Drawing was stressing me out for a while and I think I finally figured out why.

For at least a year I've been way too dependent on pose references. They're good to have sometimes, of course, but there were so many times where I wouldn't even start drawing until I had until I dug up the exact pose reference image I wanted. And that's stupid. It feels robotic and unsatisfying to stick to references so much, you know?

I can't believe I did it for so long. It was definitely one of those "you can't break out of a cycle until you realize you're in one" things. It doesn't allow for all those hashtag #happy accidents you get from just sketching ideas and iterating on your own. Plus the more you stick to refs the less you're flexing your imagination skills, right? I've been free drawing all week (starting with the Death pic) and it feels so much better. Just coming up with ideas and hashing them out.

So yeah if you're feeling burnt out or like drawing isn't fun anymore that might be why. Free your mind.

# Oh I also started drawing without music and it's so much better for me! Much more focus. Try that too if you want.