Why do non-destructive workflows feel distant from the creative part?

[OliverS]

I’ve been trying to get better at digital painting, and I keep hearing about non-destructive workflows, but honestly, it just feels like I’m adding more layers and adjustment groups without really seeing the benefit in my actual art. Does anyone else ever feel like all this technical structure somehow makes the creative part more distant?

[Harper91]

I get the sense that non destructive workflows turn art time into layers and group settings rather than brush marks and I miss the immediate feel of painting

[Joseph_G]

From a craft point the idea of non destructive workflows is to separate decisions from the image so you can try edits without wrecking the original and that can help in the long run even if it feels heavy at first

[William_R]

Maybe the snag is not the tool but the habit of thinking every choice must be saved as a separate layer and that slows the flow with non destructive workflows in mind

[Sofia66]

I am skeptical that non destructive workflows fix the core issue which is making confident marks not chasing endless adjustments

[Scott.M]

Maybe reframe the issue as when to switch from fast exploration to final polish and treat non destructive workflows as a tool not a rule

[RyanAP]

Some folks love the discipline of non destructive workflows others hate it and you can start tiny by just keeping a single editable layer and a saved version to see what changes feel worth keeping