Improving Art Skills Quickly

Everybody has their own reasons to take up art. From learning a new hobby to a whole skillset for a career. For example, you see a classic bowl of fruit painting for sale on eBay for $500 dollars. And then your inspired to make a painting of a kitten in a rose garden. Why? Because you have a healthy touch of artistic talent and want to make some extra cash from it. You draft out a 6 or 9 square grid on your canvas. And start working on the basic shape of the kitten. But you end up stopping because the resulting kitten sketch doesn't look right to you. So you erase and redraw again and again. Then end up scribbling all over the canvas with your pencil out of stress. It can be discouraging if your piece isn't matching up with your desired results. Especially if your just starting out as an artist. Cause most artists often spend years honing their skills and talents. And they usually spend hours and hours of practice every single day. Then you end up giving up because you don't want to spend years and years just to create one eye pleasing painting. But here's the good news, you don't have to. It's possible to build up your art skills within weeks or months. So take a moment to step back and rethink your own approach on art. A good start is to work on the basic drawing skills. There is a way to make the process easier and less stressful. You'll be learning some tips and tricks to help refine your skills and techniques. And that'll involve making good use of tools and resources. It might sound like cheating. But it will help you when your doing both practicing and working on a whole art project. Whether you're attending art school or becoming a self taught artist. Either way, expect to do a healthy amount of hard work. So make yourself comfortable. This post might be a bit long.

Sketchbooks and Digital Tablets

One of the most basic skills for any artist is drawing. And you'll be using 2 of these basic tool sets. Sketchbook with pencil and a digital tablet with a stylus. A sketchbook is a classic tool for any artist of any skill level. You can use it for drawing practice anytime, anyplace, anywhere. It can be found where basic art supplies are sold. Digital tablets are just as useful as sketchbooks. But they require digital art software in order to be used. And a digital tablet needs to plugged into a power outlet and computer connection. So they're harder to take along when your out and about. But it usually depends on certain models. If you really want to grow as an artist. Don't be afraid to get both a sketchbook and a digital tablet. A sketchbook and a set of pencils are fairly affordable and easy to replace. But if you feel like it'll take more than one sketchbook. Don't hesitate to buy as many as you need. Digital tablets are a different matter completely. With the right art software, it'll be like you have access to all the supplies and tools needed for an art studio. But consider what type of model tablet to get. Tablets with LCD screens can be expensive. While budget friendly models may or may not have an LCD screen. But if you really want a tablet with a screen. Compare the price options for various models. Whatever digital tablet model and software you pick. It'll still be a bit pricy. But it's ideal for beginner artists. Why? Cause it's less expensive than setting up a whole art studio in your home. And you won't have to worry about cleaning up paint stains out of your carpet.

Making Mistakes

A common problem for most beginner artists is worrying about making mistakes. So what? Nobody is perfect. Expecting to paint a realistic portrait at the first try is asking too much from yourself. Which is why you need to practice. Do some research on the common mistakes artists often make and how to correct them. Other than that, don't be afraid to make mistakes. Why? Because it helps to have a little fun while building your art skills. And it also helps to warm up before starting a project. Or simply to relieve some stress. Either way, you'll gain a better understanding on how to better apply a drawing technique.

Using Rulers and Stencils

Drawing basic lines, curves, and shapes is a fundamental skill for starting any art project. Drafting out a grid can help beginners start a project without feeling too overwhelmed. But drawing a straight line cleanly is often not as easy as it sounds. The actual point of drawing a grid is to set up a guideline for the project. It doesn't have to be perfect. But if you want a sense of perfection anyway. It would be smart to start using a ruler. All you'd have to do is hold it firmly on the paper's surface and trace with your pencil. You can also use stencils to help draw basic shapes. Including the 3 key shapes, square, triangle, and circle. It might sound like cheating. But it really isn't... It's common sense to have additional tools to help achieve an artistic goal. A good artist always makes good use of every resource. The only real way to cheat in art terms is to copy and take credit for someone else's work. Which is highly unacceptable. Every type of digital art software also has rulers to help aid in basic drawing. Regardless of your own skill as an artist. But if you ever feel like you don't want to relay on rulers and stencils too much. Then practice drawing without them. It helps to think of a drawing stencil as a guide. A means to help develop muscle memory as your skills grow. The more often you draw, the better your skills will eventually get.

Managing Stress

It can be stressful when your trying to figure out what art project you want to do. Especially if you want to achieve your desired level of art skills as quickly as possible. No matter how quickly you want to get there. Don't be in such a rush. Just remember that the most talented and successful career artists didn't build up their skillset overnight. Sometimes the best thing to do is to step away from the art project. Whether it's for real or just plan practice. Take some time to relax until your ready to continue any art related work. It helps to put the project(s) in question out of your head for a little while. Step outside for some fresh air. Take a walk. Watch a movie. Read a book. Listen to some music. Take a nap or a shower. Engage in other hobbies you may have. Experiment with some crazy ideas that'll help you relax. Every artist has his or her own way to relax for the creative process. So figure out your own. Because doing something is better than screaming your own head off in frustration. Plus it helps to feel comfortable while you work.

Time Management

A lot of beginner artists often assume that they'd have to spend countless hours drawing daily. But the problem is that it's impossible to draw 24/7. And there are other things you have to do on a daily basis. From going to work, spending time with family, or hanging out with friends. It's often hard to get any drawing work done if you have to drop everything your doing to attend a family gathering or something. Life can sometimes get a little chaotic. And it can get difficult to do as much drawing as you want if your daily schedule is really busy. It's a lot easier to do as much or as little drawing as you want if you have a whole day off from work. But you can also look for a little wiggle room in your busy schedule. Make some time to practice your art skills. You might only have a few minutes before leaving for work. But you can definitely put in an hour or 2 after work. You've also got to make time for other things as well. Not just for drawing. Even artists need to have social lives.

Drawing More Often

The best way to master any type of skill is to do it as often as possible. Especially drawing... You can use the digital tablet as much as you want at home. But you can carry a sketchbook anywhere you go. It might look a little weird when you're out and about with friends and family. But don't worry about it. There's nothing wrong with having a hobby. Because if the people around you start acting like art critics. Ignore them... Your goal is mainly to practice your skills. Not impress every single person around you. Although you might end up impressing family and friends without actually trying. It may not always be about your skill. But the fact you have a creative side. However, it can be difficult to practice drawing while your at work. Sometimes doodling instead of working is a good way to get yourself fired from your job. And lugging around a sketchbook during your shift can get a little awkward. But you still want to practice your art skills as often as you can. There are smaller, carry-on, drawing sets for portability. If you don't have something like that. You can improvise with a small memo pad for personal use. Any regular writing utensil, pencil or pen, is more than enough for any artist.

Finding Inspiration

Every artist needs to find inspiration for his or her work. Some have a bad habit of making harder than it really is. The best source of inspiration for beginner artists is their own personal passion. Before you lay a finger on your pencil and paper. Ask yourself this question. "What are my passion(s)?" And that's an easy question to answer. Because there's no right or wrong answer when it comes to the things you enjoy. You might enjoy food, music, sports, TV shows, movies, video games, or even traditional style art. It really doesn't matter. All you really need to do is you. Although you might experience an artist block from time to time. Making it harder to be or stay inspired. But you need to remember that inspiration can come from anywhere. Whether you expect to find it or not. It always helps to keep an open mind. Because you truly never know when or where you'll find inspiration for your next or future projects.

Thumbnail Sketching

This is where things start to pick up a little bit. Creating a complex project can get overwhelming for any artist just starting out. You simply need to get use to filling up a whole blank space. It's called thumbnail sketching. A thumbnail sketch is simply a rough draft. There really isn't much to drawing a thumbnail sketch. You're simply drawing a less complex version of the projects you want to create. Thumbnail sketching can be used as practice for doing projects. Or to experiment with different ideas on how you want your project to look like. All your doing is making a basic outline without using too many details. So don't worry about making look pretty or perfect. The only thing you need to worry about with drawing a thumbnail sketch is making it recognizable. If it's something that other people can easily recognize. That means it's an early sign of your skill progressing.

Taking a Break

Overworking can slow the process of honing and refining your art skills. Which is why it's important to take some breaks while working on any art project. They don't have to be long breaks. For example, you can work on your project for an hour. Step away for 15 or 30 minutes. And get back to work for another hour. Your art skills will improve faster if you give your brain time to process the information. How you spend that break depends on you. You could brew yourself a cup of coffee. Or bake some cookies. Plus there are other benefits of taking a break. It'll help your art project progress further with minimal or no stress.

Using References

Every artist uses a form of reference as material for a project. A number of paintings serve as examples. From landscapes to bowls of fruit. References are often used for both practice and actual art projects. Some artists can actually draw from memory. But that takes a lot of practice. Having a visual reference to work with often makes the process easier and less stressful. This is where the sketchbook becomes highly useful. The best start for reference drawing would be thumbnail sketches. Don't worry about adding minor details if your just starting out as an artist. All you simply need to do is draft out what you see onto the paper's surface. Look past the minor details and see the larger more basic shapes. A cylinder can be a small stack of poker chips. And that's only an example of a basic reference. There are other sources of references you can use. It could be something like the kitchen sink at home. Or a park bench. Another source of references can come from How-To books on art. These books often contain step-by-step instructions on drawing more complex pieces. Fortunately the earlier chapters have beginner friendly projects. Pictures can also be used as a source of reference. They could be a movie scene, a photograph, or even another work of art. In a way, you could make a sketch of a Thanksgiving turkey or Christmas ham without having to wait for the holidays. Using a photograph as reference can often save time and effort for any artist. From tourist destinations like the Stonehenge in England or the Tokyo Tower in Japan. Plus photos of animals and people can save you the trouble of seeking out models for your art. It's never a bad idea to scrapbook your own collection of references. You can print copies from the internet image search. Or you can take the pictures yourself with your camera. It doesn't have to be one of those expensive models. You can use a point-and-shoot or your smartphone. Another way is to shop for pictures in a stock photo site. In the end, it really doesn't matter how you do it. Having a collection of references to work with can help you grow as an artist.

Finding Your Style

This is an important part of your journey as an artist. Finding your own style of art. Which, by the way, isn't easy. Because the most successful artists often his or her own style of creation. If you want your skills as an artist to progress. Then start with finding an art style that works for you. Start by going over the things that inspire you. Things that you're passionate about. Don't worry about picking one particular style of art. Take some time to study as many different styles as you need to. Especially the How-To books on art. Because the authors are often successful artists who made it so far in their careers that they can teach their methods and techniques to other aspiring artists. It really doesn't matter what type of style(s) you choose to study. You can go for traditional art. Or the more modern variety. Any of these styles merely serve as guides to express the things your passionate about. Whether it's sports, food, music, video games, etc... But in marketing terms, these subjects are always in demand. Humorous illustrations, cutesy things for children, inspirational fitness posters, or even erotic styles of art. Some of these How-To art books are meant for children. So what? They're just books in the end. And books are simply inanimate objects. They can never discern between the intended age and gender of it's readers. Don't forget that drafting superhero comics and cartoons are jobs done by adults. When building up art skills and developing a whole style. You have to keep an open mind while studying different art styles. If you can't find one your comfortable with. Then take what you've learned and blend them together into a style that's your own. Because studying multiple art styles can help you improve and refine your own creative techniques.

Pushing the Limit

If your really serious about improving your skills as an artist. Then it's time to step outside your comfort zone a bit. You have to be willing to test and push yourself to the limit if you want to get better at drawing. While reference drawing, take a good look at the basic shapes needed for the draft work. Might sound like making a thumbnail sketch. But the only difference is that your aiming to add more details to the subject in question. In short, try to copy what you see onto a sheet of paper. Don't worry about making it look like a perfect copy right away. Because it doesn't need to be perfect at all. Just focus on making it as similar as you can. Which means you'll be using the eraser a lot. Make it a mission to use up one or several sketchbook pages a day or so. If your drawing hand starts to get sore. Stop to flex your fingers a bit before continuing. But when using How-To books, it's a good idea to skip to the more advanced practice projects. Having a better understanding of your limits can help you overcome them. Of course creating a more detailed art project can be time consuming. It could take hours, maybe days, depending on your project. There are days when you may not have enough time to finish a practice project before leaving for work. Here's a simple solution for that. Do as much work on your project as you can within the limited time. You can always get back to it later. But you can go at the whole project during your off days from work at your own pace.

Be Fit and Active

Art is often expressed by emotion. But learning the skills is mostly a matter developing and retaining muscle memory. And it's almost too easy for beginner artists to neglect their overall health. From excess binge eating to lack of exercise. You'll be able to process, retain, and refine your art skills more effectively by keeping your body, and brain, healthy. Doing sweat inducing workouts can help you prepare for an art project. It helps to reduce stress before getting started. And a slight boost in blood circulation can also help produce fresh ideas for both current and future projects. You're not necessarily training for a marathon or football tryouts. You're simply doing yourself a favor by engaging in a fit and active lifestyle. Setting up a home-gym can be an expensive investment. You can actually save a lot of money by doing workouts that requires minimal to no equipment. Whatever you do, it's important to get up and get some exercise. Because sitting there hunched over your project for hours and hours isn't as helpful as you think. Working out on a daily basis can help you improve as an artist. You can try working up a sweat before starting a project. It's also a good idea to do some lighter workouts during a break. And also try doing some nighttime workouts before going to bed. Why? Because expending your remaining energy from the day will help you fall asleep faster. And it would also promote better quality sleep for the night. Which would allow the art skills you've built up in your short term memory get processed into your long term memory. Your basic art skills will become slightly sharper than they were in the previous day. It won't be noticeable at first. Especially for beginner artists. But it will eventually show during your practice projects.

Eating Right

Sometimes it's so easy to get so absorbed into a project that you might forget to eat. Creating art work often requires energy. And you'll do yourself a favor by keeping some snacks on standby to up keep your energy up. So that you wouldn't have to wait long between meals. But the type of foods you eat can impact your creative process. Along with how your skills as an artist will progress. It's easy to turn to junk food while you work on a project. Just because potato chips, cake, and doughnuts taste good doesn't mean they're good for you. It would be smarter if you prepped some healthier snacks before you get started on a project. But you might end up so busy that you have little or no time to cook. Here are some healthy snack ideas for any artist. Try buying fresh produce when your grocery shopping. Apples, grapes, oranges, and baby carrots are better substitutes for candy. Celery and peanut butter can help keep your cravings in check. And a can of lightly salted nuts is a better choice than a bag of potato chips. In fact, you can mix the lightly salted nuts with some dried fruit in a small bowl or cup. A simple homemade trail mix of your own creation. Always remember to drink plenty of water while working on an art project. It'll do a better job of keeping you hydrated than soda. Any alcohol drinks like beer or wine must be consumed in moderation or not at all. Caffeinated beverages like coffee are alright in the morning or midafternoon. But avoid consuming any caffeine after 5:00PM. Cause it'll interfere with your sleep cycle. Remember, meeting your basic nutritional needs will help both your body and brain function properly.

No Distractions

"The artist must not be disturbed." You may have heard that phrase from somewhere at one point or another. There is a good reason for it. Every artist, hobbyist or career, needs a nice cozy space to work on his/her project(s). With nothing and no one to distract them. And it's highly recommended for beginner artists. When working on an art project, especially a digital painting, it's tempting to turn to YouTube, Facebook, etc... with a single mouse click. There might be a new kitten video or a close family member posting a wedding date. Or you may have just gotten your own copy of the latest Mortal Kombat game. Along with your favorite show or movie playing on TV right now. All of those things will only waste the time you should be spending on a project. Unless you know someone who's willing share some art techniques or project ideas. You're better off closing the social media tab or whole window completely. Leave the video game(s) in the case and keep the console off. There'll be plenty of time for that on a later date. If that show or movie you want to see is on Netflix or Hulu. You can get to it at anytime. Other than that, just close the window curtains and get started. But if you have any pets, like a dog or a cat. Make sure they're well taken care of first. So that they won't bother you while you work.

Audio Entertainment

Some people say that silence is golden. While others say the opposite. It's true that artists need a quiet space while working on a project. But prolonged periods of total silence can actually get boring after awhile. And complete boredom can sometimes be more stressful than rush hour on an interstate road. There is a solution for that. Just simply play some music or an audiobook. But if you feel the need to turn on the TV for any reason. Make you put something less interesting on with the volume at a mellow level. Like a nature documentary or line of movies or shows you've already seen so many times. But avoid news channels, sports, and game shows. There's always something new on those every single day. Whatever you decide, make sure it's something that'll help you stay focused on a project.

If you're reading this, then you've learned the things you need to know on your journey to becoming a skilled artist. Whether you're a hobbyist taking online video courses. Or simply signing on as a student for art school. Just follow these tips and tricks as best you can. As you go from novice to masterful artist, if you desire.

There is nothing else to say except, Good Luck!