Why Too Much Focus on “Doing It Right” Can Weaken a Transformative Drawing

The Question of Doing It “Correctly”

What I notice often in Neurographic art, especially in Basic User assignments, is how often people become concerned with doing the drawing “correctly.”

Circles feel not round enough. Neuro lines look awkward. There is a quiet anxiety that this could be "wrong."

I understand this very well because I remember doing the same thing myself when I first took the course.

At that time, assignments were shared in a closed Facebook group. Before posting my drawing, I would compare it with others. I checked whether it looked similar enough, whether my description sounded appropriate, whether my experience matched what others described. Slowly, I began to lose a clear sense of what was my own perception and what was adjustment to an imagined standard.

I think this is still very common. We look for reassurance that we are doing it right and that we belong.

But what I also began noticing more recently is something more subtle.

When attention shifts too much toward correctness, the experience changes. It becomes more regulated, more self-monitored. Instead of responding to the drawing, I start managing the drawing and managing myself at the same time.

And that often creates distance. The drawing may look fine, but the sense of connection becomes weaker.

When Expectation Enters the Process

I saw this very clearly in my own recent work with two geometric drawings.

The first one was almost an experiment. I had intention, but no expectation about the outcome. I simply played with layers and colours. It came out easily, almost effortlessly, and felt surprisingly complete. There was a sense of flow throughout.

The second drawing was different. It started with a clear plan. I found myself changing, adjusting, reworking. It became harder to finish, not because I lacked ability, but because I was no longer in the creative flow. I was also evaluating it and thanking how to use it for reels and videos.

That small shift in my attitude changed everything.

Of course, structure still matters in Neurographic art and similar transformative practices. Methods, including those used in Basic User training, are there to guide attention. But there is a difference between using a structure and trying to follow it with precision.

Control, Tension, and Flow

When attention becomes too focused on "doing it right," the drawing becomes tighter less responsive and less exploratory.

What I am learning is quite simple. Treating each drawing as an experiment supports us more than trying to achieve a specific outcome.

There is intention, yes. But not a fixed image of how it should look in the end. The drawing is not a test of correctness. It is a space of exploration.

And sometimes, the moment we loosen our attachment to the result is exactly the moment the flow begins to move us again.