How to let go of being a perfectionist?

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Just recently I've gone back to drawing on paper and feel my artistic ability is suffering badly because of my need for things to look perfect. I can't just let go and have things look crappy. I feel like I've completely lost my roots and any ability to draw basic things. Almost like I set the bar too high by showing people my work and now anything below par that I show them, it won't keep them interested. How do I move on from my self created problem? By feeling like a failure it's pushing me away from wanting to draw. Has anyone got any good online pages that almost feel like a lesson. With a lack of imagination it's hard to even think of what to draw most of the time. With something "telling" me what to draw, it'd help to ease things.

I move to the next thing, do my best with it, and upon review of older material may improve it, and I may find out that it wasn't really an improvement at all. Doing new things helps develop one's capabilities.

I would have to agree with Xenon13.

If you have a true interest in drawing, which I'm sure you have, eventually if you continue drawing and maybe learning more about drawing from art classes or on the internet you'll eventually get to the point where your drawings are at the level you want them to be and if you notice any imperfections you'll be able to fix them to your needs.

It worked the same with me and composing music.

the problem with perfectionism is that it can be extremely counterproductive. art is a perfect example for that. at one point i was so annoyed about the imperfections my drawings and paintings had in my eyes (and that i didnt seem to be able to remove no matter how often i was painting the same thing over and over and over again) that i threw it all away and just stopped picking up a brush or pencil altogether. which was really incredibly stupid, because the only way you are ever going to be perfect at drawing is drawing. a lot. if you observe your environment with attentive eyes and make a habit out of scribbling everything that catches your interest in a notebook filling at least a page every day no matter how crappy it looks then you will end up with books full of scetches that are mostly just terrible but after a while you will find that you also got really damn good.

other peoples opinion unfortunately doesnt seem to matter to me, so i can not say anything helpful to that. when i dont find something good enough myself approval does not change my mind about it and when i really like something rejection doesnt either. i do think of art/music as a form of communication too and im actually very happy when someone gets it, but the only one who knows what i wanted to say and whether i succeeded at that is me and noone can get it if it simply isnt what i meant.

My life drawing class had us do some excersises that really helped my overcome this and loosen up a little with my linework. Find an object around your house (or failing that, a photo to reference, but drawing from life is always preferable). Giving yourself a set time limit and sticking to it is also a good idea, as it forces you to stop regardless of whether the drawing is "perfect" or not. You have to stick to it, though! Try some of these excersises:

1) Draw one continuous line. Don't lift your pencil off of the paper until your time is up.
2) Draw using your non-dominant hand.
3) Draw with your eyes closed! Observe your object for a minute or two then spend the next 2 minutes drawing. Don't peek!
4) Draw big. A common problem with beginner artists is that they will draw tiny little sketches in the corner of the page. Always try to fill up your page and use space effectively.
5) Make big, long strokes. Another common problem (that drives me nuts) is when beginner artists draw multiple, short, quick lines instead of one long stroke. This often makes the drawing feel stiff and lifeless. Gaining the confidence to draw long, sweeping strokes is one of the biggest steps you can take toward improvement. Trust me!

And remember, even if things don't turn out perfectly, it's not like you have to show anybody at the end. I'll often draw a good 50 figures in a life drawing session, but only 10 (or less) will end up worth sharing. Don't give up hope!

Problem with drawing with my right hand as my non dominant, is that it's equally as good as my left hand. The first thing I did since posting this thread was go away and I drew on my walls in chalk (lines, circles, 3D shapes etc) I've also since put my recent funk down to being stressed/depressed even if I don't fully feel either. I tend to always get depressed during winter but haven't really this one so me drawing badly didn't feel it had an explanation at the time. There's some of my artwork in the thread on here, that's the level I'm at and why it was so frustrating I couldn't do anything at all. I think I shall just stay away from drawing for a while until I don't feel so eh about it. I don't see the point in making myself overly frustrated. Also feel I should stay away from digital drawing for a while as that seems to have taken something away from my traditional drawing.

Martha Graham- "No artist is pleased. [There is] no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others."

I think the trick is to see your work, say, "I like this, but what can I do to improve it." It's not finding the flaw that's difficult, it's being able to see imperfection AND like the work at the same time. That panic at seeing the flaw can stop us. It may come from a simple cognitive distortion, or an unrealistic expectation, but if meaning is ONLY found in the flaw, then you can't be seeing the entire work. Also, if you find too much flaw and you don't want to present a particular work, that doesn't mean it isn't worthy to exist. I try to get to a place where dissatisfaction can be 'divine'. It may sound trite, but 'loving the process' may be the only way to tolerate the brutality of refining something so difficult and important to us.