Pandas, it’s time for a wholesome (and slightly chaotic) art time capsule: post a picture of your drawings
then and now. Crayon castles from third grade? A moody anime eye from 2012?
That one “realistic” horse that… looked emotionally complicated? All welcome.
This isn’t about flexing. It’s about seeing the glow-up you usually miss because you’re too busy nitpicking
your latest linework like it owes you money. When you put “then” next to “now,” you can actually spot what changed:
your confidence, your observation, your patience, your style, your willingness to shade something that isn’t
just “gray-ish vibes.”
Why “Then and Now” Posts Hit So Hard (In a Good Way)
Drawing is more than making something cute for your camera roll. It’s a thinking tool. When you draw, you’re
translating what you see (or imagine) into decisionsshape, proportion, value, texture, story. That’s why your
“now” drawings often feel more intentional, even if they’re still messy. You’re building a mental library of
visual solutions.
Also: looking back makes progress visible. You can feel stuck for months, then open an old sketchbook and realize
you used to avoid hands like they were haunted. Now you can draw hands… still haunted, but at least they have knuckles.
How to Join This Prompt (Without Overthinking It)
-
Pick a “then” drawing. Old sketchbook, childhood binder, digital folder named “ART_OLD_DO_NOT_OPEN,”
or a photo you took years ago. -
Make a “now” drawing. You can redraw the same subject, or just share your most recent piece.
If you want the comparison to be extra satisfying, redraw the same thing (same character, same pet, same landscape). -
Snap clean photos. Natural light near a window beats your kitchen’s fluorescent “interrogation bulb.”
Flatten the page, crop the background chaos, and you’re golden. -
Post both. Side-by-side is ideal, but two separate images work too. Add a caption if you want
(templates below).
What Counts as “Then”?
Literally anything from the past version of you, including:
- Elementary school doodles and notebook margins
- Fan art from your “I only draw eyes” era
- MS Paint masterpieces (icons of history, honestly)
- First attempts at realism, portraits, or anatomy
- Early digital art when you discovered layers and immediately abused them
- Art homework, figure studies, or “I tried watercolor once” experiments
What to Look For When You Compare “Then” vs “Now”
If you want to do more than just say “wow I improved,” here’s a fun, practical checklist. You don’t need all of these
to “count” as progress. Even one is a win.
1) Line confidence
Earlier drawings often have “hairy lines” (lots of little scratches). Newer drawings usually show more committed strokes.
Even if your lines aren’t perfect, they’re braver. And honestly? Courage looks good on paper.
2) Shapes and structure
Many artists start by drawing symbols (a “cat” symbol, a “face” symbol). With practice, you begin seeing objects as
simple formsspheres, cylinders, boxesand building from there. That’s when drawings start feeling three-dimensional.
3) Proportion and placement
“Then” drawings often crowd everything into one corner or float features around the face like they’re avoiding each other.
“Now” drawings tend to place shapes more intentionally, with better spacing and alignment.
4) Value (light and dark)
The moment you start using a rangefrom light pressure to heavy pressureyour work gains depth. Even simple shading can
turn a flat doodle into something that feels solid.
5) Perspective and depth
Early art is often “flat stage” style (everything is the same size, same sharpness). Later, you start using depth cues:
objects closer are larger, more detailed, and higher contrast; objects farther are smaller and softer.
6) Story and style
Style is not something you “find” in a single magical moment. It’s something you collectone choice at a timewhile you
learn what you like to draw, how you like to draw it, and what you’re trying to say.
Quick Skill Refreshers You Can Try Before Posting Your “Now”
Want your “now” drawing to feel extra “level-up”? Try one of these quick warm-ups first. They’re beginner-friendly,
low-pressure, and surprisingly effective.
5-minute gesture warm-up
Gesture drawing is about capturing the movement and overall action quickly, not details.
Set a timer (30–60 seconds per pose) and draw the flow. Your lines should feel loose, fast, and alive.
Continuous contour (aka “don’t lift your pencil” mode)
Pick an object (mug, shoe, houseplant). Draw its outline in one continuous line. It will look weird. That’s fine.
This trains observation and hand-eye coordinationand it teaches you to actually look instead of guessing.
Value ladder (a fancy name for “practice shading like a responsible adult”)
Draw five small boxes. Shade them from very light to very dark. Then try the same on a sphere or cylinder. This builds
control and helps your drawings stop looking like “flat sticker energy.”
One-point perspective cheat
Draw a horizon line. Place a dot (vanishing point). Draw a simple box using lines that go back to that point.
Don’t chase perfectionjust get the idea. Even basic perspective makes rooms, streets, and buildings feel believable.
Museum sketching mindset (yes, even from your couch)
Try drawing an object you lovesomething you’d sketch in a museum, or something in your home you’ve never actually
studied. The goal is slow looking: glance up, glance down, repeat. You’ll be shocked how much more accurate your drawing
becomes when you keep checking the subject instead of drawing from memory.
How to Comment Like a Supportive Panda (Not an Art Judge)
A good “then and now” thread can become a mini art studio: people sharing progress, trading tips, and feeling brave enough
to keep going. If you’re commenting, aim for feedback that’s kind and useful.
- Be specific: “Your lines look more confident” beats “Nice!” (both are fine, but specifics land harder).
- Notice improvements: point out value, composition, anatomy, or storytelling growth.
- Ask curious questions: “Did you change tools?” “How long have you been practicing?”
- Offer gentle suggestions: “What if you push the shadows a bit darker?” is better than “Your shading is wrong.”
Copy-and-Paste Caption Templates for Your Post
Template 1: The classic glow-up
Then: (year) Now: (year). Biggest change: ______. Still working on: ______. Proud of: ______.
Template 2: The redraw challenge
Redrew my old drawing from (year). Same subject, new skills. I kept ______ but changed ______.
Template 3: The honest arc
Then: fearless. Now: slightly more skilled, still dramatic. Learned: ______. Next goal: ______.
Template 4: The tool/medium upgrade
Then was (pencil/crayon/MS Paint). Now is (Procreate/graphite/watercolor). Medium changed everything because ______.
If Your “Now” Looks Worse Than Your “Then”… You’re Still Normal
Sometimes your newer drawing looks “worse” because you’re attempting harder things: better anatomy, real perspective,
more realistic lighting. That’s not regressionthat’s you leveling up the difficulty.
There’s also the “taste gap”: you improve your eye faster than your hand. You can see what’s off, so your work feels
disappointing. That frustration is annoying, but it’s also proof that your standards have grown.
7 Tiny Habits That Make the Next “Now” Even Better
- Draw something small daily (even 5 minutes counts).
- Repeat one subject for a week (same shoe, same plant, same character).
- Do timed sketches to reduce perfection paralysis.
- Study simple forms (spheres, boxes, cylinders) and light on them.
- Practice “look up / look down” observation so you’re drawing what’s there, not what you assume.
- Ask for feedback and focus on one fix at a time (not twenty).
- Save your work so you can compare later. Future-you will thank you.
Experiences: The Real Feelings of Posting “Then and Now” (500-ish Words)
Let’s talk about the emotional roller coaster of finding your old art. It usually starts with confidence:
“I’m ready to celebrate my growth.” Then you open the folder, and suddenly it’s 2009, you’re drawing a dragon,
and the dragon looks like it’s asking for help in a language only therapists understand.
The first surprise is how honest old drawings are. There’s no branding. No “style strategy.”
Just pure “I wanted to draw a cool knight, so I drew a cool knight,” even if the knight’s legs are shaped like
two breadsticks in a trench coat. That honesty is weirdly inspiringbecause it reminds you that making art is supposed
to be playful before it’s impressive.
The second surprise is how much you can see your past self learning in real time. Maybe you tried shading for the first time.
Maybe you suddenly discovered that eyes aren’t supposed to be the size of dinner plates. Maybe you drew hands once,
hated it, and then avoided hands for seven straight years like it was a legally binding contract. When you look back,
you can spot the exact moments you were brave enough to try something newand that’s the part worth celebrating.
Posting “then and now” can also mess with your brain in the best way. Your current work might feel “not good enough”
because you’re comparing yourself to artists online. But your old work gives you a different comparison: you vs you.
And that’s a healthier scoreboard. Suddenly, improvement isn’t abstract. It’s visible. It’s personal. It’s yours.
And yes, there’s vulnerability. Sharing old art can feel like showing someone your middle school yearbook photo
(the one with the haircut you didn’t ask for). But the comments usually make it worth it. People don’t just say “nice.”
They say, “I relate.” They say, “This makes me want to draw again.” They say, “Your progress gives me hope.”
That’s the magic of a community thread: one person’s growth becomes another person’s motivation.
The funniest part? Once you post, you’ll notice you’re kinder to your past self than you are to your present self.
You’ll look at the “then” drawing and think, “Aw, they were trying.” That’s your cue to treat your current self the same way.
Today’s “now” drawing is tomorrow’s “then.” So if it’s imperfect, congratulationsyou’re officially in the process,
which is where every good artist lives.
Wrap-Up: Your Art Journey Deserves a Side-by-Side
Pandas, post your “then” and “now.” Share the glow-up, the awkward phases, the plot twists, the sudden obsession with
shading everything like it’s a dramatic movie poster. The point isn’t perfectionit’s proof that you kept going.
And if you don’t have a “then” drawing? Make one today. Label it with the date. Put it somewhere safe. Future-you is going
to find it and say, “Wow… we really did that.”