Why Ugly Sketches Make You a Better Artist

Welcome to Fearless Drawing — Module 1 - Video 2. In this lesson we talk about something most artists try to avoid: mistakes. The truth is that mistakes are not the enemy of drawing—they’re actually one of the fastest ways to improve. Those “ugly” sketches we sometimes want to hide are often the most honest drawings we make. They show how we think, how we search for forms, and how our hand learns through repetition. Instead of trying to control every line, the goal here is to allow space for exploration. In this video I’ll share why rough drawings, awkward lines, and imperfect sketches are an essential part of the process, and how embracing them can help you draw with more freedom, confidence, and speed. If you want access to the rest of the course — including all modules where I go deeper into gesture, construction, character development, inking and full comic page workflow, you can find everything on my Gumroad page below Fearless Drawing – Full Bundle (Special launch price – limited time) https://johnkillink.gumroad.com/l/dcfull You can see all 7 modules and other products in my Gumroad store here: https://johnkillink.gumroad.com/ My Custom Brushes & Procreate Templates https://johnkillink.gumroad.com/l/cmcb STRAY – Sketchbook Volume 1 (103 pages, PDF) A collection of my traditional drawings, sketchbook evolution, client work and personal worlds. https://johnkillink.gumroad.com/l/stray1