Why Courage Is More Important Than Skill in Drawing?

Today, I want to talk about something absolutely crucial in learning how to draw—yet most people completely overlook it. When it comes to drawing, learning to be brave is far more important than learning techniques. Many people think drawing is all about skill, but in reality, art is largely a psychological game.

Have you ever noticed this?

You watch countless tutorials, practice technique after technique…and still, your drawing doesn’t improve the way you hoped. You still don’t dare to create boldly. Behind all of this hides one deeply overlooked issue: our fear of the unknown.

When we sit in front of a blank sheet of paper, we freeze. We panic. We don’t know where to start. Today, I want to show you how to understand this fear—and how to solve it.

First, “fear of the unknown” is actually a very common psychological response. It’s directly connected to the amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotions and danger detection. When we face something unfamiliar, unpredictable, or out of our control, the amygdala activates and throws us into a “run away” mode—even when there is no real danger at all.

In short: we fear things whose outcomes we cannot predict or control.

In drawing, this fear shows up in many ways:

You don’t dare start.
You worry you’ll ruin the page.
You avoid drawing at all.
You chase perfection and feel crushed when your art doesn’t match your expectations.

All of this has nothing to do with skill. It’s a psychological defense mechanism.

So—how do we overcome this fear of the unknown?

The truth is, this isn’t something you can flip like a switch. You overcome it by understanding it, breaking it down, living with it, and slowly weakening its power through small, consistent actions. And this applies not only to drawing, but also to writing, content creation, and any creative field.

Here are three ways to begin:

Number 1. Start with action.

Don’t wait until you “feel ready.” You will never feel fully ready. The only thing that defeats your fear is putting down the first line. Once you make the first mark, the second and third will follow. Every beautiful artwork begins as an ugly, messy sketch.

Number 2. Start with exploration.

Exploration itself is a form of courage. Try different mediums, themes, colors, and compositions. Many breakthroughs happen by accident—through experimentation. Only by exploring can you turn the unknown into something familiar.

Number 3, Start with self-compassion.

Strict education teaches us to avoid mistakes and chase perfection, which turns into self-doubt. From today forward, I want you to practice being kind to yourself. Just because a drawing didn’t turn out well, or a project didn’t succeed, does not mean you lack talent. No one becomes great in a single attempt. It sounds cliché, but it is absolutely true.

If you feel stuck in your art—or afraid to start anything you truly want to do—it’s not because you are not good enough. It’s because you’re too harsh on yourself, and too afraid of the unknown and the possibility of failure.

So from today on, give yourself a little more courage.

I’m Daisy, a storyteller who records and shares art. If you enjoy my content, feel free like, subscribe, and leave a comment. And share with me—how do you deal with fear in your creative process?