Why I Stopped Trying to Make My Art "Pretty"

The Intimidation of the Caricature Artist

From a very young age, I used to watch artists at markets creating these incredibly unique, often hilarious caricatures on the spot. I wasn’t just impressed by their speed; I was in awe of their talent for making someone look completely different and exaggerated, yet 100% recognisable.

As much as I loved it, I was equally intimidated. I’ve realised that the biggest thing holding me back—and perhaps you feel this too—is the fear of drawing "ugly". I call this the Perfectionist Trap. Caricatures aren’t meant to follow traditional beauty standards. They are designed to evoke emotion, usually through a bit of irony or satire. But the magic lies in the fact that they still possess a massive sense of Appeal.

The Perfectionist Trap

Let's talk about where this "perfectionist trap" actually comes from. From the moment we first pick up a pencil, most of us are subtly conditioned to believe that the goal of art is to replicate reality as flawlessly and for the result to be as pretty as possible. We are taught that a "good" drawing is one that looks exactly like the photo, and a "beautiful" drawing is one that follows strict rules of symmetry and proportion.

This conditioning creates a heavy internal pressure to only produce work that is aesthetically pleasing, but lacks a soul. We become so obsessed with the end result—that polished, shareworthy image—that we stop taking risks. We stick to the angles we know, the faces that are easy to look at, and the techniques that feel safe.

The Cost of Playing it Safe

When we only strive for "pretty," we inadvertently strip the soul out of our work. By avoiding the "ugly" or the "weird," we also avoid the expressive, the interesting. Here is what happens when we stay stuck in that trap:

• Stiff Designs: Our characters lack a dynamic feel, looking like mannequins rather than living beings.

• Fear of Failure: We stop experimenting because we’re terrified a single "bad" line will ruin the whole piece. 

• Creative Burnout: It’s exhausting trying to be perfect all the time! It takes the joy out of the messy creation process. And worse, we end up all creating the same characters over again. 

Contrast of Beaty vs Appeal

I want to give you permission right now to be "incorrect." Real life is asymmetrical, lumpy, and wonderfully strange. When we stop trying to make our art "pretty," we finally give ourselves the space to make it real.

Remember, your job as an artist isn't just to be a human camera; it’s to interpret the world through your unique lens. Don't be afraid to lean into the quirks that make a subject—and your art—truly stand out.

What is "Appeal" Anyway?

By definition, "Appeal" is to be attractive or interesting. In the world of animation, "Appeal" is a fundamental principle, but it is also one of the hardest to grasp because it isn’t concrete. It isn’t the same thing as "pretty."

In the classic book The Illusion of Life, legends Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston defined appeal as a "magnetic quality" that captivates the audience. It’s about making a design engaging and believable. 

Think about it in terms of faces:

• Symmetry is often equated with beauty, but it can be forgettable.

• Imperfections—a tooth gap, heavy eyebrows, or a unique birthmark—are actually what make a person interesting and memorable.

• Villains are rarely "pretty," yet they have immense appeal because their designs are striking and dominant.

Reference vs Sketch

Breaking the "Mean" Mental Block

As I started to draw for this session, I noticed another strange mental block. I almost felt... mean?! I’ve spent so much time trying to capture traditional beauty that deliberately choosing a feature to exaggerate felt like a huge risk. I felt like I was mocking the models, even though they were gorgeous!

I had to remind myself that I wasn't being insulting; I was searching for the specific "character" that makes them unique. If I had tried to draw them perfectly, I would have just been copying lines. By daring to break those lines, I was able to breathe a bit of soul into the portrait.

Sketch of exaggerated Jaw

Why This Matters for Your Creative Journey

Whether you are wrestling with a digital drawing or sewing a pencil case, finding the balance between the "correct" and the "expressive" is vital. Learning to push proportions in these sketches is exactly what allows me to make the characters in my animation series more memorable.

Every project teaches us something, even if the result feels a bit "messy." Taking the leap to draw something "incorrect" is often the only way to find what is truly beautiful, interesting and memorable.

Ready to push beyond "Pretty"?!

Ready to find hidden and appealing characters hiding in plain sight? Discover how I use random objects and everyday shapes to push proportions even further and break out of the "standard" character mould.

I hope this post helps you get over the fear of drawing "ugly" and gives you the permission you need to finally break free from the perfectionism trap.

I’ll see you in the next one!