Tips on Improving Art Skills

Are you new to art, or a long time hobbyist seeking to get better at drawing and painting? Here are some tips and tricks to help improve your artistic skills. Regardless of how much or how little talent you may have. Of course naturally you want to get better at art as quickly as possible. Might as well start warming up your drawing hand at this point. Because you're in for a lot of practice and hard work. Remember, as long as you are dedicated to building up your skills as an artist. All your hard work and practice will be rewarded over time.

Art Supplies and Savings

Creative hobbies like art often require tools and supplies. An artist without any brushes and paint is like a chef without a knife. And art supplies often cost a bit of money. Brushes, paints, pencils, pens, canvas', and other such art supplies are often replaceable. Especially if their lost, broken, or too worn out or dirty to be used. Even at bargain prices in art supply stores. Stocking up on brushes, paints, and canvas' in bulk can be a little pricy. Some beginner artists worry about really busting their wallets early on. But there's no need to bust your budget needlessly. Buying a sketchbook and a set of pencils is less costly than a whole studio's worth of tools and supplies. Of course even a simple writing pencil or pen will also work. As long as you have some kind of blank paper to work with. But if you still want to work with a full on artist toolkit, regardless of your skill level. You can set up a small studio at home. Or you can buy a digital art tablet and software. Of course the tablet itself can be rather pricy. Depending on the model and brand of the device. But when paired with a compatible art software, it would be like having a whole art studio on your PC. The total cost might be around a few hundred dollars at least. But what you'd spend on a digital art tablet and software is a short term budget bust. Because investing and replacing in brushes, paints, and canvas' could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. So buying a digital art tablet and software can actually help you save some money. Plus failed or unfinished paintings stored in a digital file can also be easier to manage than a growing pile of canvas' in your home. This is a little something to think about while going over what tools and supplies you might need before you start shopping.

Drawing Basic Shapes

Fundamentals are the key to everything. If your serious on creating a painting of a mouthwatering slice of apple pie or a fire breathing dragon. You have to work on your basic drawing skills first. There are a number of methods and techniques when it comes to drawing. Of which you can always look up. You can use an internet search or look it up on YouTube. But the single most important drawing skill all artists should have is drawing basic shapes. Why? Because basic shapes are what make up the basic draft work of any art project. Whether it's a single object or a complex masterpiece. A simple shape can act as the baseline for a drawing. A circle can be the foundation for a baseball, egg, or balloon. A square can be a box, TV monitor, or a washing machine. And a cylinder could be a soda can, tree stump, or a stack of poker chips. Every beginner artist always worries about the smaller details while drawing a rabbit or a fluffy kitten. Either of those are ideal projects for beginners. But first, focus on practicing your basic shapes. Fill a whole blank space with shapes. It doesn't matter if your doing it with a digital tablet or sheet of paper. And if you feel the need to, you can add a few extra details to the shapes to make them more interesting. Plus drawing in anyway is a good way to relieve some stress. It can also be a way to just unwind after a hard day or before starting a different activity.

Forget About Perfect

One of the biggest mistakes any beginning artist can make is worrying about perfection. You start working on a project from a how-to drawing book. And it doesn't look like how it should have turned out. You intended to draw an adorable cartoon puppy dog. But it looks like something an 8-year-old scribbled up. What do you expect? When learning and building a new skill. You can't expect to get something right on the first try. Of course there is nothing wrong with wanting perfection in anything. It's pretty much normal for everybody. You want to paint a photo realistic bowl of fruit. Just like a teenage girl wants flawless skin. Or a football player wanting to win every single game. Well guess what... Wanting things to be and stay perfect all the time is a lot of things. But realistic isn't one of them. Stressing over perfection is something that every beginner artist does. Although a touch of stress can help keep someone focused on their work. But worrying about doing an art project 100% perfectly might be causing you too much needless stress. If you worry too much about a perfect drawing or painting. All you'll do is make needlessly slow progress for any art project, simple or complex. And you'll end up with a growing collection of failed and unfinished projects. Here's what every just starting artist should do when it comes to perfection. Forget about it... A photo realistic drawing or painting takes a rather high level of skill. Which is more than what most artists have anyway. Maybe you'll reach that level of skill one day or maybe not. Either way, just remember that there's no such thing as perfect. Worrying about every single mistake, big or small, will only slow your progress as an artist.

Here's an exercise that might help. First, draw a circle. Don't worry about doing perfectly. It's okay if it turns out a little messy. Then use that circle as a foundation for a simple drawing. Turn that circle into an apple. Why an apple? Exactly how many perfectly round apples do you see in a grocery store? Or how about how many are around the same shape and size? What about a whole basket of apples just picked out of the same tree? The answer to those questions is an easy one. Not many... When was the last time you worried about finding a perfectly shaped apple? Never... Because when you buy apples, you only think about eating them. You can eat them raw as a healthy snack. Chop them up and put them into a salad. Or bake them in a pie. And to make your apple drawing more interesting. Add a bite mark to the apple. Or make it half eaten. It might not sound like much of an art project. But this can help build up your skill and confidence as an artist. A perfectionist mindset will only hold you back as an artist. Just take your inner perfectionist and be like Elsa. (2013 Disney Film, Frozen.) And just Let It Go!

Your Artist's Eye

While on your way to becoming better at art skills. You also have to look at things from an artist's perspective. And it's never a bad idea to keep a digital camera on hand. But the camera built into a smartphone will also work. A photograph can be a useful reference for an art project. You never know when or where an fresh idea for an art project will pop up. You must learn how to look at everyday things with the eyes of an artist. And to further your hone your artist's eye. You must look at things a little closer. For example, when was the last time you've seen an apple that was solid red? Next time you look at fruit in the produce section of the grocery store. Don't hesitate to look at the apples a little more closely. While a rather large number of them seem completely red. Others will have other colors mixed in. You can see traces of green and yellow just blending into the red. A lot of eating apples start off green when they first start growing on the tree branches. They change color as they ripen around the time they're ready to be picked. And they'll still continue to ripen and change color after the are picked. You also see a similar likeness with other fruits like pears and citrus. Another example would be a tree leaf. A closer look can show hints of yellow blended discreetly with the green. Of course there is a clear difference when that leaf changes color in early autumn. With red, yellow, and orange blending and blurring into each other. Like how you see some red, orange, yellow, and sometimes a little pink, during sunrise or sunset. With everything else so dark that it's almost black. Understanding how different colors affect the way things look is the key to creating a successful art piece. This is why artists use paint palettes. To figure out which colors to use and how to apply them. Never a bad idea to practice color blending to help further your sense of color coronation. This is where the digital tablet comes in handy. You can practice color blending as much as you want and save plenty of money on new brushes and paints. And you won't have to worry about staining your new clothes or the carpet.

Create an Abstract

An easy project for any artist is an abstract. You don't need to put too much thought into it. It's an excellent way to practice every art technique you know in a stress free way. And it would also help up get use to filling a whole canvas space. You can use as much or as little detail as you want. The only real trick to creating an abstract, or any other art project, is to not think about it too much. Plus creating an abstract can help build a sense of workflow that you'll need for any project. Abstract art can help you build and sharpen your overall skills as an artist. Don't concern yourself over what the finished piece will look like. Or how it'll turn out. Take a moment to trust your instincts and have fun with it.

Finding Inspiration

What inspires you? Every artist needs a source of inspiration for any art project. Whether it's one single piece or a whole line of pieces. Seeking inspiration is something every beginning artist struggles with. It's time to slow down for a moment and ask yourself this question, "What am I most passionate about?" The answer or answers is different for everybody. So take a good like at the things you enjoy the most without thinking too hard about it. Maybe you enjoy sports, you like cooking, or you love taking a hike out in nature. You might also like music, movies, engaging in fitness training, etc... When you take a little time to look at the things you like. Finding inspiration for an art project won't be too difficult. Plus drawing the things you love can be a good start on becoming better as an artist.

Get Fit, Stay Healthy

It's easy to lose yourself in an art project while you sit there for long periods of time. Sometimes you get so busy that you might forget to eat. And you wouldn't do yourself any favors if you put off regular exercise for too long. It would be a good idea to step away from your project for a little while. Whether it's a couple hours or a few days. Don't worry about your unfinished piece. It's not going anywhere. And you need to food and water to stay alive. Plus passing out from hunger isn't so helpful. So always make time to take breaks from whatever art project your doing. The muscles in your body can and will stiffen after so much sitting. There is a solution for that. Get up and get moving. A little physical exercise on a daily basis can go a long way. A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise or more can help keep you healthy. It also helps reduce some stress. And the increased blood circulation to your brain can also help with the learning process. It'll help sharpen your art skills later on. Eating the right foods can also aid in the process. Just cut out or limit your intake of processed sugars. Which can be found in junk foods like cake, cookies, doughnuts, etc... Snack on heathier options while on an art project. Such as carrots, apples, grapes, nuts, and other things like protein bars. You'll be doing your body, brain, and belt size plenty of favors. It takes plenty of the right fuel for any creative pursuit.

Study Art Styles

How do you want to create your own art pieces? You need the proper know how on creating an art project from start to finish. So it would help to study a whole art style. Every artist has his or her own style of creativity. If you really want to grow as an artist. Then start studying an art style. In fact, go ahead and start studying as many different styles of drawing as you think you need to. Don't limit yourself to just one. The more methods and techniques you learn, the more your skills as an artist will refine. And before you even realize it. You may have developed an art style totally unique to you. While you're studying, don't be afraid to make use of any learning resource you have access to. You can join a public art class with a certified instructor. Take some video courses or buy some how-to art books and progress at your own pace.

Draw Often

The key to building any type of skill, including art, is to keep practicing it. The more you do it, the better you get. So you need to draw as often as you can during your spare time. Whether it's a few hours or a mere 15 minutes. It's often hard to have access to a digital tablet 24/7. Because you can't exactly spend every single day at home. After all, you need to go to work and earn some money to buy food and pay bills. But you can still practice drawing anywhere you go. You can use a spare memo pad or pocket sized sketchbook with a pen or pencil. But wait until your lunch break before you start doodling. The last thing you need is your boss chewing your ear off over a bunch of drawings. And when your hanging out with friends or joining your family for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Just tell them it's a hobby. As long as you remember to put the pencil and sketchbook away in your pocket. Just because you're building up some art skills doesn't mean you should focus all your attention on a drawing. Ignoring what other people are saying to you is just plan old rude. You never know when they say something important. Things like a new job, engagement, or a new baby. And you'd most likely miss out on a good time that's right under your nose. Even if you never find any wiggle room for drawing. Don't sweat it... Your digital tablet will be waiting for you at home.

Push Your Limits

While building the skills and confidence needed to create any art projects you want to do. You will need to test yourself as an artist. So get ready to do some beginner friendly projects. It doesn't matter if it's a cartoon character, animal, or object. But if you really want to know how good you are. Go ahead and challenge yourself with a more advanced art project. There is no need to rush, take as much time with it as you need. Don't worry about getting right. You'll make plenty of mistakes. But that's to be expected when you take on something that's a little harder than you've grown use to. Try to finish that project if you can. And if you can't, that's okay. Don't get discouraged by a failed project. Use it as a learning experience. Figure out what mistakes you made and how to correct them later on. Take some time to practice some more before trying it again. It may not be noticeable at first. But your art skills will be gradually improving while you practice.

Tracing Method

Remember when you first learn how to write when you were a little kid? You traced the letters along dotted lines or copied them as you went from A to Z. Maybe it was during your pre-school days or when your parents bought you a writable ABC book. Back then you were training your hand to form the letters. And you brain retained the information to memory. You kept repeating this process until you were able to write down your ABC's on a blank sheet of paper on your own. You can actually do the same with drawing. By tracing along the outline of an image. You are training your hand in that motion. And repeating the process over and over will help retain the information in your brain. Clear tracing paper can be found where art supplies are sold. But having a digital drawing tablet can come in handy for that too. You can use the layering system in the digital art software to draw or paint over the existing image. It doesn't matter what that image is. It could be a photo, or a copy of another art work. When tracing over another artist's work. Just remember that you're not trying to copy down someone else's work and pass it off as your own. The idea is to break down and copy the sketching process. Of course you can apply the tracing method while doing an actual art project that's 100% percent your own. Some digital art software brands like Clip Studio for example has plenty of digital tools you can use, such as 3D models. 3D drawing figures for both male and female are helpful if you're struggling with figure drawing. They're exactly like those anatomical puppets comic book or cartoon artists use. But only a little bit harder to apply on a computer. Learning how to pose with them the way to want to requires a bit of trail and error. But once you understand how to use a 3D figure. You can put it any sort of pose you want. Anything from a beautiful woman posing sexy to a man in a fighting stance. Always be sure to practice without an image to trace over as well. It's a good way to test your drawing skills.

Small Art Projects

While you're practicing your art skills. It's a good idea to get started on some actual art projects. Of course you might have in mind to create a painting of Downtown New York City or A Picnic in a Public Park. Give it a shot if you want. No one's gonna stop you. But you might want to focus on smaller projects you can manage. Start with making smaller projects with the skills you've already gotten down. Keep it simple, don't make it needlessly complicated. Doing a small scale art project will help test and sharpen your skills as an artist. Because the more small projects you do, the better you're skills will get for bigger projects later on. There are a number of choices for small art projects. A bowl of fruit is always a classic. And you can't go wrong with a single red rose in a vase. You can also try out something adorable like a kitten playing with a ball of yarn. Maybe a Jack-O-Lantern full of Halloween candy. Of course you can never go wrong with making something that'll make people laugh. Give your creative muscles a stretch by making some brain teasers like a word search puzzle. Or you can express a brutal eye opening message to the public. Don't concern yourself if the small project is a success or failure. Just focus on finishing it as best you can. You'll have something to look back on later.

Expression With Thumbnail Sketches

As you develop your skills as an artist. You might want to think about what kind of art do you want to create. The art works you want to create the most might or might not be within your skill range yet. No doubt you have plenty of ideas in mind when it comes to the projects you want to do. But you don't want to forget about them. Sometimes it helps to get them out of your head for later. You can write your project ideas down on paper. And you can also draw a thumbnail or rough sketch of what you want. It doesn't need to be overly detailed. Just keep it simple and to the point. You'll have something to work with when you decide to work on a big art project later. What that project might be depends on what you want it to be. Take a good long look at that blank paper space. Like a canvas, real or digital, that blank space can become anything you want it to be. The only real limit is your own imagination. That painting with the dogs playing poker is an example. Making up a thumbnail sketch helps give you a basic idea on what your piece might look like. Try not to overthink the subject of you piece. It is whatever you want it to be. Like a romantic getaway on the moon with a view of earth. An epic sword fight between a knight and a pirate. But you can never go wrong with a nude woman on the beach at sunset. The beauty about art is that the possibilities are almost endless. Your resulting thumbnail or rough sketch doesn't need to be perfect. So go ahead and go crazy with that pencil.

Making Use of Tools and Resources

Don't be afraid to play with any art tool you've got, real or digital. Think of it as a fun way to experiment with different tools and techniques. Although using these tools can help with an actual digital art project. As a means of drawing the basic draft work. Or refining a thumbnail sketch. Playing with your art tools will help you figure out how to work on an art project smarter rather than harder. For example, if you want to draw a manga style head on a digital tablet. Apply the eclipse ruler to make drawing a circle or oval easier. Or use other ruler functions to make 2 straight lines in a cross. And a draw a circle in the cross hairs as best you can. And you can also use the eclipse ruler to make smaller circles as a placement for the eyes. If you have full on access to the tools to help an art project proceed. Go ahead and start using them. For hobby artists who are serious about getter better at what they do. It's important to know the difference between working harder and working smarter. Working harder on an art project means spending hours and hours on a messy draft work while making little or no progress. Along with the chances of tearing your own hair out in frustration. Working smarter means using the right tools to make basic draft work proceed within minutes. Applying the use of rulers for digital art actually helps with placement of the subject on the canvas space. Working smarter on an art project is often the better choice while you practice the other skills. Cause using the tools to put the founding shapes and lines in place could produce professional grade results. Regardless of your level of skill as an artist.

And that concludes what you need to know on becoming a better artist. Thank you for reading this all the way to the end. I hope this information will prove helpful in your creative pursuits. There is nothing else I can say. Except, good luck and hope you can create beautiful art works.

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