I’m Okay With Being a Mediocre Artist

Drawing comes with no pressure. It’s just a way to play.

Fairy Wings — Drawing by Author

I’m not sure exactly when or why I stopped drawing, but it was probably around my second year of college.

I grew up watching my mother at her easel, sketching portraits in charcoal, pencil, and pastel.

I sat beside her and drew in my little sketchbook, getting frustrated when I couldn’t draw as well as she did. I got better as I got older, but it was never easy for me. Doubt crept in early, sabotaging the joy of creating for the sake of creating. I never felt talented enough. I second-guessed every drawing to the point of paralysis. But there were moments when it brought me pure joy, particularly on the rare occasion when a drawing came out the way I wanted it to.

Trips to the art supply store with my mom were coveted events. We’d wander the aisles, getting lost in the possibility of untouched pencils and brand-new sketchbooks. To this day, I love the warm aroma of graphite, wood, canvas, and paint that’s unique to an art supply store.

Angel in Winter — A collaborative drawing with Christopher Robin

It had been my life goal to go to art school and become an illustrator. But my…