"What's your art style?" - " Uhm, copy and paste? "

Have you guys seen the recent trend about " the devil couldn't reach me thingymajig"?

Most of its entry hit me to the core, especially this one: "The devil couldn’t reach me, so he gave me the ability to copy everything but never to create."

I love art. I love how it allows me to create things I never thought I could. No one taught me how to draw and I’ve never been to an art school. My skills come from years of practice and passion. But there’s this frustrating part, it feels like I only know how to copy sketches I find online. When it comes to creating something truly original my mind just freezes.

Copy and Paste?

Most of the drawings I post are straight from Pinterest. I mean, it’s Pinterest, right? There’s so much great stuff on there! Every time I scroll, I come across sketches that make me want to try them out myself. There's also tons of artist online who post their arts and I try to make it as a reference.
It feels like all I’m doing is “copy and paste” without adding anything uniquely mine, and that makes creating something original feel impossible.

So, here are some of my old drawings that I’ve recreated from online inspiration.

When I have reference, I feel confident. It’s like I know exactly what I’m doing. But the moment I try to sketch something from scratch, my confidence disappears. My mind goes blank, and I feel like I don’t have a single idea worth drawing. It’s almost like I’m scared of messing up or not being good enough. Needless to say, I’m a bit of a perfectionist. I’m really hard on myself when it comes to drawing. Every little detail matters, and if something doesn’t look right to me, I just won’t finish it.

I think a big part of it comes from comparing myself to others. As we know, social media is great for finding inspiration, but it can also make you feel like you’re not doing enough. I see plethora artists who post these incredible original pieces, and I can’t help but think, “Why can’t I do that?” It’s frustrating because I know I have the skills, I can recreate almost anything with enough practice but creating something truly my own feels impossible.

Another reason could be that I don’t push myself hard enough to improve. I’ve let my mind become a breeding ground for negativity. It’s like I’m throwing in the towel before the fight even begins, surrendering before giving myself a fair chance. This habit of giving up too soon has become a barrier to growth. Instead of facing challenges head-on, I let fear and insecurity take over. I dwell on what I lack rather than appreciating the progress I’ve made or the skills I already have. It’s frustrating because deep down, I know I’m capable

But you know what? These past few months, I’m starting to realize that copying isn’t all bad. It’s a part of learning, right? Even the best artists started by imitating others. Maybe I just need to remind myself that every stroke I make, even if it’s a copy, is helping me grow. Slowly but surely, I’m training my hand, my eye, and my mind to work together.

Actually I’ve been keeping a sketchbook just for random doodles. No pressure, no expectations, just a space to draw whatever comes to mind. Most of the pages look like a mess, but every now and then, I surprise myself with something cool. It’s teaching me to let go of perfection and just enjoy the process. I think a big part of creating original art is finding your voice, and that’s something I’m still working on. What do I want to say through my art? What inspires me? What makes my work unique? These are questions I don’t have answers to yet, but I’m excited to figure them out.

It’s also comforting to know I’m not alone in feeling this way. There are many artists I look up to have shared similar struggles, and that reminds me that this is just a phase. Creating original work is a journey, not a destination, and every artist’s path is different.

For now, I am trying to be kinder to myself. I’m reminding myself that art is not just about the final product, it’s about the passion, the dedication, and the joy it brings. Even if all I’m doing right now is copying, it’s still art, and it’s still mine. So, to anyone else who feels stuck in the same place, let’s keep going! Let’s keep drawing and pushing ourselves. Originality doesn’t happen overnight, but with time and effort, I know we’ll get there. After all, every masterpiece starts with a single line.