[Improve Your Illustration Skills] For days when you don't feel like drawing! 3 'mental practice methods' to dramatically improve your drawing skills without holding a pen.

everyone,"Days when I just can't draw"Don't you ever feel that way?

When work is busy or you're tired,Days when I don't even have the energy to pick up a penThere is, isn't there?

Trying too hard to draw can sometimes lead to disappointment and self-loathing.

Such “An illustration practice method that helps you improve even on days when you can't draw: Today, I'd like to share my personal experience with you.

Even on days when you feel like you're in a slump, these are all input methods that you can do without feeling pressured, so please feel free to read them at your leisure.

"Visual Research" - How to improve even on days you don't hold a pen.

On days when you can't draw, "visual input" can be a great source of strength.

Just by browsing illustrations and photos that catch your eye on Pinterest, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), etc.,My repertoire of compositions has expanded, and my desire to draw has naturally returned.I will.

When you find an illustration on social media that catches your eye, you should ask yourself questions like: "Why did this picture catch my attention?", "How is the viewer's gaze guided?", "Are triangular or diagonal compositions being used?"I put into words the reasons why I find it appealing and wrote them down in my notebook.Leave itI recommend this.

This is a very effective exercise for improving your "compositional skills."

however,Copying the composition of social media posts directly is not acceptable.。

What's important is,Understanding the reasons that attracted you and applying them to your own work.。

Let's combine multiple elements and reconstruct them into a completely new composition.

Furthermore, visual research is not limited to social media.

When you're reading a novel or manga, sometimes a vivid scene suddenly pops into your mind, right?

Don't miss that moment,"Imaginary research" that visualizes the situation in your mind“This is also very effective.

Reading allows you to disconnect from visual information, so you can continue reading even on days when you're tired.

Gathering reference materials for poses and costumes to improve the quality of the next piece.

Even on days when you can't draw, gathering reference materials is a valuable form of input for improvement.

Simply browsing 3D pose apps, checking fashion websites, or saving poses you like from stock photo sites can significantly improve the quality of your next drawing.

In particular, "I can't draw hands well" and "I can't understand how to draw wrinkles in clothes,"Casually gather materials to compensate for your weaknesses.It is very effective.

Rather than forcing yourself to pick up a pen on days when you can't draw,Doing some "preparation" to overcome your weaknesses will ultimately lead to faster improvement.That happens quite often.

Furthermore, researching costumes directly contributes to increased motivation.

"Maid outfits," "Chinese dresses," "Japanese clothing," "modern street style," etc. Having a stock of outfits you want to dress your characters in beforehand makes the excitement of drawing them again feel completely different.Right?

Just by looking at the silhouette of the costume, the texture of the material, and the details of the decorations, you'll naturally get the feeling, "I want to draw clothes like this next."

Creating a color palette is especially effective on days you don't draw.

Even on days when you can't draw, studying color schemes is important input that will improve the overall quality of your illustrations.

You can extract colors from your favorite illustrations or photos, or use color scheme websites (Color HuntJust by looking at them and saving the color combinations that catch your eye,Creating the world for the next drawing will be smoother.This is what it will be.

If you register a new color palette in your drawing tool, you can think, "Let's try drawing with this kind of feel today,"This will also serve as motivation when you return.Right?

If you're using Procreate, you can choose themes such as "pink," "Egyptian (gold x blue)," "nightscape," and "fantasy."Creating palettes for each theme will greatly expand the range of your artwork.

Also, I highly recommend looking at reference books on color schemes.

Not only the color combinations,Situations and atmospheres that suit that colorIt also features various art projects, so you can enjoy it like a magazine even on days when you're not drawing.

By receiving visual stimuli,"Next time, I'd like to try painting with this color."That feeling arises.

Learning techniques through videos is also a valuable form of practice.

Even on days when you can't draw anything, simply watching videos about illustration can be a form of "technical input."

There are days when you're so tired or lack the energy that you just can't bring yourself to do anything, right?

On days like that, don't force yourself to draw.Switch to learning with videosI recommend this.

Simply playing videos without any purpose can easily leave you feeling guilty, so consider adding things like "illustration critiques," "drawing tips," and "methods for improvement."Videos of genres useful for creative workChoosing this option gives you a sense of progress, even on days when you can't draw.

Naoki Saito's correction videos areComposition, color, and character presentationetc.Practical tips for improvement are easy to understand.That's its appeal.

Advice from a professional perspective will lead to new insights for your next drawing.

Professor Kakage's blunt critiques are also popular. "There's no such thing as a slump." This quote is a powerful and inspiring saying that encourages many people.

In addition to technical criticisms,Mental health tipsIt offers valuable insights, so it's especially worth watching on days when you can't bring yourself to draw.

Just by watching the videos, you'll naturally gain insights like, "Next time, I'll try drawing it this way," which will ultimately lead to improvement.

On days when you want to completely rest your brain, reading is the best form of input.

On days when you can't draw, I recommend taking some time to completely disconnect from visual information.

When you take a break from your smartphone and social media and read a novel, scenes naturally come to mind from the world of words alone.It becomes easier to come up with new worldviews and compositional ideas (inspiration).

If you immediately jot down any images that come to mind in a notebook, they will be very useful as "hints for your next drawing."

The time spent not drawing is the moment when it truly becomes the foundation for my creative work.

Also,For readingReduces stress by 68%It is also said that there is such a thing.

On days when you're tired or feeling down, instead of forcing yourself to draw, simply immersing yourself in the world of a story can instantly lighten your mood.

If you're unsure what to read, check out the website I run. "A reading room for reading in sunny and rainy weather" Please do take a look.

Recommended related articles

Reading Room for Sunny Days and Rainy Days

There are still few articles,Books that offer creative inspiration, and works perfect for a change of pace.We plan to introduce them.

Even on days when I can't draw, increasing my input through reading naturally brings back the energy I need to draw next time.

Days when you can't draw are "preparation days." Take your time and expand your creative repertoire.

Days when I can't draw aren't "slacking off," but rather important "preparation periods" for my next masterpiece.

Rather than forcing yourself to draw and becoming miserable, focus on visual research, gathering materials, studying color schemes, and learning through videos.Input that can be done without holding a penBy spending time on this, the quality of your next drawing will naturally improve.

One major advantage of this approach is that by being exposed to other works and stockpiling interesting compositions and colors, you can smoothly begin drawing when the urge to draw returns.

It's okay not to worry if you can't draw on certain days.

At your own pace, little by little. Time to expand your creative repertoire Let's do that.

That accumulation of experience will surely make your next work even better.

Thank you for reading to the end.

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When you're not in the mood to draw, researching your ideal equipment can be a fun way to get excited!
Here's how I, with zero knowledge, avoided the 400,000 yen trap and got the best PC for 220,000 yen.

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[Improve Your Illustration Skills] For days when you don't feel like drawing! 3 'mental practice methods' to dramatically improve your drawing skills without holding a pen.

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If you're having trouble coming up with a good pose and can't draw it, relying on a convenient pose template is a good option.
Here's a review of the popular drawing mannequin that I used extensively in creating the new key visual!

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[Improve Your Illustration Skills] For days when you don't feel like drawing! 3 'mental practice methods' to dramatically improve your drawing skills without holding a pen.

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If you felt "That was good" or "I want to support you",
Receiving encouragement from OFUSE is very motivating.
Your support will be instrumental in creating illustrations and updating my blog.

Thank you for reading to the end.

Thanks to all of you who always read my work, I'm able to continue creating.

I look forward to your continued support.

Pochi

Illustrator

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Illustrator.
This blog is my growth diary as an illustrator.
Opened since June 2023.
Starting YouTube in January 2025.