We don’t talk enough about the beauty of making shitty art. Yes — the messy, rushed, unplanned stuff. The doodles on napkins, the portraits where one eye floats mysteriously too high, the painting that was “supposed to be a tree” but looks suspiciously like a fried egg. That kind of art.
Here’s the thing: making “bad” art on a regular basis is one of the most powerful habits you can build as a creative person. Here’s why:
1. It’s Practice (without the pressure)
Making daily art — even if it’s terrible — is how you grow. Every line you draw or stroke you paint is training your eye, your hand, and your instincts. The more you create, the more fluent you become in your visual language. And when perfection isn’t the goal, you give yourself permission to actually try.
2. It Sparks Ideas
Some of my best ideas have come from something that started as a random scribble. When you show up every day and make something — anything — you’re tapping into your subconscious. A doodle today might become a full painting next week. A weird shape might spark a character. Inspiration doesn’t always strike like lightning; sometimes it drips in through the cracks.
3. It’s Play. And Play is Powerful.
Making art should also just be fun. Not every piece needs to be portfolio-worthy or posted online. Some of it should just be silly, spontaneous, and yours. When we play, we loosen up. We laugh. We reconnect with the joy that made us pick up a pencil or brush in the first place.
So go ahead: draw the wonky cat. Paint with your non-dominant hand. Sketch something with your eyes closed. Let go of perfect and just create.
Because in the end, even the “shitty” art isn’t really shitty at all. It’s honest. It’s yours. And it’s moving you forward.
👩🎨 Keep showing up. Keep creating. The magic’s in the mess.
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