Why “bad” drawings are a good thing

“This Looks So Bad.”

At some point, every creative kid gets stuck in the same cycle.

🚨 They erase constantly.

🚨 They rip up their drawings.

🚨 They say, “Ugh, I can’t draw.”

And when they finally do finish something?

They look at it, frown, and say:

"This is terrible."

You try to encourage them.

You tell them it looks great—but they don’t believe you.

What’s really going on?

They think bad drawings = failure.

And if they believe failure means they’re just not good at art, they’ll start drawing less and less—until they quit completely.

But here’s the truth:

🎯 Bad drawings aren’t the enemy—they’re the path to getting better.

The artists who improve don’t avoid bad drawings—they expect them.

The artists who stay stuck, on the other hand, let bad drawings make them feel like they’re not talented.

And that’s where parents can make a huge difference.

The One Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

✅ 1. Show Them That Even Pro Artists Make Bad Drawings

Most kids assume that good artists only make good drawings.

So when their own work doesn’t turn out how they imagined, they think:

💭 “I guess I’m just not talented.”

💭 “I’ll never be as good as my favorite artists.”

💭 “If I mess up, I should start over.”

But here’s what they don’t realize—every artist makes bad drawings.

And not just sometimes. A LOT.

Even professional animators, comic artists, and illustrators fill entire sketchbooks with rough, incomplete, and messy drawings.

Bad drawings aren’t proof they’re failing.

They’re proof they’re learning.

If your child starts getting frustrated with a drawing, try this:

Instead of: ❌ “It looks great!” (which they won’t believe)

Say: ✅ “You’re supposed to make bad drawings first. That’s how you find the good ones.”

(Be prepared for the confused looks. 😆 And to have a conversation!)

🎯 Why this works:

• It removes the fear of bad drawings.
• It shifts the focus from “talent” to growth.
• It teaches them that bad drawings aren’t something to avoid—they’re something to work through.
  
  

What If They Still Get Frustrated?

That’s okay. This isn’t a one-time fix.

Over time, you can reinforce this mindset by exposing them to real artists’ sketchbooks, rough drafts, artist bios, and process videos.

Or even better— just be transparent with how you make mistakes, in all areas of life, and how those mistakes help us make better decisions in the future.

Because once they realize that bad drawings don’t mean they’re bad at art, they’ll stop letting frustration hold them back.

And that’s when their confidence (and skill) really starts to grow.

The Disney animation legend Walt Stanchfield said “We all have 10,000 bad drawings in us. The sooner we get them out the better.”

Once a young artist truly believes this, they’ll be unstoppable.

Stay creative,
Daniel
Kids Cartoon Academy

P.S. If You Want To Help Your Child Normalize Their “Bad” Art…

Inside Kids Cartoon Academy, we help kids push past perfectionism and embrace the creative process so they actually enjoy drawing again.

🎨 They learn step-by-step—so bad drawings don’t shake their confidence.

🎨 They get real inspiration from pros who show their messy sketches and normalize mistakes.

🎨 And they develop the skills (and mindset) to keep improving.

Want to see how it works? Click below to check it out.