If you’ve ever reached a point in your drawing where everything suddenly feels wrong… you are absolutely not alone.
The colours look odd.
The fur looks messy.
Nothing feels realistic yet.
And you start thinking:
“This isn’t working.”
Welcome to what many artists call the ugly stage of drawing.
It’s one of the most common parts of creating realistic artwork, especially with coloured pencils. And honestly? Learning how to get through this stage is just as important as learning technique.
So here are some of my favourite tips for navigating the messy middle without losing confidence or giving up too soon.
1. Remember That Realism Takes Time
One of the biggest mindset shifts you can make is understanding that realism develops slowly.
Coloured pencil is a layering medium. Realistic drawings don’t appear after one layer… or even two. Depth, texture, softness, contrast, and detail all build gradually over time.
Many drawings look strange before they start coming together properly.
That doesn’t mean you’re failing. It simply means your drawing is still in progress.
2. Stop Judging Unfinished Work
This is a huge one.So many artists decide a drawing is “bad” long before it’s actually finished.
An unfinished drawing is not supposed to look complete yet.
Instead of asking:“Does this look realistic yet?”
Try asking:“Have I given it enough layers and time yet?”
That tiny shift can completely change your mindset while drawing.
3. Use Positive Reminders While You Draw
When I first started drawing, I used to stick little post-it notes around my drawing board saying things like:
✨ Keep layering
✨ Trust the process
✨ Don’t panic – it always looks strange at first
It might sound simple, but those reminders genuinely helped stop me spiralling into negative self-talk halfway through a piece.
Your mindset matters enormously when you’re creating art.
4. Pay Attention to Your Self-Talk
Often, the hardest part of the ugly stage isn’t the drawing itself…
It’s the way we speak to ourselves while we’re drawing.
If you catch yourself thinking:
“This looks awful.”
Pause and ask:
“Is that actually true… or is it simply unfinished?”
That little bit of self-coaching can make a massive difference.
5. Don’t Quit Too Early
Sometimes the biggest breakthrough in drawing isn’t improving your technique.
It’s simply learning not to give up during the awkward middle stages.
Because very often, the drawings you feel least confident about halfway through end up becoming the ones you’re most proud of.
So if your artwork feels messy, awkward, or disappointing right now, please don’t assume you’ve failed.
You may simply be in the middle of the drawing – not the end of it 💛
To find out more about getting through the ugly stage of your drawing – and hear me talk through it in real time while drawing – watch the YouTube video below
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