For the longest time, I was an artist in the sense that I made character designs and illustrations. I still do occasionally but at this point unless someone commissions me, I'm not making art for myself. I found myself getting frustrated that nothing was turning out how I wanted, and that I didn't have the skills I wanted.

A few months ago, I've gotten into crochet, and I'm reinvigorated. I've even started picking up bracelet making again, and I got a rainbow loom for my birthday this year from one of my partners because they saw how giddy I was in a Michael's. I feel like my spark has returned, and I'm hoping that eventually it will bring back the spark for drawing again.

I feel a bit worried that my skills will regress hard since I'm autistic, but maybe with that will come a change.

Anyone else feel this way with their own art? If you've come back to drawing, what brought that back for you?

I understand what you mean. I think your skills will be alright. I sometimes stop drawing altogether for 6months (longest I stopped was a year I think).

I get an itch to draw again when I get fixated on a certain anime, manhwa or novel. Currently, I'm slowly coming back to drawing after almost a year of not doing anything. I'm just setting a different goal to keep my interest and motivation going.

Crochet sounds fun! I've always wanted to learn more about crocheting. I think your skills will be alright as well. I went years without drawing once and I was able to pick back up where I left off! And I find that doing the same thing you did, picking up a new medium/hobby, will sometimes help me out of an art rut. I started doing acrylic paintings (similar to pour art, so fun!) and doing freehand swirly designs until I felt like circling back to digital art again.

I also was able to incorporate the swirly designs back into my digital art, so if anything your skills may increase! I was able to do this because I was experimenting with a new style/medium for a while:

Honestly, 100% can relate to this. I've also noticed it can work like any other fixation too, where I will just stop cold turkey and pick it back up when I get the itch to, usually when drawing for myself or as a lil gift. As long as you're finding creative outlets I don't really see anything bad about it! Ive dabbled in figure making, bracelets, crochet and basically anything I can get my hands on. It helps get me back into the art mood to switch mediums like Slytherin mentioned as well :) also would love to see some of your crochet and bracelets!

I’ve never been good at drawing, but crochet is one of my favorite hobbies, and fall/winter is definitely the best time to do it. Lately I’ve started Tunisian crochet, and I’ve been practicing knitting too.

I think it’s common to fall out of doing a hobby and starting something else and going to back to the thing you stopped after time passes. I’m glad you found different interests to motivate you!

When I was younger all I did was draw people lol now I’m like gosh I can’t do all this anatomy… haha. I got into Gallery Glass paint, you can make your own little faux stained glass of whatever you want with it. I buy picture frames from thrift stores, remove the opaque backing, and gorilla tape the glass in. Boom! Framed stained glass!

And collage, I like to go to the Goodwill near me that has the big bins full of stuff they couldn’t sell at their retail store, at significant discount, grab old damaged books with pictures of whatever (I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of decades-old issues of Ripleys Believe it or Not), and go to town.