Rating Childhood Art 🧸

It’s truly a trip down memory lane to look back at my old art, especially when I started RATING MY CHILDHOOD DRAWINGS. There’s something so pure and uninhibited about the art we create as kids. For me, my artistic journey began with pure joy, just letting my imagination run wild without a care in the world for perfection or technique. I remember being a "cute artist" in my own little world, constantly sketching anything that popped into my head. One of my absolute favorite things to draw were characters inspired by my favorite cartoons. That Cute MLP character design!! I found really takes me back. I was obsessed with creating my own ponies, giving them unique names, cutie marks, and even elaborate backstories. It felt like I was doing my own version of "MLP concept art," imagining entire new worlds and adventures. I'd spend hours trying to draw the perfect princess pony, often inspired by characters like Flurry Heart, dreaming up what their unique powers or stories would be. It wasn't just about copying; it was about extending the universe, making it my own. These weren't typically "tiny drawings" but rather full-page explorations of characters, often with elaborate wings or accessories. The cute cat drawing was another gem! I’d often draw animals, giving them human-like expressions or quirky accessories, like that bow tie. There was no pressure to make them anatomically correct; it was all about capturing a feeling or a personality. And then there was that Fox drawing. While I rated it a bit lower, it perfectly encapsulates that phase where I was just experimenting, trying to draw every animal I could think of, regardless of how "off" it might look. It’s funny how critical we can be of our past selves, but even the "weird" ones hold so much charm and show a budding "artistic talent" that was just waiting to be honed. As I grew older, my approach to art definitely shifted. While I still adore the free-flowing imagination of my early years, I started to feel a pull towards drawing more realistically. This is when I began to rely more on references. It was a conscious choice to improve my skills and understand anatomy and perspective better. It felt less like I was a "toddler creator" and more like an aspiring artist trying to learn the rules. But looking back at these childhood pieces reminds me of the magic of drawing purely from the heart. It makes me want to find a balance between the two approaches. I think many artists, whether they're just starting out or have been creating for years, can benefit from revisiting their roots. It’s a wonderful way to rekindle that innocent passion and perhaps even inspire new "art ideas" by combining the imaginative freedom of childhood with the learned techniques of adulthood. Maybe it’s time to dedicate some time to just letting those creative juices flow again, without a single reference in sight, and see what new "cute tiny drawing" or imaginary character I can conjure up. It’s a great way to rediscover the pure "arts & entertainment" that drawing always was for me.