How to measure our own progress

A while back, I went sketching to a location in which I’ve sketched way back in 2016 and upon finishing the sketch, I felt amazed by the progress I’ve made ever since and it raised the question of how to measure my own progress.

As creatives, or those who are attempting any creative endeavor whether it be drawing, writing or music. We somehow think that it is a given that we will end up with a great end result from the first go! So, I thought about breaking it into two major points of A) How we measure our own progress and B) How we should measure our own progress!

How we measure our own progress:

• At the start we expect it to be a 200 percent out of a 100. Meaning we set the bars way too high for the place we are at in our journey.
• We compare our first raw new sketches to those who have been sketching for years and expect ourselves to be there right from the start from when we pick up that pen, pencil or brush. Forgetting how long it took them and how many hours they have been pouring into their creation.
• We forget that we have our own lines our own style and try hardly to be like that certain one, and while it is good to get inspired and learn from the work of others it is very important that we learn but then create our own.

How we should measure our own progress:

• At the starting point think about you and the fact that you started doing something new honoring your creativity. So, no matter what the outcome. You are celebrating you. You are showing up for you.
• As you progress compare your new sketches to your first ones and take it from there. Celebrate every little achievement you have managed along the way.
• Yes. Do look at the work of others and aspire to reach to that level of improvement but don’t expect your work to turn out like theirs. You are you, and you do you. The more you practice your essence will come out declaring its own style and that my friend is priceless!

Tips on progress:

• Progress is an ongoing process not a destination! The sooner you acknowledge that the better you will be at it.
• To progress you need a good body of work. To have a good body of work you need to WORK.
• Set up a target of how many times a week and how many hours you can give to this new habit. The more you commit the better your progress gets. To help you with that you can read more about it here and here .

These are my sketches of American Cultural Center DAI. The first one in 2016 and then the more recent one in 2023. When I look back at the 2016 sketch I feel that my lines are not confident. Colour rendering is not how I now like to apply colour. Too many details and no abstraction of the matter. I remember the thoughts that went through my head when I finished my sketch. I wasn’t happy with the end result constantly harshly critiquing myself while forgetting that I have just started my journey.

However my new sketch of DAI in 2023 is more me. I feel that my lines are more confident. My colour application is more loose. I no longer feel that I need to cramp in every detail to translate the matter in front of me. I have also noticed that with time I am gaining speed and with speed I am gaining spontaneity and looseness that I have always longed for in my sketches. Guess what? I am not there yet and that is ok because as I’ve said it. It’s a PROCESS!