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With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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Have you ever finished a drawing, thought it pretty poor, then looked at it again a few hours later and said to yourself "you know, Mr Scribbles, that's not half bad..."?  I just have - don't think I'll show it, just in case you all think it's as bad as I first thought it was.. But I suppose the lesson here is, don't write your own stuff off too easily: give it a chance, it might grow on you.  By which I do NOT mean flatter yourself, or make do with a shoddy effort, talking up work to yourself so you don't feel a failure...  that's just self-deception, and no good to anyone.  But being your own severest critic doesn't mean you have to adopt the standards of that clot from the Guardian: what it should mean is learning to view your work objectively: insofar as any of us can.   (Mind you, I'm reminded of Kenneth Williams: "I look at myself in the mirror in the morning and think Ooooh! What a dish!  Oh the hair!  Spun gold!  Perfect teeth!  Oooh I could go for you!"  No, that would be overdoing it a little.  We don't want to do that; though on the other hand I know what he meant.... oh yes; I look at myself, and "desirable" is the word that just leaps unbidden to my lips.  Bear in mind that when I've just washed my face, I'm not wearing my glasses....)
My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

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All the time Robert.   Don't know why I should, but it's a simple fact that disappointment in a finished work is pretty much my standard reaction.  And yes, it's true that sometimes when I look back on older work I think 'that's not too bad.'   Self delusion at play.  It covers other things too.  In my head, I think I'm about 50, on a really good day maybe 25.  I bought 2 bags of pea-gravel and a bag of cement today at Wickes, at the check-out a very nice young lady asked me if I wanted help to take it to my car.  The sprightly 50 year old trapped inside my body was outraged.  Then I realised she was looking at a crotchety 84 year old. But not being satisfied with what you do is no bad thing...I makes you have another go.

Norrette Moore

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Yes, quite often.  I think it might be because a picture didn't quite work out as I *intended*, but after a few weeks/months, I've forgotten what the original intention was, and now look at a picture on its own merits.
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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I’m with you as well, slight difference I’m just surprised anything works out and it’s never as I originally intended or thought.
Sky

Skylar Brown

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Yes, I do it often. With both sketches, and paintings. I think we get in a place where we have an idea of what it should turn out to be, and it didn't meet expectations. But, given a bit of time and distance, we get a more realistic p.o.v.