[LT TALKS] How to Fall in Love With Drawing

“Little Thunder’s Private Playground” saved me, and I hope this book can do the same for you if you’re feeling lost.

Over the past year, I’ve been feeling totally confused about my art. Despite the endless inspiration around me and countless subjects waiting to be paint, I began to question myself, “WHY AM I EVEN PAINTING?”

I fell into a deep spiral, surrounded by a million things I wanted to create, yet felt like nothing really mattered. Many artists go through this kind of confusion. I started to realize that it’s not about how skilled you are or whether you can make a living from it. The key is understanding your purpose for painting.

We all have different reasons for creating.

Some people paint because they got praised as kids. Some think it’s amazing to create what they love, others think being an artist is cool. Some want to gain popularity through their art, some express their love, some try to make a statement through their work, while some just want to avoid the 9-to-5 grind. There are even those who feel like painting is all they know, and some just find it super fun.

Each reason brings a unique meaning to art, and a lot of unhappiness comes from not really knowing our own purpose. For example, if someone believes they paint simply for the joy of it but actually wants fame as their primary motivation, they might feel disappointed if their work isn’t as popular as they hoped, also carrying the pressure of “I really love to paint,” which can make them stop creating altogether.

Your reasons for painting are super personal—whether it’s purely for enjoyment or to make some cash, both are totally valid. There’s no hierarchy among reasons. Your true motivations will lead you to your destination.

Last year, I bought a bunch of sketchbooks and just let myself doodle without any aim. I painted whatever came to mind and skipped it when I didn’t feel like it. Those sketchbooks became my private playground, where I crafted my own rules. Through this open exploration, I began to rediscover myself.

Everyone can build their own private playground, a place where you can do whatever you want without fear while facing yourself. It’s just you there, but you won’t feel lonely at all.

THUNDER

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《Little Thunder’s Private Playground》拯救了我，也許這本書能幫助迷失的你找到方向。

自去年，我在創作上感到前所未有的迷惘。雖然有無限的靈感和一生也畫不完的題材 ，卻突然想到，我為了什麼而畫？

我陷入了深淵，面對著無數想畫的東西，同時又感到所有畫作都沒意義。

很多畫畫人都曾經這樣迷失，我逐漸意識到，關鍵不在於畫得好壞、能否靠畫畫生活，而在於理解自己畫畫的目的。

有人畫畫是因為小時候受到讚賞

有人覺得畫出自己喜愛的事物很奇妙

有人認為身為畫家很cool

有人希望透過畫畫獲得人氣

有人用畫畫表達愛意

有人藉此講道理

有人為了避免上班

有人認為除了畫畫自己什麼都不會

有人純粹覺得畫畫很爽

任何理由都讓畫畫充滿意義，而不開心只是因為不理解自己畫畫的目的。如果一個人認為自己純粹喜愛畫畫的過程，但實際上真正想追求的是通過畫畫獲得名氣，那麼作品不如預期地受歡迎，大概會感到沮喪，還承擔著「我很喜歡畫畫」的壓力，漸漸就不想再創作了。

畫畫的理由是非常個人的，無論是單純地享受畫畫還是想通過畫作來賺錢，都各有其價值，沒有哪個理由比較高尚，你畫畫的真正理由會引領你到目的地。

去年，我買了很多本sketchbook，讓自己亂畫，先不設定目的，當想到什麼就畫什麼，不想畫的時候就不畫。這些sketchbook就像我的私人遊樂場，玩法完全由我定，自由探索的過程中，我漸漸重新認識了自己。

每個人都可以建造自己的私人遊樂場，在那裡可以隨心所欲，無畏地面對自己，那裡只有你一人，但並不會感到孤獨。

THUNDER