Trying Something New

Trying out a drawing on black paper as part of my Drawing Amsterdam Dailies

How does trying something new for you work? Can you jump into it immediately or does it take a certain amount of convincing yourself to try the new thing, habit or technique?

I’ve become more aware recently of how often I put up resistance to actually doing new things. I may like the idea, but because I’m new at it and maybe (probably) will make mistakes, I start resisting doing that new thing.

My thought process tends to go: “It’s exciting! I like it! It’s interesting! It’s new. Oh… how about I do something more familiar?” And then I don’t do that new, interesting thing. Does that sound familiar?

As many of you know, I’ve been working on a 30 minutes-a-day daily project drawing my way through photos of a trip to Amsterdam. I’m using a sketchbook with toned paper which is all new to me. I’ve found it interesting but not too hard to use the grey and tan paper.

What I want to do more of and find myself NOT doing, is working with the black paper.

Why?

Because it’s much more of a challenge and I’m not used to it.

I know I want to work with the black paper more. I know it’ll get easier if I practice. I’ve found, though, I’m not quite committed yet to making mistakes. I cajole and persuade myself that it’s only a page and only one picture. It seems like a lot of effort to get in the practice.

I did show up to do it these past few days. I like the result so far. I wonder how long it will take before I don’t think about the effort to work with black paper the next time.

Does this kind of thing happen to you? How do you approach working on new things?