How to Overcome Your Fear of Drawing in Public
Drawing in public can feel quite intimidating at first. Maybe you've wanted to take your sketchbook to a café, a park or on your travels for a long time, but you hesitate because you're worried that other people might judge your drawings.
If that sounds familiar you're definitely not alone. Many artists whether they're beginners or professionals know this feeling. I also struggled for a long time with opening my sketchbook in front of other people. I didn't like the idea, that everyone might be looking at my drawing. To be honest, I still catch myself feeling that way from time to time. Over the years, I've realized that this fear is usually completely unfounded.
In this article, I'd like to share my own experience and show you how you can overcome this fear step by step.
Why It Feels So Difficult
When you draw, you're creating something personal. Unlike a finished artwork, a sketch develops right in front of other people's eyes. Every uncertain line, every correction and every small mistake is visible. That's exactly what makes it uncomfortable for so many people.
On top of that, our brains tend to overestimate how much attention other people pay to us. Psychologists call this the spotlight effect. We often believe we're the center of attention, even though most people are simply focused on their own lives. Realizing this helped me tremendously.
Nobody Expects Perfect Drawings
I used to think that every sketch had to turn out well before I could let anyone see it. Today, I see sketches very differently because they serve a completely different purpose for me. They're not meant to impress anyone. They're something to learn from.
The creative process is full of spontaneous sketches that don't have to be perfect. That's exactly where their value lies. The sooner you accept that mistakes are part of your creative journey, the more relaxed you'll feel when drawing outdoors.
Some drawings may even seem much better when you look back at them later than they did at first. That's especially true because you'll associate them with the moment in which you created them.
Most People Are Curious Not Critical
One thing surprised me more than anything else. Whenever someone glanced at my sketchbook, I automatically assumed they were judging my drawing. In reality the opposite was usually true.
Most people simply find it interesting to watch someone draw. Some smile, others ask a quick question or tell you that they used to enjoy drawing themselves. Personally I've experienced almost no negative reactions. That showed me that my fear was mostly unnecessary.
Start in Quiet Places
If you've never felt comfortable drawing in public, you don't have to begin in the middle of a busy city square. Choose a place where you already feel comfortable or somewhere familiar.
A quiet café
A peaceful park
A library
A bench with a beautiful view
The more comfortable your surroundings are the easier it will be to focus on your drawing. With every session, your confidence will grow.
Here's another tip that has helped me a lot. Try sitting with your back against a wall. That way, nobody can look over your shoulder. It's my favorite way to sketch because I know nobody is standing behind me. If someone is genuinely interested in my drawings, they'll simply come over and talk to me.
Keep Your First Sketching Sessions Short
One mistake many people make is putting too much pressure on themselves by planning to draw outside for several hours right away. Fifteen to twenty minutes is more than enough.
The goal isn't to create a masterpiece. The goal is simply to make drawing in public feel normal over time. With every small sketch, the fear becomes a little smaller until sketching around other people starts to feel completely natural.
A 5 minute sketch on my iPad Mini from my last trip to Hamburg.
Try Drawing With a Group
If you're interested in drawing outdoors, it's also worth looking into the Urban Sketchers community. The goal isn't to create perfect artwork but to capture the moments happening around you. People draw everything they encounter in their surroundings and there are now countless groups meeting in cities all over the world to sketch together.
This might be another great way to overcome your fear because when you're surrounded by people doing exactly the same thing, you quickly stop worrying about everyone else around you.
Drawing Brings People Together
One wonderful side effect I never expected is that drawing often starts conversations. People regularly stop for a moment, ask a friendly question or share their own creative experiences. These encounters are almost always positive and they completely overshadow the fear I talked about at the beginning of this article.
Once you've experienced this for yourself, you'll probably see drawing in public in a completely different way.
Final Thoughts
If you're afraid of drawing in public, you're definitely not alone. Almost every artist knows this feeling. The good news is that this insecurity doesn't disappear by thinking about it. It disappears through practice.
Take your sketchbook with you on your next walk. Spend twenty minutes sketching in a café. Draw in the park or while you're waiting for the next bus. With every sketch, you'll notice that drawing around other people starts to feel more natural.
Eventually, you'll realize that the people around you hardly pay attention to your drawing at all. Just like you, they're usually busy with their own lives.