply the quiet or the darkness, but a feeling of disconnection and misunderstanding. To cope, I turn to drawing. I express my feelings through scribbles, shapes, colors, and words. By the end of these drawing sessions, the lingering melancholy has diminished, and I feel a sense of peace and rest. Visually expressing emotions is a healthy and relaxing practice that can also spark creativity.

Drawing can help you be present. Sometimes, when I need to clear my mind, I draw what I see around me. So I’ll take my pencil and sketchbook, go outside, find a spot, and start drawing. The sky, the trees, the people, the bees. It helps you be present in your space. You notice things you wouldn’t. 

Accepting failure is one of the hardest things to do. Luckily, drawing can help! When you draw, you are bound to see something you wish you hadn’t done. That goes with authors with their books, cooks with their cooking, and actors with their performances. Everyone, everywhere, wishes they hadn’t done something. Mistakes are stepping stones. Every “failed” drawing is a chance to learn and grow. You can use those drawings as an example of what you would like to do differently next time. 

Vincent van Gogh once wrote to his brother Theo, “Someone has a great fire in his soul and nobody ever comes to warm themselves at it, and passers-by see nothing but a little smoke at the top of the chimney and then go on their way.” This resonates deeply, as it captures the essence of being misunderstood. People will glimpse surface-level qualities, but will often overlook the creative fire burning from within. Drawing can unveil this hidden side, allowing you to share your great ideas, emotions, and unique perspective of the world.